At a home game against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 19, 2018, the Panthers formally retired a jersey for H. Wayne Huizenga, the team’s founder and first owner. The businessman, born in 1937, was given the honorary number of 37.

On Jan. 19, 2018, H. Wayne Huizenga’s no. 37 jersey was sent to the rafters of BB&T Center (now Amerant Bank Arena) when the Panthers honored their founder and original owner. The Panthers chose no. 37 for the businessman because he was born in 1937. Huizenga became the second Panther to have his number retired, […]

When the Panthers chose their name, the team pledged to raise awareness about Florida’s endangered state animal. Team founder and then-owner H. Wayne Huizenga did just that in 1993 when he announced a series of plans and donations related to the cause, including a $25,000 contribution to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Ever since, […]

Did the Panthers know that Opening Night 1995 would go down in team history? Players and owner H. Wayne Huizenga signed a poster commemorating the game, where Scott Mellanby’s Rat Trick was the highlight of a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames.

Bill Torrey became a legend when he turned the struggling New York Islanders into a dynasty in the 1970s and 1980s. After a 21-year career with the Islanders, Torrey answered Panthers owner H. Wayne Huizenga’s call to help build the NHL’s newest expansion franchise. He would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as […]

Panthers owner H. Wayne Huizenga had a great deal of experience in business and sports management, but did not have much specific experience with hockey. In early 1993, just months before the franchise would take the ice for the first time, he hired NHL legend Bobby Clarke as the franchise’s Vice President and General Manager. […]

The Panthers paid tribute to their namesake with a Conservation Night at BB&T Center (now Amerant Bank Arena) on March 24, 2018, winning 4-2 over the Arizona Coyotes. Before the Panthers first took the ice in 1993, team founder H. Wayne Huizenga was committed to recognizing the endangered Florida panther, prominently using it as the […]

The first Panthers owner, H. Wayne Huizenga, brought hockey to South Florida. In 1996, he watched the team bring home an Eastern Conference Championship. Marti Huizenga was well-known for bringing a tote bag filled with plastic rats to playoff games in 1996.

H. Wayne Huizenga wore his affection for the Panthers on his sleeves…inside and out. This reversible, bold jacket was a mainstay of his wardrobe while attending games and other Panthers events. He donned it for iconic Panthers moments such as the uniform unveiling on June 14, 1993, a joint puck drop with new owner Vincent […]

Prior to a Panthers game on January 19, 2018, the team honored founder H. Wayne Huizenga and his family for their contributions to the team and the South Florida community. Though Mr. Huizenga was unable to attend, his sons H. Wayne Jr. and Ray accepted a plaque from Panthers ownership representative John Viola. Later that […]