"It's a great feeling to know I own a house and can definitely provide for my family," Larronde told reporters after the game. "It's a moment of my life I appreciate; that I've served my country and this is more than I can ask for."
Larronde was named the Panthers "Heroes Among Us" veteran of the game, and he teared up when the organization informed him of his gift during a break in the action.
The Panthers teamed up with Military Warriors Support Foundation, which helps combat-wounded military heroes, their families and Gold Star families with a focus on housing, employment, recreational activities and transportation assistance.
Larronde served in the Army in Bosnia and Iraq from 1997-2013, and helped to enfranchise Iraqis to vote in 2007. He received a Purple Heart for his service and was eligible for his home in Palm Beach County by completing a three-year family and financial-mentorship program.
"The American people have always cared for their veterans, and a lot of veterans out there are looking for work or for a home and there are programs out there to help them," Larronde said. "That means a lot. This program is beneficial. It showed my family how to be independent."
Sean McCaffrey, the Panthers chief operating officer and also a military veteran, was notified of Larronde's eligibility by the Military Warriors Support Foundation in June.
"They contacted me and said 'We have identified a veteran near you that is eligible and would love to give the house away at the game to him,'" McCaffrey told NHL.com. "I said let's get this going and try to see if it can work."
McCaffrey, like Larronde, was part of the Army in the mid-2000s, serving 16 months abroad. He said Larronde was "really deserving for something like this," and was particularly inspired by the act given its close proximity to Veterans Day.
"To use my role to help another veteran, it's something special," McCaffrey said. "He's a veteran that we could've crossed paths and never knew it. We were in Iraq at the same time, so it's pretty cool to see a guy that I definitely served in some capacity side-by-side somewhere in the country (with) to highlight his service."
Thursday was Larronde's first Panthers game at BB&T Center, but it won't be his last.
"My son is definitely interested in hockey, and we're going to get him into hockey," he said. "It looks like we're going to bring him back more often now."
