Panthers’ championship sparks hockey boom in Florida
Ice hockey is gaining popularity in Florida, fueled by the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory and the state’s recent run of NHL success. Local rinks, once unlikely venues for the sport, are seeing more young players take up hockey. Teen skater Leighton Baumel says competition has surged as kids are inspired by the Panthers’ win, marking a generational shift in a sport traditionally tied to colder northern climates.