Aaron Ekblad Leads Panthers’ Stanley Cup Banner Ceremony

A moment that will live forever in franchise lore was the culmination of the Florida Panthers’ historic championship celebration. As his teammates stood arm in arm, watching the championship banner ascend to the rafters of Amerant Bank Arena, defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has been with the team for the longest, brought back the Stanley Cup to center ice. The crowd, which was both roaring and sold out, stood up in a thunderous applause as the banner representing Florida’s first Stanley Cup title slowly lowered.

Ekblad, “brought the Stanley Cup to the ice and the team watched from the ice as the banner slowly made its way to the rafters.” The ceremony came one day after the Panthers received their championship rings in a private ceremony “to commemorate their latest title run” . Panthers players “watched on the ice with arms locked around each other, and the sold-out crowd applauded.” This scene “never gets old, no matter how many times it might happen,” and the fans “already were counting ahead.” In the final seconds before puck drop, fans inside the arena chanted, “We want three, we want three!”

For both players and fans alike, it was a scene filled with pride, gratitude, and emotion. As the final inches of the banner disappeared into the rafters, chants of “We want three! We want three!” Echoed through the arena, signaling that Panthers Nation was already looking ahead to another title run.

“It’s a good way to kind of sum up the last season,” center Anton Lundell said. “When the banner’s up, we’re ready to go. It’s time to try to get a new one up there.”

The banner-raising ceremony took place one day after the team gathered for a private ceremony to receive their championship rings. Players, coaches, and ownership attended the event, which paid tribute to a group that had overcome hardship and won the franchise’s long-awaited championship.

The emotional moment of presenting rings to each other was shared by team owners Vincent and Teresa Viola and their families. The gesture highlighted the familial atmosphere that has become a trademark of the Panthers’ organization.

“I never believed that owning a sports team could be as invigorating, as heart-touching, that you’d care about the players when they get hurt,” said Teresa Viola, reflecting on the emotional connection she’s developed with the team. “You want to run down there like a mom and just go, ‘My goodness, are you OK?’ This team has shown me the spirit of togetherness, family, everything that I hoped it would be.”

The Panthers’ story of their rise to hockey’s pinnacle is captured in Jostens’ championship rings, which symbolize more than just victory. Chris Poitras, GM and Senior Vice President of Jostens, highlighted the artistry involved in creating Jostens’ Professional Sports Division.

“The best part about these rings is how far they’ve come through the evolution of technology, manufacturing, and process innovation,” said Poitras. “Every ring we create is essentially a blank canvas now. That’s what makes it so exciting—we can tell every story a team wants to tell because the space and the possibilities have expanded so much.”

 

For Ekblad, whose entire career has been with Florida, the moment was significant. He was crowned Stanley Cup champion after years of setbacks, injuries, and near-misses, winning the ultimate prize before a crowd of jubilant fans.

 

The Florida Panthers’ path from underdogs to champions had come full circle as the lights dimmed and the crowd settled in for the puck drop. The team and its passionate fan base are looking forward to more, as evidenced by the chants from the stands.