The Florida Panthers hold a full team skate at PNC Arena on Feb. 22. A few weeks ago, THN Florida did a fun story in which we spoke to Ryan Lomberg and asked him about his teammates. Based off the response to that story, we’re going to take things up a notch. The ‘Which teammate is most likely’ questions [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/ryan-lomberg-reveals-which-teammate-is-most-likely-in-fun-q-a]may very well make a return at a later date, but right now, we’ve got something different for you. Sticking with the idea of learning more about your favorite Florida Panthers players, we’re launching a new series called Five Favorites. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] The idea is we’ll catch up with Panthers players and ask them the same group of questions about their favorite things are. Kicking off our Five Favorites series is Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Favorite pre-NHL memory: I don't really remember much from before the NHL (laughs). Maybe the years in the OHL… (turns to Brandon Montour), Do you remember anything from before you were in the NHL? I barely remember my first few years in the NHL (laughs again). I remember some big games, playoffs…one year we went all the way to the finals and lost with like 0.4 seconds left, something like that, to the London Knights. That was tough. Note: Ekblad's Barrie Colts lost to the London Knights in Game 7 of the 2013 OHL Final on a goal scored with 0.1 seconds left by Bo Horvat. Favorite hockey movie: "Slapshot." It's a family tradition, we actually watch it over Christmas most years. We throw it on TV and have a good laugh. Favorite away rink to play at: Detroit, the old Joe Louis Arena. Just the history, and me being from Windsor. Favorite non-hockey hobby: Right now, flying planes. I've been doing it right around two years now. I just wanted to learn something new. I have a single engine piston Cirrus SR22. It's been like three or four months since I've flown though. I'm dying to get up, but there's just no time. (Asked the farthest he’s flown) To Windsor last summer. That was about seven or eight hours. We stopped in Greer or Spartanburg in South Carolina. I flew to St. Barts for my honeymoon, though my instructor was there for that. The furthest solo flight would be Windsor, Ontario. Favorite player growing up: Nick Lidstrom. I wear No. 5, he played for Detroit, he's Swedish and I'm of Swedish descent. He was a solid defenseman. I tried to emulate him in every way possible, although never attainable because he's one of the best of all time. To emulate him and to be like him is like a dream. Thank you to Aaron for being the first Panthers player to share a few of his favorite things with us. Stay tuned for the next installment of Five Favorites, coming soon! LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers travel to Carolina for matchup of Eastern Conference contenders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-travel-to-carolina-for-matchup-of-eastern-conference-contenders] Experts weigh in on Noah Hanifin to Florida Panthers rumor [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/experts-weigh-in-on-noah-hanifin-to-florida-panthers-rumor] WATCH: Sergei Bobrovsky goes after Brady Tkachuk during Panthers OT win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/watch-sergei-bobrovsky-goes-after-brady-tkachuk-during-panthers-ot-win] Three takeaways: Panthers play 'poorly' in win, Lundell's confidence growing [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/three-takeaways-panthers-play-poorly-in-win-lundells-confidence-growing] Bobrovsky shines, Panthers take down Senators in OT for sixth straight win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/bobrovsky-shines-panthers-take-down-senators-in-ot-for-sixth-straight-win] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
