Working in partnership with Fort Lauderdale's Parks and Recreation department, the NHL and the Florida Panthers will resurface the outdoor hockey rink located directly behind the Panthers future practice facility and community ice facility, Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, to be suitable for both shoes and inline skates. This year's project is an expansion of the Panthers ongoing ball hockey programming aimed at increasing access to the game with minimal barriers to entry, as well as their focus to authentically weave Panthers hockey into the fabric of South Florida communities.
"Furthering diversity and representation in hockey starts with increasing access and exposure to the sport, especially at a young age. Floorball, as a fun, low-barrier introduction to the game, can be a key part of this equation," said Panthers President & CEO Matt Caldwell. "The revitalization of this outdoor hockey rink, coupled with the opening of our new team practice and community ice facility, will not only provide a gateway for more tri-county kids to learn the basics of the sport at a young age, but carve out a real and accessible pathway for them to further progress in their hockey journey."
Today the Panthers and NHL celebrated the donation by inviting kids from Boys & Girls Club of Broward County to participate in ball hockey programming with special guests -- including Florida All-Star forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, Rebecca Johnston and Sarah Nurse from Team Canada, NHL alumni Andrew Ference and Shawn Thornton, and mascot Stanley C. Panther.
"The NHL and the Florida Panthers recognize the power hockey has to teach life skills, build community and form lasting friendships," said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. "This is true in forms of the game that take place off the ice, where we have the same potential to engage new hockey fans through positive participation experiences."
The Legacy initiative is a continuing philanthropic endeavor through which the League and the local Club support community organizations in the host city of an NHL Event. Since having its first Legacy event in South Florida in 2003, the League, its Clubs and partners have donated more than $6 million to communities across North America. Legacy projects have aided thousands of hospital patients in recovery; helped at-risk youth and families gain better access to educational and vocational training; and provided greater access to people of all ages to learn and play hockey.
The League's regular-season schedule is paused through Feb. 5 as top players gather in South Florida for the 2023 Honda NHL® All-Star Weekend at FLA Live Arena. The 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game today at 3 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS) will feature a three-game tournament, played in a 3-on-3 format, showcasing teams from each NHL division.
For additional details related to the 2023 Honda NHL® All-Star Weekend visit NHL.com/allstar and follow @NHL and @PR_NHL. Fans can join the conversation by using the official hashtag #NHLAllStar.
