Lightning's Brown strives for inclusiveness, won't 'stick to sports'

Earlier in August, Tampa Bay's trio of professional sports franchises - the Lightning, Rays, and Buccaneers - released a joint statement to announce they'll dedicate funds to assist in the removal of a Confederate monument in the city after the race based protests in Charlottesville, Va.

Lightning forward J.T. Brown, in particular, made sure to be involved, donating $1,500 to the cause without fear of being scolded for his decision.

"Stick to sports? I've heard it," Brown told Emily Kaplan of ESPN. "I heard it last year. I've heard it now after this. I'm not afraid of backlash. Everybody has their opinion on what people should say and when they should say it. But if everybody stuck to what they're supposed to do, we wouldn't have made the strides we made to get to where we are."

Brown made headlines last year after he responded to John Tortorella saying he'd bench players who sat for the national anthem in the wake of Colin Kaepernick's protests.

The 27-year-old said his newborn daughter is one of the main reasons he strives to be involved in creating an inclusive community.

"My wife and I had conversations," Brown said. "How will I explain this to my daughter? At what age? You don't want to dance around it, but she might have questions I don't have answers to. With relocating the statue, we are creating a more inclusive environment for the community. Not just for my daughter's sake - for everybody else, too."

Brown entering is sixth campaign with the Lightning in 2017-18. Last season, he suited up in 64 contests, tallying three goals and three assists.