How It Got Started
Founded in 2021 The Bolt Report was founded by Jake Ricker and Michael Wax. Jake and Michael who are both huge Lightning fans wanted to take the Lightning coverage to the next level, so in 2021 they left Bay Bolts where they previously covered the Bolts and created the Bolt Report where they could bring fans a new unique way of providing coverage with a brand new site with the latest news youtube videos and forums where Bolts fans could talk some Lightning hockey.
Meet the Writters
Jake Ricker
Founder
A student at the University of Florida Jake is 22 years old and has been a Lightning fan for, well, 22 years. Born and raised in Tampa Florida Jakes's passion has always been in sports and his dream to become a sports broadcaster. He loves sports and wants to spread his passion for them to others through his coverage of the game he loves.
Jake has previously covered the Rays at LWOS and the NHL as a whole with NHL Shout before joining Bay Bolts. At Bay Bolts Jake took on a new role as he wrote game recaps news articles and more. His role only expanded as he helped start Bay Bolts YouTube channel and grow their social media following. He eventually took over Bay Bolts and helped to transition them into the Bolt Report.
Jake says he is looking forward to the coverage that the Bolt Report can bring to Lightning fans and hopes he can continue to improve the sight.
Michael Wax
Co-Founder
Michael Wax was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and began following the Lightning back in 2011 during their Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference finals. Over the next few years, he began to fall in love with the game of hockey. Being able to cover the Lightning organization over the past 2 years, including their back-to-back Stanley Cups, has been a dream come true.
Currently attending Boston University, Michael is progressing towards earning his bachelor of science in journalism.
Joseph Henry
Writter
Joseph, 20, is a journalism student at the University of Florida. He was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and has been an avid sports fan all of his life. However, it wasn’t until college that he discovered a passion for writing about sports.
He grew up watching the Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators, but didn’t pick up the Lightning until he was a teenager. Joseph started watching the Bolts in 2013 and has been hooked ever since.
While at UF, Joseph has served as a sports writer for the Independent Florida Alligator since the summer of 2021.
Joseph is super excited to be a contributing writer to the Bolt Report and provide coverage to fellow Lightning fans.