Aileen Hnatiuk Wraps Up Her First Season Covering The NHL By Remaking Her Viral Saints Sign Off
The Tampa Bay Lightning were bounced from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first-round by the Florida Panthers, who ended their season earlier this week via a gentleman's sweep.
The 6-1 loss on Monday night put an end to more than the Lightning's season. It also put a premature end to reporter Aileen Hnatiuk's first season covering the NHL.
What a shame. She had just added the title of the No. 1 Stanley Cup reporter to her resume too. Tampa Bay's early exit from postseason action didn't put a damper on Aileen's mood at all.
The former college volleyball player took it in stride. After a busy NFL off-season last year, where she went from one NFC South team to another, she knew exactly how to put a bow on her first NHL season.
Aileen dusted off her viral New Orleans Saints sign off and officially put an end to the season. She posted a familiar pose next to the ice with the caption, "first season covering the #NHL in the books #grateful."
All Aileen Hnatiuk Does Is Win
Would she have liked to have finished her first NHL season covering a Stanley Cup Final winning team? Of course, she would have. But you can't win them all.
What you can do is reflect on a solid season and take a first-round playoff appearance as something to build on for next season. The first of many NHL seasons is in the book for Aileen.
It would be safe to assume that with the hockey season in Tampa now over that she'll be turning her focus back to baseball, where she got off to a hot start on Opening Day at Tropicana Field.
Now it's still early and a lot can change from now until August, but the Rays aren't off to the best of starts through the first 30 plus games. Playoff baseball at this point looks a long way off.
Since arriving in Tampa, Aileen has been to the playoffs twice already, with both the Buccaneers and Lightning. Whether postseason baseball is in her future or not, she'll be ready to go.
Aileen's been a winner on and off the field, and she's been versatile by jumping from sport to sport.