Lightning Captain Vincent Lecavalier celebrated one of the great moments in his off-ice career on Tuesday evening, cutting the ribbon on the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at the new All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Lecavalier was joined by his father, Yvon, mother Christianne, sister Genevieve, niece Madison and girlfriend Caroline. Lightning minority owners Irwin Novack and Craig Sher were also present; Novack is a board member of the Lecavalier Foundation and Sher is a board member of All Children’s Hospital and its construction committee.

Video - Ribbon Cutting Ribbon cutting for the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders Center

“When we announced this project in October, 2007, I don’t know that we realized just how much work we were getting ourselves into,” said Lecavalier, who credits Liz Willyoung, executive director of his foundation for working tirelessly to help raise the $3 million needed for the project. “But now that we are so close to actually opening the hospital and the center, we are incredibly proud to be able to help Tampa Bay’s children. I’d like to thank everyone that has helped making this vision a reality.”

The Vincent Lecavalier Foundation recently celebrated its four-year anniversary and the upcoming January 9, 2010 opening of the hospital helps achieve one of the Foundation’s primary goals: to create a legacy project in the Tampa Bay community. The foundation’s principle sponsors are DEX Imaging, Kane’s Furniture and The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration.