J.C. Newman Celebrates Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper

[JohnS]

J.C. Newman Celebrates Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper

 January 14, 2026 - Press Release 

The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrated Jon Cooper’s 1,000th game as the team’s head coach. At the request of his assistant coaches, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. rolled 1,000 special cigars to commemorate the milestone. After the Lightning’s 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, the team presented the cigars and a custom cigar humidor to Cooper.

“We are very proud to be a partner and exclusive cigar maker of the Tampa Bay Lightning,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman.  “As Tampa is ‘Cigar City,’ it is only fitting the coaches decided to celebrate Coop’s 1,000th game by lighting special Tampa Bay Lightning cigars.” 

Cooper is the fifth coach in NHL history to coach the same team for 1,000 games and is the longest tenured head coach in the NHL.  An avid cigar enthusiast, Cooper told Cigar Aficionado that he began enjoying cigars when the team started winning championships.  “I equated cigars to winning and I haven’t stopped,” he said. 

Hockey fans can light a cigar at J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge inside the Lightning’s Benchmark Arena.  A review by Cigar Aficionado noted that  “the lounge is unique because it’s the only space in an NHL arena where you can smoke a cigar and watch all the hockey action at the same time.”

Source: https://www.cigarjournal.com/j-c-newman-celebrates-tampa-bay-lightnings-jon-cooper/

[JohnS]

J.C. Newman Celebrates NHL’s Stadium Series Game

February 3, 2026 - Press Release 

In near freezing weather, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins 6-5 at Raymond James Stadium as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series. At the request of the Lightning, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. created a custom Stadium Series Diamond Crown Humidor that the Lightning presented to the NHL Commissioner to welcome him to Tampa. The humidor was filled with 100 Diamond Crown Classic cigars.

“We are very proud to be a partner and exclusive cigar maker of the Tampa Bay Lightning,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman.  “As a Tampa is ‘Cigar City,’ it is only fitting for the Lightning to welcome Commissioner Bettman to Tampa with a beautiful Diamond Crown Humidor and Diamond Crown cigars.”

Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper and his assistant coaches wore outfits that paid homage to Tampa’s Ybor City historic cigar district. After defeating the Bruins, the coaches lit victory cigars and smoked them as they exited the stadium.

Hockey fans can light a cigar at J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge inside the Lightning’s Benchmark International Arena.  A review by Cigar Aficionado noted that  “the lounge is unique because it’s the only space in an NHL arena where you can smoke a cigar and watch all the hockey action at the same time.”

This is a one-of-a-kind custom humidor and is not commercially available.

Source: https://www.cigarjournal.com/j-c-newman-celebrates-nhls-stadium-series-game/

[Hoosh]

After the game…

[Goldeneye]

The coaching staff looked awesome on the bench!

 

[Hoosh]

3 hours ago, Goldeneye said:

The coaching staff looked awesome on the bench!

 

I’m not a Lightning fan (and the Bruins can drop off the map for all I care 🤫), but I have to agree with you here. Dapper almost does them an injustice.