PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - Taking a break from the ice during week's development camp, prospects from the Florida Panthers put down the sticks and picked up paint brushes.
Teaming up with HandsOn Broward, more than thirty players and volunteers packed the hallways and got to work on painting a Florida panther mural for Pines Middle School.
"It's great for the kids to see that the sports teams support our students," said Assistant Principal Ricardo Angus. "They support our community, so I think it's very beneficial for the kids to see them here."
When they asked for volunteers, HandsOn Broward knew the Panthers would answer the call.
"I always say that the Panthers walk the talk and we have been partnering for about ten years to do a lot of different things in the community," said Kristina DaSilva, the COO of HandsOn Broward and Miami. "One thing that we can always count on with the Florida Panthers is that they will show up with lots of people in tow, roll up their sleeves and get the work done."
Despite still being in the very early stages of their young careers, prospects already know the importance of spending time in the community and giving back when they are able to.
"I mean, these are kids, so it's our future," said defenseman Djibril Touré, a camp invite. "We got to take care of them. We got to cater them and I'm sure they're going to do amazing things."
Added fellow defenseman and camp invite Josef Mysak: "I mean it's a type of job that you know it's like doing the dirty work like nobody really sees that. It means a lot for these people and we're just really happy to be a part of it and we're happy to help."
In addition to the actual work they put in, the prospects also wanted to set an example.
"They look up to the guys like us," said forward Josh Davies, a sixth-round pick of the Panthers in the 2022 NHL Draft. "To be a role model and give them back to them, it's a full circle moment. It's pretty sweet to be able to do that."
During the week, along with mural painting, prospects experienced a wide range of activities in South Florida, including spending time on the beach, sushi making at Takato, and dodgeball.
"Just being around the rink and giving back to the community and the fans it's been pretty unreal," Davies said. "Being down in South Florida and going to the sushi restaurant yesterday was pretty sweet and just kind of getting to know all the guys and doing all the stuff, it's been pretty surreal."
Overall, the week was an experience that none of them will soon forget.
"I think it's really cool to go through these things," Mysak said. "You know it's always important to give back to community and think the Panthers do an incredible job teaching us that and showing us how important it is to go through this stuff. This week has been a really cool experience and it's another useful thing we can learn from."
Going their separate ways for now, the nearly forty young hockey players that spent the week at the Panthers IceDen will now take back their new experiences to their respective teams in preparation for next season.
"We've been learning a lot of new information and playing with these high skilled players is definitely different from playing back at our teams," said Touré. "It prepares us a lot to what to expect going forward."
To see the Development Camp Week photo gallery, click here.
