The Florida Panther’s first Stanley Cup win over the Edmonton Oilers is one of the great moments in South Florida sports history.
Now. We have had parades in South Florida. But none more wet than this one.
First and lastly, don’t ever question the dedication of Panthers fans again, who waited in the middle of the rainstorm to cheer the Panthers before the parade began.
About 45 minutes before the Florida Panthers began their Stanley Cup Championship Celebration, a massive storm blew off the Atlantic Ocean.
Despite the awful weather, South Florida hockey fans turned out to celebrate their champions as thousands packed the parade route along A1A, with even more gathered for a rally on the beach at the parade’s end.
The weather forecast was so bad that flood warnings were issued, accompanied by a massive lightning storm that could stop the Panthers’ Stanley Cup celebration. They had waited 30 years, and there was no stopping or rescheduling.
Some players wore clear plastic ponchos over their championship shirts, while others went bare-chested as they interacted with fans. Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk bare footed with championship belt around his waist made it into the ocean and visit his favorite bar, Elbo Room, before arriving on stage.
The microphone was hot on the stage, literally. Local television stations showing the rally live had to go on high alert because of some of the expressive language.
“When people ask us about this group, what makes them special? I always use the word team. Which really is just family,” President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito said. “Every guy back here considers you guys family. The way you stayed out in the rain and supported us.”
Zito was hired as the Panthers’ general manager in September 2020 and sought out and hired head coach Paul Maurice in June 2022.
During Sunday’s championship parade, Maurice walked out on stage wearing a custom t-shirt with his two cats edited onto the team’s logos.
“My daughter made this shirt, and I promised her that if we win the Stanley Cup, I’m wearing this shirt,” Maurice said in his speech.
The coach shouted out Poppy on the front and Penny on the back as he went through his list of people to thank. Maurice then had a quick fashion show to highlight the shirt, much to the appeasement of the team behind him and the fans who came out to support their team.
“30 F***ing years. And for that woman over there, 30 years of being married to an a***hole,” Maurice added. “I want to thank all of you for these men here, for welcoming our families to Florida.”
Maurice won his first Cup in his 26th season as head coach, the most seasons coached for a first-time champion.
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky certainly sounded like he appreciated every moment.
“In 2019, on July 1, I had just signed a deal with the Florida Panthers,” Bobrovsky said, recalling when he left the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent.
“My first interview, they asked me why I came to Florida. My answer was because I wanted to win the Cup. And I’m going to do it here.’ And now, here we are, five years later, celebrating the most significant victory for this franchise with you guys.”
Bobrovsky was the winner of the Vezina trophy in 2013 and 2017.
Defenseman Aaron Ekblad got revenge on golfer Brooks Koepka, who showed up at a Panthers game last season and compared Ekblad to a traffic cone. Ekblad grabbed such a cone on Sunday and let Koepka know he was getting the last laugh.
“F*** you Brooks Koepka,” Ekblad shouted. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Let’s go cats. When you get that trophy over your head, it’s a beautiful feeling. And it’s the pinnacle of hockey. It’s everything you could possibly imagine.”
Ekblad was the Panthers’ No. 1 overall pick from the 2014 NHL Draft.
Captain of the Panthers, Aleksander Barkov, kept the energy strong in the rain.
“When I was drafted here ten years ago, in 2013. I would have never believed that this day would come,” Barkov said. “Here I am with my teammates; we are here in front of you all together; on a rainy day, during hurricane season, we are here on the beach celebrating us winning the cup.”
Barkov became the first Stanley Cup-winning captain from Finland.
Tkachuk shared his love to a crowd that was packed tight on the wet sand.
“I heard it is 70 degrees and sunny in Edmonton. But they don’t have no Cup,” Forward and alternate captain Tkachuk said. “I want to thank the Viola’s and Billy for getting me here. You guys have been so amazing. Best time in my entire life. Thank you guys for the memories.”
While in high school at Chaminade College Preparatory School, Tkachuk became friends with future NBA superstar Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. The two were placed in the same physical education class. In 2024, they both won their respective championship series a week apart.
It was a fantastic celebration from a grateful organization. No matter rain or shine. Whatever the weather, it was historically incredible to see the fans for the Panthers.
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