Florida Sports Wire

SUNRISE  – Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the Panthers Roster has been reduced to 42 players.   Florida’s roster consists of 25 forwards, 12 defensemen and five goaltenders. Click  HERE  to download the full Panthers Training Camp roster.   Forwards John Leonard, Aidan McDonough and Ben Steeves and defensemen Marek Alscher, Michael Benning, Evan Nause and Zachary Uens have been assigned to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).   Forwards Hunter St. Martin and Gracyn Sawchyn have been returned to their respective junior clubs.   Select Florida Panthers training camp practices at Baptist Health IcePlex will be free and open to the public throughout the year. Fans can check the Panthers open practice schedule at  FTLWarMemorial.com/Hockey/Panthers-Open-Practices . The open practice schedule is subject...

 NEW YORK – Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets are the three finalists for the 2023-24 Vezina Trophy, awarded “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” the National Hockey League announced today. NHL general managers submitted ballots for the Vezina Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 goals-against average, .915 save percentage, six shutouts in 58 GP) backstopped the Panthers to a second Atlantic Division title in three seasons and the second-highest standings points total (110) in franchise history. His 36 wins rank second in Panthers history for a single-season, topped only by the club-record 39 he won in 2021-22. He co-led the League in shutouts, tied for third in wins, ranked third in GAA and posted a .900-or-better save percentage in 37 start...

Florida Panthers General Manager  Bill Zito   announced that the club has agreed to terms with forward   Sandis Vilmanis   on a three-year, entry-level contract commencing in 2024-25. “Sandis is a strong skater and skilled forward who possesses high character,” said Zito. “We are excited to watch him continue his blossoming career within our system.” Vilmanis, 20, has produced 28 goals and 53 points (28-25-53) over 50 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) games between the Sarnia Sting and North Bay Battalion this season, logging 25 points (18-7-25) over 20 games since being acquired by North Bay on Jan. 6.   The 6-foot-1, 192-pound native of Riga, Latvia, has amassed 98 points (48-50-98) over 112 career OHL games between North Bay and Sarnia over the last two seasons. Prior to his North American career, Vilmanis spent three seasons (2019-20 to 2021-22) playing in Lulea HF’s junior pipeline in Sweden.   On the international stage, Vilmanis has represented Latvia at m...

 By Jameson Olive SUNRISE, Fla. ( www.floridasportsday.com )  – Andrei Kuzmenko netted the go-ahead goal with 4:57 left in regulation to help lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. With the Panthers trailing 3-1 entering the third period, Sam Reinhart scored twice to briefly make it 3-3 before Kuzmenko answered for the Canucks to stifle the attempted comeback. “We were right there,” said Reinhart, who’s lit the lamp in each of the last four games to increase his team-high goal total to six. “Their first two periods were really solid. I think they were heavier in the battle. It wasn’t that we weren’t moving. I thought we were moving our feet. It’s just in the battles, they were winning the vast majority of them. Early in the season we’ve been able to flip a switch in games, so I like that again tonight, but I think just earlier be more urgent in the battle.” Just 20 seconds after Quinn Hughes put the Canucks on top ...

SUNRISE, Fla . ( www.floridasportsday.com ) - The Florida Panthers announced today that lower-level Territory Memberships are sold out for the 2023-24 regular season. Fans can still purchase a very limited number of single games, Flex Plan, lower-level group tickets or upper-level Territory Memberships by visiting FloridaPanthers.com/TicketCentral .  “We are thrilled to share that after the excitement in the market building for the past decade, but especially the past two seasons, all lower-level Territory Memberships have sold out at Amerant Bank Arena,” said Chief Revenue Officer Shawn Thornton. “Reach out to speak with a member of our sales and service staff today to learn about limited remaining options for the upcoming 30 th anniversary season.”      As the official ticketing partner of the Panthers, fans and guests should visit SeatGeek.com to purchase all single game tickets and create an account today. Tickets to all Amerant Bank Arena events including ho...

S UNRISE, Fla. ( www.sportsdayjax.com )- The Florida Panthers and National Hockey League announced today that the Panthers have advanced to the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5, 3-2 [OT]. The Panthers head to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since the 1995-96 season and will play the Carolina Hurricanes for the first time in franchise history. Single game tickets for Eastern Conference Final, Games 3, 4 & 6* went on sale Saturday, May 13. The Panthers currently lead the NHL with six road victories and have not lost a contest as the visitors since Game 1 of the 2023 First Round. Florida established a franchise record for the most road wins in a single postseason with a win at Scotiabank Arena (5 in 1996) and became the second team in the past decade to post a road winning streak of six-plus games in a playoff year.     The Panthers become the fifth team in NHL history t...

  SUNRISE, Fla. - The Florida Panthers today announced that their bi-annual ‘Pucks & Pints’ Beerfest presented by Funky Buddha Brewery will take place on Saturday, March 4 at FLA Live Arena when the Panthers host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 6 PM.   ‘Pucks & Pints’ Beerfest begins at 2:30 PM in the CITY Lounge by CITY Furniture for all purchasers with the event concluding around 4:45 PM. Fans can enjoy beer samples, live music and Panthers hockey following the event.      The Panthers Foundation’s biannual event requires all to be 21+ to enter and a portion of all proceeds will benefit the Florida Panthers Foundation. The four pillars of the Foundation include: building the game of hockey for children and youth, supporting health and education initiatives for children, advocating for and supporting veterans' issues, and raising awareness about the endangered Florida panther.     The general admission ticket includes unlimited sampling from part...