FORT LAUDERDALE — Standing in front of thousands of fans, Florida Panthers star Sam Reinhart didn’t need to say much to get the crowd roaring in front of the stage at Fort Lauderdale Beach.
“I’m going to keep this really short and sweet,” Reinhart said. “In honor of DJ Khaled, ‘We the best.’ “
When the crowd dialed down just enough to be heard again, he doubled down on the rapper’s famous words.
“Another one,” Reinhart exclaimed, echoing the calls for “Rock the 3,” begun as a chant by Panthers fans that lasted well into the afternoon celebration.
For the second time in as many years, the Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions, and fans from across the state and beyond flocked to see the celebratory parade along the Fort Lauderdale beach front, culminating in an address from coaches, front office staff and players on an enormous stage.
This year’s celebration was just as lively as last year, and without the pouring rain that doused all in attendance following the Panthers’ first Cup win.
No, as Panthers play-by-play announcer Steve Goldstein said, there was certainly no sign of “lightning” and absolutely no evidence of “hurricanes,” poking jabs at the Panthers’ series victories over Tampa Bay and Carolina on their way to hoisting the Cup for the second straight year.
No rain on Panthers’ parade, but incredible heat
In place of rain, however, was incredible heat, forcing fans to take drink breaks and seek shade as the feels-like temperature broke 90 degrees with ease.
Panthers fan Frank Klutcharch took a breather from the heat to grab a drink at Quarterdeck, a restaurant right around the corner. For him, Sunday afternoon was the cherry on top of an incredible season.
“I’ve been a fan my whole life,” he said, sharing that he had one of the first helicopter tours of the facility and was a Sunrise resident before the team’s inception.
Seeing the Panthers hoist the Cup in front of the home fans was a surreal experience for Klutcharch and many others.
“I couldn’t ask for more, especially since my family is from Chicago are Blackhawks fans. Everywhere besides Florida, they talk s— about us Panthers fans, but there’s more of us than you think, baby.”
In light of that, Goldstein’s ending statement on the podium was both a message to other teams and a testament to Florida’s fandom.
“They’re baaack,” he ended ‒ leaving Panthers fans to hold three fingers in the air, hoping for yet another date with their hockey team, same time and same place next year.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Stanley Cup parade: Florida Panthers fans brave the heat to celebrate sweet repeat
Reporting by Alexander Peterman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
