Panthers honor Huizenga
Jersey No. 37 retired in tribute to man who brought hockey here
H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, was honored by the hockey team Friday night at the BB&T Center. The team retired a jersey in his honor that bears No. 37 — Huizenga was born in 1937.
SUNRISE — The black cover slipped off the banner on the northeast side of the BB&T Center at 7:44 p.m. on Friday night, easing to the ceiling of the building H. Wayne Huizenga helped place for the team he helped create. The Florida Panthers are no longer property of Huizenga. But, with Friday’s ceremony, he’ll always be a part of them.
The Panthers retired No. 37 in a pregame ceremony before their game against Vegas, honoring Huizenga by placing his lucky number and birth year in the rafters. Huizenga was the first owner of the Panthers, responsible for bringing hockey to South Florida in 1992 before the team began play in 1993-94.
Under Huizenga, the Panthers had their most successful season, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995-96, just their third season of existence. The Panthers have not won a playoff series since and qualified for the postseason just four times.
The timeline for retiring Huizenga’s number was not an accident. The Panthers will be celebrating their 25th season next year. December marked 25 years since South Florida was awarded a NHL franchise. So to Panthers CEO and president Matt Caldwell, “We thought there was no better way to kick it off than to honor him.”
Huizenga, 80, is one of the most influential names in South Florida sports history. He