The Anthony Duclair Foundation is helping build the outdoor surface on the campus of Boyd H. Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes

Anthony Duclair may not play for the Florida Panthers anymore, but the veteran NHL forward still has a strong connection to the community.

Ducialr calls South Florida his second home.

This summer will be the second straight year he'll host a week-long youth hockey camp at the Panthers Ice Den in Coral Springs, and that's not all the Anthony Duclair Foundation is up to down here.

On Wednesday, Duclair, along with members of his foundation, representatives from the NHL, NHLPA and local lawmakers and officials, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a brand new synthetic ice surface.

It's being built on the campus of Boyd H. Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes.

"Who would've thought that Boyd Anderson would be the first school in Broward County to provide these experiences to the community," said Principal James Griffin. "Today I say this is about dreaming big, and dreaming bigger."

The rink will be built over the next several weeks and the hope is that it's finished sometime in early March.

Duclair, who now plays for the San Jose Sharks, said he's already excited to come back and visit to see the finished product.

"I can't wait until it gets built," Duclair said. "As soon as I'm back here it's going to be one of my first stops because I want to try it out myself and try it with the kids."

The construction of the rink, which will feature synthetic ice panels made by Glice North America, is fully funded by the NHL and the NHLPA's Industry Growth Fund.

"When Anthony told me his story and what he wanted to do, we had to think strategically because we couldn't have a traditional outdoor rink (in South Florida)," said Rob Knesaurek, the NHL Senior Vice President of Youth Development and Industry Growth. "His heart and his willingness to stay connected – he's here on his All-Star Weekend break from San Jose – those are the people that you want to champion things like this. We love being able to contribute, but really, it's his face, it's his time, it's his community's energy, and hopefully we find a bunch of kids that become hockey lovers."

Additionally, the $100,000 pledged by the Florida Panthers Foundation to the Anthony Duclair Foundation during its launch event last year will go toward running community programs and activations on the 100-foot by 50-foot synthetic ice surface.

The NHLPA Goals and Dreams Foundation also committed $50,000 in cash and equipment to the new rink.

"This really is huge," said Peter Worrell, a former Panthers player and current Hockey Director for the Ice Den in Coral Springs. "Just having the opportunity to bring the game to people that haven't been involved with it before, so they have the opportunity to learn all the great points you can get from it. All the love you can get from it, the fun you can get from it and the fitness you can get from it."

Duclair spent three seasons with the Panthers, quickly becoming a fan favorite for his speedy play, his goal-scoring ability and for the infectious smile always showing on his face.

His strong relationship with the team was apparent at Wednesday's event when several members of the Panthers, including General Manager Bill Zito and Assistant GM Brett Peterson, came out to show their support for what Duclair is still doing in the community.

"That was great, I didn't expect Billy (Zito) to come by so I definitely appreciate that," Duclair said. "It just speaks volumes to what type of men they are. They treated me like gold during my time here, so for them to come by – Mr. Viola (Panthers owner Vinny Viola) donated a lot of money last year which I'm extremely grateful for, money that's going toward this (project) – for them to come by, and I know they have a busy schedule too, so it's great. I appreciate that, for sure."

Despite still being just 28 years old, Duclair has already established himself as a leader in promoting diversity in hockey and ensuring that hockey is, in fact, for everyone.

His passion and drive to help others and make the world a better place comes from lessons he learned from his parents.

Now, with a large platform and support from multiple entities, Duclair is putting his ideas and his words into action.

"It's like a dream come true," he said. "I didn't know it was possible. I knew I was going to be involved in the community because that's just how I was raised. My dad and my mom always told me to give back and think about others before you think of yourself. That's just how my little brother and I grew up, but I didn't think this was ever a possibility to be honest. I'm just happy that it all came to fruition."

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