The Florida Panthers canceled plans to receive their Stanley Cup championship rings at a public event Monday night due to concerns over Hurricane Milton hitting the state.
Fans were invited to attend the event for a $20 donation that would have benefited the team’s foundation. Instead, the players will receive their rings in a private ceremony Monday, the team said.
For now, the Panthers’ regular-season opener — and unveiling of the Stanley Cup banner — against the Boston Bruins is scheduled to go ahead as scheduled Tuesday night at Sunrise.
“As this event would require resources from first responders and service providers, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our championship ring ceremony out of an abundance of caution for the safety of everyone involved,” Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said Sunday evening.
Hurricane Milton gained strength on Sunday and meteorologists expect it to become a major hurricane, which could approach the Tampa Bay area by Wednesday.
Part of the state is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties, including Broward, where the Panthers play.
DeSantis said the state was preparing for “a major catastrophe” in some areas.
The Panthers said they would remain in contact with local officials and continue with plans to open the season for Tuesday.
“We are closely monitoring the situation,” Caldwell added. The team will continue to prepare our arena and surrounding areas to safely welcome fans. »
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