NHL Goes North, South--Not West : Expansion: Franchises are awarded to Tampa, Ottawa. Two Southern California bids are denied.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators won approval Thursday to join the NHL in 1992-93, even though arenas for the teams are only in the planning stages.

As part of a plan to expand from 21 teams to 28 during the ‘90s, the league’s board of governors decided to venture into Florida. Former NHL star Phil Esposito helped Tampa beat bids by groups from nearby St. Petersburg and Miami.

“To be a part-owner of this thing is the ultimate,” Esposito said. “I’ve done everything in this game now.”

The governors also decided to return an NHL team to Canada’s capital for the first time since 1934.

Among those applications rejected were two from Southern California--one led by Laker owner Jerry Buss, to play either in Anaheim or San Diego; and the other by Harry Cooper, owner of the San Diego Sports Arena--seeking teams later in the decade.

Losers in the bidding were told that more teams will be added later.

A San Jose franchise will begin play next year.

The Ottawa bid includes assurance that the owners would overcome objections to the proposed site of a 22,000-seat arena. Ottawa plans to play its first season at a 10,000-seat downtown civic center.

Esposito’s group struck a deal earlier this week with four Japanese companies who will help finance Tampa’s 18,500-seat arena.

“To those Japanese investors, I thank you,” Esposito said. “You’re going to love hockey. I know you like sumo wrestling; we’ve got it all in hockey.”