FANS GET READY FOR GAME ONE. WE ARE HERE AT THE FLORIDA PANTHERS PRACTICE FACILITY HERE IN FORT LAUDERDALE. YOU CAN SEE THE ZAMBONI DOING ITS THING. THE PLAYERS EARLIER, MAN, THEY ARE READY TO HEAD TO GAME ONE AND SAW THE FANS. IT’S ALL BUSINESS HERE AT THE ICE PLEX. FLORIDA PANTHERS HELD THEIR FINAL HOME PRACTICE MONDAY MORNING BEFORE HEADING TO EDMONTON. THE FACE THE OILERS FOR GAME ONE OF THE STANLEY CUP FINALS AS THE PLAYERS SKATED ON THE ICE. NEARBY FANS STOCKED UP ON MERCHANDISE. GARY LYMAN AND HIS WIFE, PAM, ARE DIEHARD PANTHER FANS. THEY USED TO LIVE NOT FAR FROM THE ARENA AND SUNRISE. THEY NOW LIVE IN LAS VEGAS BUT STILL LOVE THEM. SOME CATS I DON’T LIKE VEGAS. I’M NOT A FAN, AND WHEN WE LOST TO THE KNIGHTS YEARS AGO, I WAS UPSET. BUT WHEN WE BEAT EDMONTON LAST YEAR, I WAS HAPPY AND WE HAVE A REMATCH. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE PANTHERS THAT MAKES YOU LIKE THEM SO MUCH? FLORIDA AND THEIR AWESOME. THEY’VE BEEN FANS SINCE 1993 WHEN THE PANTHERS PLAYED IN MIAMI. THEY’RE HERE VISITING FAMILY AND TELL ME WHENEVER THEY ARE IN TOWN THEY STOP BY THE ARENA TO DO SOME SHOPPING. WE JUST BEEN CONSTANT FLORIDA FANS. WATCH THEM ALL THE TIME, AND IF IT WASN’T ON TV AND I COULDN’T GET IT, I WOULD GO TO THE CASINOS AND WATCH THEM IN LAS VEGAS. WELL, THE FANS EXCITED ABOUT THE GAME AND KEEPING THEIR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE FLORIDA PANTHERS ARE CHAMPIONS AGAIN IN
‘They’re awesome’: Former Florida resident excited about Florida Panthers quest for the Stanley Cup
Updated: 6:36 PM EDT Jun 2, 2025
The Florida Panthers are ready to defend their championship, and their fans couldn’t be more excited.Final Practice Before the FinalOn Monday morning, the team held their final home practice at the Iceplex before heading to Edmonton to face the Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsFans were on-site, stocking up on merchandise while the players skated on the ice, showing their support for the home team. Gary Lieman and his wife Pam have been Panthers fans since 1993, when the team first played in Miami. Originally from Sunrise, near Amarant Arena, the couple now lives in Las Vegas but remains loyal to their Cats. FLORIDA PANTHERS: WPBF 25 Sports Presents: Hunt for the Cup Tuesday, June 3 at 10 p.m.”I don’t like Vegas! I’m not a Knights fan, and when we lost to the Knights years ago, I was upset,” Gary Lieman said. “But when we beat Edmonton last year, I was happy we would have a rematch.”Pam echoed her love for the Panthers.”What is it about the Panthers that makes you like them so much? Florida! And they’re awesome,” Pam Lieman said.The couple, visiting family in South Florida, said they never miss a chance to stop by the arena to shop for Panthers merchandise.”We’ve just been constant Florida fans. Watch them all the time. And if it wasn’t on TV and I couldn’t get it, I would go to the casinos and watch them in Las Vegas,” said Gary Lieman. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —
The Florida Panthers are ready to defend their championship, and their fans couldn’t be more excited.
Final Practice Before the Final
On Monday morning, the team held their final home practice at the Iceplex before heading to Edmonton to face the Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
Fans were on-site, stocking up on merchandise while the players skated on the ice, showing their support for the home team.
Gary Lieman and his wife Pam have been Panthers fans since 1993, when the team first played in Miami. Originally from Sunrise, near Amarant Arena, the couple now lives in Las Vegas but remains loyal to their Cats.
FLORIDA PANTHERS: WPBF 25 Sports Presents: Hunt for the Cup Tuesday, June 3 at 10 p.m.
“I don’t like Vegas! I’m not a Knights fan, and when we lost to the Knights years ago, I was upset,” Gary Lieman said. “But when we beat Edmonton last year, I was happy we would have a rematch.”
Pam echoed her love for the Panthers.
“What is it about the Panthers that makes you like them so much? Florida! And they’re awesome,” Pam Lieman said.
The couple, visiting family in South Florida, said they never miss a chance to stop by the arena to shop for Panthers merchandise.
“We’ve just been constant Florida fans. Watch them all the time. And if it wasn’t on TV and I couldn’t get it, I would go to the casinos and watch them in Las Vegas,” said Gary Lieman.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25