Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk invites fans to the Baptist Health IcePlex for a free three-day festival featuring youth tournaments, skating sessions, and exclusive fireside chats.
A fun weekend of hockey is coming to Fort Lauderdale thanks to Matthew Tkachuk and one of South Florida’s biggest medical service providers.
The inaugural Matthew Tkachuk Hockey Celebration, presented by Baptist Health, will be held next month at the Florida Panthers practice facility, the Baptist Health IcePlex.
It’s a three-day event that will take place from Sept. 4 through Sept. 6.
Highlighting the weekend’s programming will be the Matthew Tkachuk Cup, a tournament featuring boys at the AAA level and girls at the AA level.
“Growing the game of hockey in South Florida means a lot to me, as I've seen firsthand how much this community has embraced our sport,” Tkachuk said.
All tournament games are open to the public and free to attend.
Additionally, there will be a plethora of events, both on-ice and off-ice, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 5 that will be free to participate in and designed for families and hockey fans of all ages.
Those events include fireside chats hosted by Panthers play-by-play voice Steve Goldstein and featuring Tkachuk and other team personalities, try skating for free and try hockey for free sessions, appearances by Stanley C. Panther, Victor E. Ratt and the Panthers Dance Team, and interactive experiences, activations and giveaways throughout the day.
“This weekend is about bringing the community together, giving kids and families the opportunity to experience hockey, have fun, and inspire the next generation,” said Tkachuk. “Baptist Health has been an incredible partner in making that vision a reality. Together, we're creating opportunities for young athletes to get involved, stay active, learn valuable life skills, and fall in love with our great game.”
For more information and to register for the free sessions, fans can visit BaptistHealthIcePlex.com.
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Photo caption: Apr 15, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wingMatthewTkachuk(19) acknowledges the fans after the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
