REPORTER
From page 5
That personality was not missed by Brian Fink, the Light-
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Simply put, they were looking for a fresh face.
“We were looking for a kid that might help us, that knew
hockey and we were looking
for somebody new,” Fink
recalled. “He’s outgoing and
he knows the game. It’s a big
one that wants to play hockey.”
Upon learning about the
team’s interest in him, Ross
said, “I felt like I got shocked
by lightning. Then I was like,
‘Sure,’ I wanted to do it.”
was with Lightning forward
Tyler Johnson and the humorous
banter began right away.
he asked Johnson was did he
growing up, and he said, ‘No,
I wouldn’t look too good in
with a chuckle.
He went on to produce
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tures that season, including a
live segment with JP Peterson
during an intermission show.
The Lightning suspended
the junior reporter program
this past season, in part, to
focus on the 1992 expansion
team’s 25th anniversary. That
minor setback didn’t stop
Ross.
The USA Women’s Na-
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ing for the Olympics at Florida
Hospital Center Ice in nearby
Wesley Chapel, FL. Team USA
brought Ross in for a couple
interviews, including some
fun back and forth with twin
superstars Jocelyn and Monique
Lamoureux. He also interviewed
Amanda Kessel. All
three players had a key role
in Team USA’s shootout victory
over Team Canada in the Gold Medal game. When the team
some of their medals and take pictures with the players.
Next came his biggest opportunity so far.The NHL All Star
Game was returning to Tampa in January 2018, and it was a perfect
opportunity for Ross. With the help of another former play-
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ment at NHL headquarters in New York. They watched some of
his work with the Lightning, and contacted his parents about an
They wanted him to interview the players as they walked the red
carpet for Sunday’s main event – the 3-on-3 games that would
determine the winning
division.
It wasn’t all smooth
sailing, though. Just two
weeks before the event,
the call came in that
able to appear at the All
Star game. Due to legal
requirements in Florida,
he would not be able to
get his work permit and
Benz, owner of a model
and talent agency in
Ybor City, came to the
rescue.
“I told his dad I
wanted to represent
his son and the rest is
history,” said Benz, who
was playing at the same
Academy) where his son
Marcus played at the
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terview on the red carpet
(during the All Star
ceremonies), and I think
he did a great job.”
“He’s a great kid
and I’ve got a talent on
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ued. “If you’re looking
where you turn, that’s
for sure. He’s got a
great outgoing personality.
He just lights up a
room.”
Thanks to the help
and support of people
like Adam and Steve,
and the great work of
the people in the NHL’s
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See REPORTER, page 7