LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Champagne was scure and spilled, cigars were smoked, and Stanley Cups were rolled up several more times, all watched by about 400,000 people.
The Florida Panthers have been pretty good at these parades.
The back-to-back Stanley Cup winner won the Championship Parade and Rally at Fort Lauderdale Beach, the same set-up as last year.
“Today is a little better than last year, but this is still amazing,” said Panthers Captain Alexander Barkov. “We’re spending our time together.”
Panthers manager Paul Maurice declared this “Summer of Love” for the team’s fans, and by doing so while wearing another shirt, it featured his beloved cats Poppy and Penny, the shirts his daughter made. He wore a shirt similar to last year’s parade. This was also made by my daughter.
“Thank you, Boston!” When Brad Marchand, who came to Florida for trade with rival Bruins, was introduced. Free agent Marchand has once again shown he hopes to return with the Panthers, who topped the Edmonton Oilers in six games and won the Cup of the season.
“I’m so happy that I don’t have to play these guys anymore,” said Marchand, pointing to his Florida teammate.
Forward Matthew Tokachuk cried out to the crowd, “When I told him I was absolutely hoping to apologize… because the double champion wants anything…
“I’ve gotten used to this,” Tkachuk said, looking at the crowd. Some of them were in the water, while most others packed hundreds of yards deep into the sand. Tkachuk has since thanked team owner Vincent Viola, general manager and hockey business president Bill Zito for making a deal for him three years ago.
Just like last year, defensive man Aaron Eckbrad shot golfer Brooks Koepka, famously for going once to a Panthers game to steal a veteran defender.
Forward Sam Reinhardt, who scored four goals in a clinching victory over Edmonton, missed last year’s parade due to his best friend getting married. He didn’t miss Sunday.
“The only thing I’ve heard all day is that this is the best parade I’ve ever had in South Florida,” Reinhardt said. “Thank you for missing out on last year and this year.”
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the crowd and said he hopes there will be another parade next year. And Sam Bennett, the winner of Conn Smythe Trophy, heard a crowd chanting their hopes of getting a new contract with the Panthers.
So he ended his speech with the same request.
“Eight more years please,” Bennett said.
