Stanley Cup -Master Panthers honored by President Trump in the White House

Panthers also reached the Stanley Cup final in 2023 before losing to Vegas Golden Knights in five matches in 2023. Florida (32-19-3) leads the Atlantic Division again this season and hoping to make a race in a third equal final look and Repeat as Cup Masters.

Trump complimented the Panthers owner Vincent Viola, whom he called “one of my friends” and noticed contributions from coach Paul Maurice, Captain Aleksander Barkov, goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky, Tkachuk and the fellow Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.

“It was very special,” said Barkov, who is from Finland. “I know I’m not American, but still it was a huge honor to come to visit the White House and see Mr. President and shake his hand. Even to be in the same room with him it was a special thing, so sure of one of the moments that you will remember for the rest of your life. “

Viola, Barkov and Tkachuk presented President Trump with a framed Panthers jersey with “45-47” on the back-plays that he is the 45th and 47th president of the United States, another “Trump 47” jersey and a Gold stick before spending a few minutes with him in the oval office.

“This was really cool,” said Forwan Rodrigues. “You go into the season and you turn the kind since a little, but coming here and kind of celebrating it again was a cool experience. It was something you probably look at an experience that was once in life, meeting the president and going to go to the oval office. Just a great moment. “

This was the Panthers’ second visit with a three -month president, Florida also met Finland’s President Alexander Stubb after the second game of the 2024 NHL Global Series Finland against Dallas Stars in Tampere on November 2nd. Panthers presented President Stubb, whose father Goran Stubb was NHL’s director of European Scout for 40 years, before retiring in 2023, with a custom jersey and took their photo with him in the dressing room.

“It actually tells you a lot about what we achieved because you know it’s a big thing,” said Barkov, who was the first Finland-born captain to hoist the Stanley Cup. “As a hockey player you want to win the Stanley Cup, but then when you do, there are so many different honors and results, and apparently meet the president – the Finnish president, the US president – it was a great honor. So it was worth it. “

Going to the White House at this time had further importance to Tkachuk. The 27-year-old will play for his country with his younger brother Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa senators in the next 4 nations face-off, an international tournament with teams consisting only of NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States held 12-20. February in Montreal and Boston.

“Represents the United States that also come up (on 4 Nations Face-off) and to be here in the White House, it all comes together so quickly,” Tkachuk said. “I’m definitely very proud to be American and be from the US. I can’t really emphasize how much it means to me to be here. “