The Panthers and their six fans took over a big chunk of Fort Lauderdale Beach to celebrate Florida's first Stanley Cup victory
The Panthers and their six fans took over a big chunk of Fort Lauderdale Beach to celebrate Florida's first Stanley Cup victory
A massive crowd of Florida Panthers fans converged on Fort Lauderdale Beach Sunday for an enormous championship party.
Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers in an epic seven-game Stanley Cup Final, setting off a week-long celebration unlike anything South Florid had ever seen.
Several days of the Panthers taking the Stanley Cup across Broward and Miami-Dade Counties – drinking at Elbo Room, swimming in the ocean, clubbing at E11even – culminated in an incredible Stanley Cup Championship parade along A1A in Fort Lauderdale.
Sure, it was raining for much of the day, but that didn’t stop a single person from having a blast on the beach.
After traveling south on A1A in cars double decker buses, the Panthers took to the stage on the sand, with several players and a few other special people addressing the crowd that just seemed to keep growing.
“30 years we’ve waited,” said Panthers legend Roberto Luongo. “This is a beautiful moment. Who gives a s--- about the rain?”
Luongo wasn’t the only goalie that gave the fans a charge.
Longtime Panthers puck-stopper Sergei Bobrovsky has been excellent for Florida in back-to-back postseasons and often was serenaded with Bob-by, Bob-by chants.
“2019, July 1, I just signed the deal with the Florida Panthers,” Bobrovsky began. “My first interview, they asked me why I came to Florida. My answer was, ‘Because I want to win the Cup and I’m going to do it here.’ Now here we are, five years later, celebrating the biggest victory of this franchise with you guys!”
Panthers fans weren’t the only ones to start chants for their goalie on Sunday.
Florida captain Sasha Barkov took the opportunity to heap some additional praise on his All-Star goaltender, perhaps channeling his inner Freddie Mercury in the process.
“I always wanted to do this,” Barkov began. “I know I might have never won anything, but I always wanted to do this, so can you repeat what I say? Bobby! (the fans followed with a Bobby!) Booooobby! (Booooooobby!) Bobby! (Bobby!) Bobby! (Bobby!) Bobby! (Bobby!)”
As for Matthew Tkahcuk, he grabbed the mic and poured some salt in the collective wound of the Oilers and their fans while making light of the rainy weather.
“I heard it’s 70 degrees and sunny in Edmonton, but they ain’t got no Cup,” he said. “You guys have been so amazing, (this has been the) best time of my entire life. Thank you guys for the memories.”
It was truly remarkable to see so many fans, almost every one wearing their Panthers gear, basically take over Fort Lauderdale Beach.
There was no way they were going to let some rain, thunder and lightning ruin a parade 30 years in the making.
“When I was drafted here and 10 years ago in 2013, I would have never believed that this day will come,” said Barkov. “Here I am with my teammates, with the Violas, management and everyone, we're here in front of you all together on a rainy day during hurricane season, we’re here on the beach celebrating us winning the Cup!”
Don’t expect those celebrations to slow down any time soon.
As for Sunday, it will be a day long remembered in the lore of South Florida sports.
“I want to thank you guys,” Bobrovsky said to the fans. “You guys are incredible, and thank you for your incredible support.”
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