Have you ever kept a scoresheet during a live sporting event? A game official filled in this hand-written scoresheet and game report during the first-ever Panthers game, a 4-4 tie with the Chicago Blackhawks on the road. During the game, Scott Mellanby scored the team’s first-ever goal.

Scott Mellanby served as the second team captain in Panthers history, but that is just one of the reasons why he has a starring role in Panthers history books. The right winger scored the first goal in franchise history and, even more notably, is responsible for starting the “rat trick” tradition.

While all Panthers players celebrated a 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators, Jonathan Huberdeau had an individual accomplishment during the game. Early in the second period, Huberdeau got free in front of the Nashville net, made a series of moves then aimed this puck past the goalie for his 158th career goal. The score moved […]

A hand-written message on a rat projectile wished the Panthers good luck during the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The scrawled no. 27 and capital M made this rat specific to the man behind the Rat Trick, Scott Mellanby.

Scott Mellanby joined the franchise’s 100-goal club with a score in a 3-3 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs. One of the team’s first snipers, Mellanby ultimately scored 157 goals for the franchise.

Scott Mellanby took an early leadership role for the franchise, attending hockey clinics and meet-and-greets with South Floridians, many of whom had never seen a hockey game in their lives. “This is a new experience for all of us,” Mellanby said in August 1993, just a few weeks before the team’s first game. “But … […]

Beyond inspiring the “Year of the Rat,” Scott Mellanby’s 70 points led the 1995-1996 Panthers team.

What a way to close out the inaugural season! Scott Mellanby tallied his 30th goal of the year in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on April 14, 1994. Mellanby led the Panthers in goals and points that season.

With 25 years of history, the Panthers have had plenty of time to accumulate a legend or two. To mark the quarter-century anniversary, Coca-Cola commissioned a series of collectible pins featuring Panthers standouts such as Olli Jokinen, whose jersey graces this pin. Other legends featured throughout the season included Ed Jovanovski, Stephen Weiss, Scott Mellanby, […]

The Florida Panthers celebrated their silver anniversary with former players, fans and Coca-Cola! As a 25-year franchise partner, Coca-Cola contributed to the celebratory atmosphere in many ways, such as offering a series of collectible pins. Team legends Ed Jovanovski, Olli Jokinen, Stephen Weiss, Scott Mellanby, Rob Niedermayer and Bryan McCabe were all featured on pins […]