Live updates: the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers parade in Fort Lauderdale
Welcome to the first annual Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup championship parade live blog, keeping you up to date with the second annual Panthers Stanley Cup championship parade down A1A in Fort Lauderdale.
The team and the Cup have left the IcePlex
The Panthers have loaded the buses and left the Baptist Health IcePlex at the War Memorial Auditorium for the parade. Among those on the bus with the Stanley Cup: defenseman Jaycob Megna, who was signed as a free agent in July and spent most of the season with the Panthers' American Hockey League minor league team in Charlotte.
Megna was born in Plantation on Dec. 10, 1992. The next day, during annual league meetings at The Breakers in Palm Beach, the NHL announced the granting of new franchises to be based in Anaheim and South Florida.
The daily precipitation comes early
Before the parade, around 10:55 a.m., a light drizzle came down near the stage area next to the beach. At 85 degrees with a 74% humidity, nature's sprinkling system was appreciated by the folks gathered there.
Wristbands for kids
Kids along the route are getting blue wristbands from Fort Lauderdale police with parents' phone numbers in case the kids get separated in all the hubbub.
With reporting from Herald reporters Jordan McPherson, Connie Ogle, Kaitlyn Pohly and Greg Cote.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
16 minutes ago
- Axios
Panthers celebrate Stanley Cup win with beachfront parade
The Florida Panthers celebrated their second straight Stanley Cup victory with a week-long party across South Florida, culminating with a beach-front parade Sunday in Fort Lauderdale. Why it matters: South Florida has been wrapped up in hockey hysteria since last season when the Panthers delivered the Miami area its first championship since 2013. Catch up quick: The Panthers' booze-fueled celebration took the team around some of the area's top party spots, including Fort Lauderdale bar Elbo Room and Miami strip club E11EVEN. Much of the debauchery — including Panthers center Sam Reinhart's stripper-pole stunt — was documented at length on social media. The latest: Sunday's parade took place along A1A, as fans gathered to watch the team's red double-decker buses head down the beachfront strip. Along the route, players hopped off the bus to bring the Stanley Cup closer to the fans, even dumping beer from the trophy into their mouths. The team held a victory rally on the beach near Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. What they're saying: Panthers center Brad Marchand, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins in March, told fans he was happy he didn't have to play against the Panthers anymore. "I never could have imagined being part of something so special." Stanley Cup Playoff MVP Sam Bennett, who's seeking a contract extension with the team, took an expletive-laced shot at critics upset about the Panthers' physical play. "They call us dirty, they call us nasty. They call us bullies. I would like to take this time to apologize to absolutely f***ing no one, we're the double champs. We do what the f*** we want. Let's go."


CBS News
40 minutes ago
- CBS News
Florida Panthers players thank fans, teammates at Stanley Cup victory rally
The Florida Panthers were honored with a parade and victory rally on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale for their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. The parade on State Road A1A along Fort Lauderdale Beach started around noon. Players on buses waved to the crowds, numbered to be in the thousands. At points, players would hop their respective bus with Stanley Cup in hand and take it through the crowds lined along the street so they could get a first hand look at it, some even got to touch it. The players enjoyed themselves throughout the parade, chatting with fans and signing anything put in front of them. Just after 1:30 p.m., they assembled on a stage set up on the beach just north of 5th Street for a celebration rally. CBS Miami's Steve Goldstein was the master of ceremonies. Head coach Paul Maurice led off at the podium where he announced a proclamation from the team itself. "In Southeast Florida, 2025 is the summer of love. We know this, in the history of man, there is no chance that there have ever been this many Cat lovers in one spot," he said. He then opened his button-down shirt to his t-shirt with two cats on it, one representing each Stanley Cup win. He said his daughter made him do it. "In truth, so we leave here today together, the men behind me love you and all of you love the men behind me. So, we will ask this of you. The police officers and first responders, for all they do to keep us out of harm's way, this summer let's keep them out of harm's way. That will be our gist to all these people. All of you are a gift to us," he said. Panthers players express gratitude to fans The players who followed Maurice also expressed their sincere gratitude for the support shown from the fans and the organization. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov told the crowd that thanks to them the team was having amazing day and thanked them for their support during the course of the year. "This is amazing, what a day we are having with you guys, I want to say thank you to you," he said. Panthers right wing Sam Reinhart said the only thing he's heard all day was that this was the best parade that's ever happened in South Florida, and he has to agree. "Thank God I missed last year and not this year. I'm going to keep this real short and sweet, in honor of DJ Khaled, 'We da best' and I mean that," he said. Forward Matthew Tkachuk told the crowd that being at the parade was one of the best days in his life and the thanked everyone for making it fun and safe. He also thanked team owner Vincent Viola and general manager Bill Zito for bringing him on. "Everybody here, thank you guys so much for making this some of the most fun, and safe, these are memories I'm going to have for the rest of my life," he said. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad thanked the crowd for their support and the organization for believing in him. "All I have to say is 'Thank you. Thank you, fans, thank you my teammates, thank you Vinny, 11 (expletive) years you believed in me, Billy you believed in me," he said. When Center Sam Bennett, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, was introduced, the crowd started chanting "ten more years." "This is truly incredible. You know a lot of people, they don't like the way we play. They call us dirty, they call us nasty, they call us bullies. So, I would like to take this time to apologize to absolutely (expletive) no one. We're the double champs and we do what the (expletive) we want," he said. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the crowd and said it's been a great year, a great playoff and great victory. Right wing Brad Marchand wrapped up the rally, telling the crowd he never imagined being part of something so special and he's so happy he doesn't have to play against the Panthers anymore.

an hour ago
Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Champagne was swilled and spilled, cigars were smoked and the Stanley Cup was hoisted a few more times, all with about 400,000 people watching. The Florida Panthers are getting pretty good at these parades. The back-to-back Stanley Cup winners had their championship parade and rally on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, the same setup as last year — except this time, bright sunshine greeted the champs as opposed to downpours and lightning a year ago. 'It's a little better day today than it was last year, but still, this is amazing,' Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. 'What a day we're having with you guys.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice declared this 'the summer of love' for fans of the team, doing so while wearing another shirt featured his beloved cats Poppy and Penny — a shirt made by his daughter. He wore a similar shirt to last year's parade, also made by his daughter. There were cries of 'Thank you, Boston!' when Brad Marchand — who came to Florida in a trade with the rival Bruins — was introduced. Marchand, a free agent, again indicated that he wants to be back with the Panthers, who won this season's Cup by topping the Edmonton Oilers in six games. 'I'm so happy that I don't have to play against these guys anymore,' Marchand said, pointing to his Florida teammates. Forward Matthew Tkachuk drew loud roars when he told the crowd that he 'would like to apologize to absolutely ... nobody because a double champ does whatever ... he wants," copying a line used by Conor McGregor when he became a double UFC champion. 'I could get used to this,' Tkachuk said as he looked out at the crowd — some of whom were in the water, with most others packed hundreds of yards deep down the sand. Tkachuk then thanked team owner Vincent Viola and general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito for trading for him three years ago, saying it changed his life. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, just as he did last year, took a shot at golfer Brooks Koepka, who famously went to a Panthers game once to heckle the veteran defenseman. Forward Sam Reinhart, who scored four goals in the clinching win over Edmonton, missed last year's parade because a close friend was getting married. He didn't miss Sunday. 'The only thing I've heard all day is how this is the best parade that's ever been had in South Florida," Reinhart said. 'Thank God I missed last year and not this year.' Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the crowd, and said he hoped there was another parade next year. And Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, heard the crowd chanting their hopes of him getting a new contract with the Panthers. So, he ended his speech with the same request.