Panthers hold full team practice at SAP Center in San Jose on Jan. 24. There has been a ton of growth in the hockey community in South Florida over the last few years. The Florida Panthers are on their way to their sixth straight playoff appearance, as they opened up a new practice facility in December of 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, and more importantly, captured the franchise's first Stanley Cup this past June. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] However, the growth of the game is coming in with a new addition. Former Panther forward Anthony Duclair, who currently plays for the New York Islanders, and his foundation made the initiative to build a synthetic ice rink at Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes. The school is located in an under-privileged community in Broward County and sits six-and-a-half miles from the Panthers practice facility and 10 miles east of Amerant Bank Arena. Just over a year after breaking ground, a source has told THN Florida that the ice surface is completed and the ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Wednesday, Feb. 12. "This synthetic ice rink is a game-changer for growing hockey in underrepresented communities," the Foundation said. "By eliminating traditional barriers—like costly ice time and accessibility—this project opens doors for new players to experience the game in a fun, affordable, and sustainable way." The goal at the time of the groundbreaking ceremony was for the rink to open in mid-March 2025, but the completion ended earlier than expected. The funding of the rink by Glice North America was fully funded by the NHL and the NHLPA's Industry Growth Fund. The Duclair Foundation has also received financial support from the Florida Panthers, as they donated $100,000 during his launch event during the 2023 All-Star game, which was held in South Florida. The Panthers management also backed their support of Duclair by being present at the groundbreaking ceremony in February of 2024 when General Manager Bill Zito and Brett Peterson were in attendance for the event. The NHLPA Goals and Dreams Foundation followed suit at the time, donating $50,000, along with providing equipment. The Pointe-Claire, Quebec native signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2020-21 season, where he finished with 32 points (10,22) in 42 games. The next offseason, Duclair and the Panthers agreed to a three-year, $9 million to keep him in South Florida, which he represented himself during the negotiations. Duclair returned to the Cats close to the 2023 trade deadline after sustaining an achilles injury during an offseason training. He played 20 regular season games, and played in 20 postseason games helping them make the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. After losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, the Panthers traded Duclair to the San Jose Sharks with a year left on his deal. Despite him getting traded, it did not stop Duclair from conducting his off-the-ice initiatives in a place where he called home for more multiple years. This past summer, Duclair held his second annual youth hockey development camp at the Panthers Ice Den in Coral Springs, even though he spent the 2023-24 season with the San Jose Sharks and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Duclair still calls South Florida his home, and was a fan favorite and grabbed the attention of fans, especially when he went on a breakaway with his speed that very few players in the NHL have. Present at the Ribbon cutting ceremony will be: the man himself, Anthony Duclair, NHL executives, community officials, commissioners and mayors. There will also be an on-ice demonstration conducted by Duclair with local kids on the synthetic ice surface. He along with the NHL representatives and local officials will also speak to the media after the demonstration. The rink at Boyd Anderson High also plans on renting out skated and gear at lower costs so that more people can experience the beautiful game. Ribbon cutting ceremony is set for 10am. 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