WPTV’s Mike Trim talks to Panthers reporter Jessica Blaylock

WPTV’s Mike Trim talks to Panthers reporter Jessica Blaylock

[Music] Heat up [Music] here. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Music is exciting every time. What’s up YouTube viewers on the WPTV News YouTube channel. Thank you so much for joining us for Panthers 360. We have a very special guest today. pleased to announce Jessica Bllelock, the television host for your Florida Panthers script sports broadcast. Jessica, first of all, thank you. I know you’re in between games, but thank you so much for making time out of your busy schedule for us. Thank you so much for having me. I always love talking Panthers hockey. Oh, who doesn’t, right? And and and you are with the team. First of all, for those that might not be extra familiar with your broadcasting, how long have you been with the Panthers now in this role and you get to sit next to Jo? What a treat. So, I have been with the Panthers overall for 11 seasons now. This is my 11th year of covering Florida Panthers hockey. Uh, started out sideline reporting exclusively and over the past couple of years have transitioned into the full-time hosting role. So, yes, uh, truly blessed to be able to do what I do and working with Ed Jovonowski and Goldie and Randy and Katie. I mean, we just have we have so much fun um, covering such an amazing team. So, uh, definitely definitely sitting on the desk with Jo. We crack up all the time. Love the broadcast and so grateful to be a part of it. The chemistry is incredible watching you guys is such a treat. So, let’s talk about the chemistry of the team that is right now this version of the Florida Panthers. We’re early on in the season after a big big home win against the Dallas Stars Saturday night. What have you been able to see at you up close and personal with the team, where they are right now, and and what we could see out of this upcoming road trip as well? Yeah, I think what you’ve seen early on in the season is a team that is still continuing to figure out their identity without key pieces like Alexander Barov, Matthew Kachchuck, Tomas Nosk, and Dimmitri Kulakov. um and now having to play, you know, right now without Jonah Gajivic, which is still just a wait and see what’s going to end up happening with him. So, when you take key components out of your lineup like that, especially players like Bararkov and Kachchuck who touch every single aspect of the game, um you know, it takes time to figure out what you’re ultimately going to look like. And I actually talked to Sam Bennett about that the other day. um and he said, you know, he expects the whole season to kind of be a process of figuring out what the team’s identity is going to look like. So, I think uh the first handful of games you really just saw maybe a little bit of inconsistency in the sense that they won the three at home, then they had a an overall kind of tough road trip, able to finish it off with a great win in Boston. Um, and now the past couple of games, you’ve seen them kind of get back on track of what has really defined their identity over the past couple of years and why they’ve been able to be so successful. Um, you know, a strong defensive game and utilizing the forch check. And so I I think it’s now four straight games for the Florida Panthers where they only allowed 17 shots on goal in regulation. Um, and so that’s that’s a very very impressive number. uh which just speaks to that defensive identity. And I think the one thing you’re really seeing them try and work on a little bit more right now is how to add a little bit more offensively without subtracting from that defensive identity. Yeah, when they really get the forch check going and keeping it in their zone, that is a sight to see. And fans of the last, you know, three, four seasons are like, that’s the Panthers teams we know. And once they get it turning and of course, coach Paul Maurice is happy with that, too. Uh it must be a treat to see that, you know, up close and personal uh with your role. So within your role and it we’re still all pinching ourselves here too at WPTV. And by the way, fans, I want you to get your comments in on this YouTube live on the WPTV News uh YouTube page. You’re still saying, do you believe it when you say it? Hey, you’re back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champion, Florida Panthers. What does that mean to you being with the team so long? You’ve seen the ups and downs, but when you say that, is it still special? Oh, absolutely. It will always be special, especially when you considering, you know, there’s so much parody in the NHL. Um, and there are no easy outs. I I don’t care if you’re the top team in the league or the last team in the league. Every night it’s a battle with every single team around the league. And so it’s not only so difficult to get to the playoffs, but it’s so difficult to get to the Stanley Cup final. And the fact that the Panthers have done that multiple years in a row and won in back-to-back years, it’s such an impressive accomplishment. And I just always come back to gratitude and especially when it comes to the ownership. You know, Vinnie and Terresa Viola have backed up everything that they said they wanted to do. They said they wanted to bring a championship to South Florida. They’ve done it. They have shown long-term commitment uh to players who deserve to be rewarded. Um they have poured into the community. And so I just I always think about how lucky we are as not only you know somebody who covers the team but for fans how lucky we are to have ownership like the Bias to have a general manager like Bill Zitto who is brilliant and seems to always make the right move that always works out. Um, and players who who love being here and and who go to battle for each other and care more about the other players stats than they care about themselves and and feed off the fans and have talked about the importance of the relationship with fans and having them in the building and that home ice advantage. So, I mean, there’s just so many things to be grateful for. Um, and so many positives to highlight when