Ring ceremony ‘cherry on top’ of Stanley Cup celebration before new Panthers season begins

Matthew Tkachuk kept looking down at his right hand and couldn’t help but smile.

The Florida Panthers on Monday received their final piece of memorabilia to commemorate their Stanley Cup victory when the team received its championship rings at a private ceremony at the War Memorial Auditorium adjacent to their practice facility in Fort Lauderdale. The team originally planned to hold the ceremony at Amerant Bank Arena open to the public, but that event was canceled as a precaution due to the potential for weather related to Hurricane Milton.

“I’ve never seen a piece of jewelry like this in my entire life,” Tkachuk said, gazing at the ring. “I unfortunately can’t keep the Stanley Cup in my possession at all times, but this will remind me of that each and every day.”

At the hour-long ceremony, players as well as members of the team’s coaching staff, front office, executives, training and medical staff and equipment staff received a box that contained their ring. Owners Vincent and Teresa Viola presented each player with his ring personally, spending about a minute praising each player for his accomplishments and what he meant to the team.

As box after box was handed out, a reminder was given.

“No peeking,” Vincent Viola said.

Once everyone had their box, the countdown began. And then, finally, together, as one, everyone saw the ring together for the first time.

“It was so special,” said Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito, the architect of the Panthers’ roster that accomplished the ultimate goal in the team’s 30th season. “It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a team [to win a Stanley Cup]. It’s family, and you can just tell really the love they put into making it. It’s really humbling and special. And it’s a word probably that’s overused and short word, but neat. It’s just just cool and blessed. You feel the family and everything the Violas do. This is a masterpiece, elegant, and it’s beautiful.”

The ceremony was a night of celebration. It was a night of recognition. It was a night of remembrance.

It was also a night of finality, a night of closure.

Because as soon as the calendar flips from Monday to Tuesday, the Stanley Cup championship run of the 2023-24 season is over and the Stanley Cup title defense of 2024-25 begins with the Panthers hosting the Boston Bruins.

“To get this ring, this is the cherry on top,” center Sam Bennett said. “It’s a great way to start the new season.”

Added forward Evan Rodrigues: “It’s nice to put a nice wrap to it and kind of officially close out that season and start to look forward to this season — what we need to do and the day-to-day grind of what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. ... Turn the page and get after it.”

Ring details

And if they needed any more motivation to want to win a second Stanley Cup, finally getting to see their championship rings certainly helps.

Each ring, which came in a box that has a video screen that shows highlights from the Cup run, includes 554 diamonds, 16 princess-cut rubies, one round genuine ruby, nine round genuine blue sapphires and 37 round genuine yellow sapphires.

The Panthers’ shield logo is crafted atop the ring, created with diamonds and blue and yellow sapphires. The words ‘STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS’ are on the perimeter.

The recipient’s name is on left side of the ring. Below that which contains either the word ‘PANTHERS’ or the person’s title within the organization as well as either the player’s number or a diamond-and-ruby representation of the Florida flag for non-players. There are additional tabs for captain Aleksander Barkov and the team’s alternate captains Aaron Ekblad and Tkachuk.

The right side of the ring has the word ‘FLORIDA’ across the top with the Stanley Cup, the year 2024, and a beach and palm tree background that pays homage to South Florida and the site of the team’s championship parade celebration on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The interior of the ring includes series results from the Panthers’ playoff run (4-1 over Tampa Bay, 4-2 over Boston, 4-2 over the New York Rangers and 4-3 over Edmonton) and, of course, a rat, among other details.

“Everything that they did was for a specific reason,” Tkachuk said. “Absolutely incredible. I will say it was the best kept secret in town. We had no idea what was on it or what to expect, so they did an incredible job.”

‘We did it’

The Violas were the final two to pick up their boxes, husband and wife trading boxes with each other.

When Teresa gave Vincent the last box, she paused for a moment to find the right words about her husband and about their decade-long journey since taking purchasing the Panthers in 2013.

“Vinny has a vision and when Vinny sets his mind to a vision, he does it,” Teresa Viola said. “And 10 years ago, you said we were going to win the Stanley Cup. And we did it.”

They did, and now the quest for another is here.

When Vincent Viola gave Barkov his ring, he dropped a not-so-subtle hint at what he wants done next.

“We have to go for No. 2,” Viola told his captain.

On Monday night, for the final time, they celebrated No. 1.

But when the puck drops on Tuesday?

“We get to play again,” Barkov said, “and we get to fight for it again.”