Austin Lee, left, and Nate Cooper pose for a photo in Heated Rivalry themed sweatshirts during Florida Panthers Pride Night on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.
Alie Skowronski
askowronski@miamiherald.com
Early into Tuesday night’s Florida Panthers game, two things made fans jump up and cheer.
First, the Panthers scored a goal just eight seconds into the game. Second, the DJ played the “All The Things She Said” remix from episode 4 of “Heated Rivalry,” the popular gay romance show about two hockey players that turned into a cultural phenomenon late last year.
“WOOOOOOO!,” young women in the crowd screamed.
It was the Panthers’ annual Pride Night, one of several themed nights the organization promotes throughout the season. This year, things were a bit heated – in more ways than one.
Austin Lee, left, kisses Nate Cooper as they pose for a photo in ‘Heated Rivalry’ themed sweatshirts during Florida Panthers Pride Night. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
LGBTQ and female fans have flocked to hockey now more than ever, though many fans note that the sports world isn’t always inclusive. In 2023, the National Hockey League banned players from wrapping their hockey sticks in rainbow-colored Pride tape, which the league reversed. In February, the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, including Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk, found itself in hot water (or perhaps, on thin ice) after players were seen laughing at a joke President Donald Trump made about inviting the gold-winning women’s hockey team to the White House.
Some people left homophobic or critical comments under the Panthers’ Pride Night Instagram post. “This is Florida not California,” one person wrote. “Politics, religion and sexuality need to stay out of sports,” wrote another. During warm-ups on Tuesday, Donovan Sebrango appeared to have been the only Panthers player to wrap rainbow tape onto his hockey stick.
But LGBTQ Panthers fans and their allies said they felt the love from their hometown team at Pride Night, which the Panthers have been hosting since 2013. The Pride flag waved outside Amerant Bank Arena, bars served special Pride-themed cocktails and stores sold Pride-themed merchandise, with proceeds from Pride jersey sales going toward LGBTQ nonprofits.
“It means everything. It’s an epic thing,” said artist Trey Opp, who designed the Pride Night jersey. “Even with negative feedback or negative comments that come about, [the Panthers] stay strong and truly represent the community.”
Florida Panthers defenseman Donovan Sebrango (6), was one of the only Florida Panther to wear Pride tape on his stick during Pride Night. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Chris Leidenfrost and Joshue Espinal, a couple that was taking selfies with friends in front of the rainbow ‘LOVE’ balloons, told the Herald that the Panthers hosting a night focused on inclusion was important.
“You see every aspect and demographic of Florida here in the best and the worst ways, let’s be honest,” Leidenfrost said, laughing. “Being able to have a night for the gay, lesbian, trans, bi and plus community, it’s just another aspect of what makes this team in particular so welcoming and such a part of the South Florida community.”
Local LGBTQ nonprofits highlighted
Just next to the balloon art was a table of volunteers passing out flyers and buttons for SunServe, a Broward-area LGBTQ nonprofit that offers free mental health and social services.
As the Trump administration cracked down on DEI initiatives, many corporate sponsors have backed away from supporting LGBTQ organizations like SunServe, said CEO Tony Lima. But not the Florida Panthers, which annually donates at least $10,000 to SunServe’s family therapeutic support group, Lima said.
“The Panthers are doing this to support the community, but they’re also being leaders in supporting diversity at a time when this is something that’s shunned upon in many circles in our community, whether it be the business world or politically,” he said.
A Florida Panthers fan picks up Pride bracelets from a SunServe table during Florida Panthers Pride Night. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Assistant conductor Anthony Cabrera and ensemble administrator Ginny McCulloh of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida shared a similar sentiment. Local politicians that previously supported the chorus, either socially or financially, are now fearful of retribution by the governor, Cabrera said. “While it’s painful to us, we understand that people need to survive,” he said.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, which sang the national anthem Tuesday night, have worked with the Panthers for Pride Night for about a decade, he said.
“When sports teams and other organizations are told not to do DEI initiatives, it shows a lot of humanity and courage that they’re willing to embrace the LGBTQ+ community, invite us and include us in these events,” McCulloh said.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida performs the national anthem at Florida Panthers Pride Night. Courtesy of Florida Panthers The ‘Heated Rivalry’ of it all
Few places in the arena were as busy as the merch store. Fans squeezed past each other to grab bright rainbow T-shirts, Pride-themed coffee cups, specialty hockey pucks and Stanley Cup memorabilia.
Steven Lazarus and Corey Anker didn’t realize it was Pride Night when their friend got them tickets, but the event was a pleasant surprise, they said. They each left the store with Pride shirts.
“The LGBT community is close to my heart, and the fact that the Panthers are supporting it, I think is a tremendous thing,” said Anker, who bought the shirt for a loved one. “Especially in a very masculine-dominated, aggressive sport like hockey, I think it’s important that they’re supporting that community.”
Lazarus, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, said he thinks “Heated Rivalry” has encouraged LGBTQ people who usually don’t engage with sports to explore it. In the show, breakout stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams play closeted rival hockey players who keep their romance a secret.
LGBTQ Pride-themed merchandise available during the Florida Panthers’ Pride Night. Courtesy of Florida Panthers
“It’s opened a lot of people, and now more people are comfortable about coming out and seeing who they are,” he said. “Being LGBT doesn’t come in any shape, size, look, color. Moving forward, it’s hopefully more accepted. Nights like this, where a major organization accepts Pride, helps our community.”
Couple Anna Twite and Alex Martinez, both 27, came from Orlando to attend their first Pride Night, thanks to Martinez’s mother who is a season ticket holder. Twite became a Panthers fan once she started dating Martinez, who has been a fan for many years.
Though sports culture tends to lean “macho,” Martinez and Twite said they felt safe and welcome at the game. “It’s good to know that something that I’m a big fan of also supports me and my life,” Twite said.
“Especially being in Florida, it can be very dicey, especially after everything that’s recently happened. It’s nice that we are having this night, so it feels more welcoming,” Martinez said.
When asked about young fans like themselves getting into hockey because of “Heated Rivalry,” the pair laughed. Though she hasn’t watched the show herself, Martinez said many of her friends started watching hockey because of it, which has lead to some funny conversations.
“You like hockey for a different reason than I do, but at least you’re now watching. Whatever it took to get them there, I guess,” Martinez said, laughing. She joked that her friends that are new hockey fans try to make the show come to life when they are watching games. “They’re always like, ‘Are they dating?’ No!”
As the couple made their way to their seats, Twite said she was just hoping for a win.
She got what she wanted. The Panthers beat the Ottawa Senators 6 to 3.
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 5:48 AM.