it comes to this team. Yeah, you know, at Panthers 360, we like to really get a all-encompassing view of of the Panthers and and as we as we’re talking, we’re rolling video of the parade, you know, one of the past two years, take your pick. But Jessica, have you seen with this, you know, just a awesome twotime Stanley Cup champions and even making the final year before, have you seen a resurgence in the growing of the sport of hockey in general here in South Florida? not only what the Panthers do, but what the the team gives back as well. There’s so many events now, right? Oh, no doubt. I mean, you drive around and everywhere you’re spotting Panther flags at different establishments and businesses. You’re seeing Panther stickers on the back of cars. Um, Goldie has talked about this a lot and I completely agree. People recognizing you and wanting to talk Panthers hockey when you’re out grocery shopping, which I absolutely love. I always want people to come up and say hi and talk about Florida Panthers hockey with me. Um, and there’s just so much excitement, right? And and you know, you you think of for so long the state of Florida referred to as a non-traditional market in the league and now the state of Florida is the defining area of the standard of hockey in the NHL. So, I think it’s been really exciting to see this transition of how the Panthers were kind of an afterthought in the league for so many years and now they are the standard bearer. They are the destination that players want to come to. They are, you know, the measuring stick when every team comes in here. They’re measuring themselves up against the Panthers getting their best shot. Yeah. With the Cats being back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. So, we uh were talking before this started uh Jessica and you and Jovonowski, Mr. Jovonowski there that you stay at home in the home studios, not on the road with the team, but still part of the broadcast each and every game. Um your game day routine. Do you have superstitions? What do you eat for breakfast? like take me through your game day routine when we’re getting ready for cats hockey in the in the evening. Yeah, game day is uh is pretty much always the same barring an earlier puck drop or backto-back games because in that case we would not have a morning skate. Uh but I wake up, I pretty much eat the same thing for breakfast every day, a little egg white omelette with some coffee. Uh go to morning skate, we get everything we need. Um talk, you know, talk to players, talk to coach, get all the information for the game. I come home and I know players like to take a little afternoon nap, but my mind is just always running. So, like I can never nap on a game day. There’s just too much that I’m thinking about um in preparation for the game. So, I come home, I I work on my notes, I do all my game prep, um relax a little bit, have something to eat, start getting ready, head to the arena a couple hours before the puck drop, uh settle in and and then we take off. And so, um, superstitions tend to come out a lot more in the playoffs than the regular season, but, um, if I ever see 11-11 on the clock, I always make a wish that the Panthers will win. And like, we are going to win that night. That’s like my little thing is if I if I look at the clock and it’s like perfectly 111, I’m like, “Oh yeah, this is going to be a good night. This is going to be night. This is going to be a good one.” Okay. Now, we’re really getting to know you here, but we know that you are an animal lover. You have some in your household. We’re all a fan of Benny’s Buddies here. We’ve showcased that on Panther 360. But your personal connection with some doggos in your house, and they’re superstars, am I right? Well, what’s funny is if you’ve seen me fiddling around during this interview, it’s because I literally have one of my babies on my lap with me. So, this is Marioed him when he was actually 15 years old. He’s about 17 now. And um what’s really amazing is is November is uh senior adoption month. And so just helping bring awareness to the fact that sure there’s a lot of young dogs in the shelter, but there’s a lot of guys like Mario as well. And um having him for the last two years, it’s truly been amazing to see him just kind of come back to life. Uh, you know, obviously he is an old man like everybody can tell that that little tongue gets me every time, but um just getting to love him and see just the progress that he’s made even later on in his years has been truly spec spectacular. So I always encourage, you know, adopt don’t shop because there’s so many animals in need of a loving home. Um and especially in the month of November, I encourage everybody don’t forget about the old guys, too. Yeah. Oh, Mar Mario Mario Mario loves the cuddles. I love that. And I love that. Listen, you could you could uh have a great show, great game, great week, but anytime you do an interview and you’re able to get Mr. Mario in there and showcase them. Jessica Blocklock, thank you so much for your time out of your busy schedule. We look forward to you on the broadcast and the all the Panthers games this year. You can catch her on the scripts sports broadcast as she is your host for the Florida Panther. Jessica, we’ll get you out of here. I want to tell you everybody that you can still comment. We’ll get to your questions and concerns all on our WPTV News YouTube page. And listen, this will live there for a while. Every Wednesday night though, 7:30 p.m. South Florida’s 9. That’s when you can catch our Panthers 360 broadcast. But every Monday, it’s your lunch break, 12:15, just like we talked with Jessica Blocklock here. We’ll be bringing in an analyst to include with our Panthers 360 show. We’re so glad you joined us for this. This is Panthers 360. Have a great rest of the day. See you later, Jessica. Thank you so much for having me on. I appreciate it. Byebye. [Music]

WPTV’s Mike Trim and Panthers reporterJessica Blaylock talk about the latest news with the team. Post your questions below! Also, watch “Panthers 360” airing on South Florida’s 9 each Wednesday night through the hockey season.