Due to the approaching Hurricane Milton, the Florida Panthers have canceled their public ceremony to award championship rings to players. The event, intended to raise funds for charitable causes with a $20 entry donation benefiting organizations like the team's foundation, the United Negro College Fund, and the United Way, was scheduled for Monday night but will now be a private ceremony. This decision prioritizes the safety of all participants, according to WPTV.
Despite the cancellation of the ceremony, the Panthers are still set to start their regular season against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, which will include the unveiling of the Stanley Cup banner. Matthew Caldwell, the Panthers President and CEO, emphasized the organization's cautious approach, stating, "As this event would take resources from first responders and service providers, we have made the tough decision to cancel our Champions Ring Ceremony out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all involved," as reported by ESPN.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties, including the areas where the Panthers play, due to concerns that Hurricane Milton could strengthen into a major hurricane and threaten the Tampa Bay region by Wednesday. "We are closely monitoring the situation," Caldwell told WPTV, adding that the Florida Panthers will stay in touch with state and local authorities and will proceed carefully as they prepare their arena for the upcoming game.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have also canceled their home exhibition finale against the Nashville Predators due to hurricane preparations in the region. This is the second cancellation for this matchup, which was originally scheduled for September 27 and postponed to Monday because of Hurricane Helene. This time, the game will not be rescheduled, as Tampa Bay's regular season begins today in Carolina, according to ESPN.
