Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk has become a South Florida sports icon after leading his team to its first Stanley Cup.
POMPANO BEACH — Matthew Tkachuk has been a Panther for only two seasons, but he is already a beloved South Florida sports icon.
In the wake of winning the Stanley Cup on Monday night, Tkachuk and his teammates have been greeted everywhere they go by celebrating Panthers fans, whether that was the Elbo Room on Tuesday morning, E11ven night club in Miami on Wednesday or a Raising Cane’s restaurant in Pompano Beach on Thursday morning, where people lined up for hours to meet or just catch a glimpse of the Panthers star.
“It’s special for me,” Tkachuk said. “I take great pride in it. I try to be a really good ambassador for hockey down here. To see the fan support for myself and the team not only just since winning but for my whole two years here. It’s been incredible. I couldn’t believe the line out there when I pulled in. It’s a Thursday — I can’t even keep track of the days right now, but it’s definitely not a weekend yet — but every day’s a weekend when you win a Cup.”
Although South Florida is not considered a traditional hockey market, Tkachuk, who was traded to Florida before the 2022-23 season, has made a point to show love to the fans who have been supporting the team the last two years.
“I knew this would be the best atmosphere I’ll ever play in,” Tkachuk said after Monday’s win. “Game 7, Stanley Cup Final at home. Our fans are unbelievable and have been ever since I got here. … It’s so incredible. The best thing that’s happened to me in hockey was coming down here.”
Tkachuk added Thursday: “Really want to grow the game down here in South Florida. It’s the best place to live. They’ve done so much for me in my two years here. I want to leave hockey in a better place than when I came.”
Tkachuk, now missing his playoff beard (“My mustache was getting in my mouth a bit, which in the last few games was getting a little annoying,” he said.), told CBS Sports that he has slept about three hours since Monday, but he still had the energy to take a few orders of chicken tenders and speak to assembled fans outside the restaurant.
“Champions of the world … It’s been absolutely amazing,” Tkachuk told the crowd. “You guys are the reason why I get up and do what I do every single day.”
Tkachuk added, “Let’s party all summer.”
Before partying at the Elbo Room on Tuesday morning, Tkachuk and his teammates spent some quieter time hanging out at his house with the Cup.
“That was the most amazing, special part was kind of just myself and my teammates at my house,” Tkacuk said. Pretty much everybody was there, just looking at the names on the Cup. Just talking about memories of the run, whether it was the playoffs or regular season. That was a very special moment for me.”
The celebrations will continue through the week and into the weekend, culminating in Sunday’s championship parade down A1A in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s going to be so special,” Tkachuk said. “Right down the beach, not too far from where my house is. Place in an area that I’ve hung out ever since I’ve been there. To see the transformation of what it’s going to look like at the parade, to have the Cup there to see all the fans, I’ve been looking forward to this day my whole entire life.”
