‘This is wonderful’: Panthers have fun 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with one other parade | EUROtoday

Champagne was swilled and spilled, cigars had been smoked and the Stanley Cup was hoisted a number of extra occasions, all with about 400,000 folks watching.

The Florida Panthers are getting fairly good at these parades.

The back-to-back Stanley Cup winners had their championship parade and rally on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, the identical setup as final 12 months — besides this time, shiny sunshine greeted the champs versus downpours and lightning a 12 months in the past.

“It’s a little better day today than it was last year, but still, this is amazing,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov stated. “What a day we’re having with you guys.”

Panthers coach Paul Maurice declared this “the summer of love” for followers of the workforce, doing so whereas sporting one other shirt featured his beloved cats Poppy and Penny — a shirt made by his daughter. He wore an identical shirt to final 12 months’s parade, additionally made by his daughter.

There had been cries of “Thank you, Boston!” when Brad Marchand — who got here to Florida in a commerce with the rival Bruins — was launched. Marchand, a free agent, once more indicated that he desires to be again with the Panthers, who received this season’s Cup by topping the Edmonton Oilers in six video games.

“I’m so happy that I don’t have to play against these guys anymore,” Marchand stated, pointing to his Florida teammates.

Forward Matthew Tkachuk drew loud roars when he informed the gang that he “want to apologize to completely … no one as a result of a double champ does no matter … he desires,” copying a line used by Conor McGregor when he became a double UFC champion.

“I could get used to this,” Tkachuk said as he looked out at the crowd — some of whom were in the water, with most others packed hundreds of yards deep down the sand. Tkachuk then thanked team owner Vincent Viola and general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito for trading for him three years ago, saying it changed his life.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, just as he did last year, took a shot at golfer Brooks Koepka, who famously went to a Panthers game once to heckle the veteran defenseman.

Forward Sam Reinhart, who scored four goals in the clinching win over Edmonton, missed last year’s parade because a close friend was getting married. He didn’t miss Sunday.

“The only thing I’ve heard all day is how this is the best parade that’s ever been had in South Florida,” Reinhart stated. “Thank God I missed final 12 months and never this 12 months.”

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the gang, and stated he hoped there was one other parade subsequent 12 months. And Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, heard the gang chanting their hopes of him getting a brand new contract with the Panthers.

So, he ended his speech with the identical request.

“Eight more years, please,” Bennett stated.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl