(Fort Lauderdale) It took Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice 30 years to win a Stanley Cup ring. And after receiving the box containing his new jewelry on Monday, he had to wait about 30 minutes before he could look at it.
The reason: The Panthers wanted everyone in the organization to be able to see the rings together. And the wait was worth it.
The Panthers handed out dozens of rings in a private ceremony commemorating last season’s Stanley Cup to players, coaches, team officials, athletic and medical training staff and more.
PHOTO WILFREDO LEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice
But owners Vincent and Teresa Viola had a rule: since, according to them, everyone in the organization had to come together to win the cup, everyone had to open the boxes at the same time.
“No peeking,” Vincent Viola said as he and his wife handed out the rings their family designed. The rings contained 617 precious stones, mainly 15.6 carat diamonds, all set in yellow gold.
The image of a rat was engraved inside the ring, a nod to the plastic toys fans throw on the ice after a victory.
Even the boxes were unique: The inside of the lid had a video screen that showed highlights of last year’s Stanley Cup.
“You can just see the love that went into making it,” said Panthers president and general manager of hockey operations Bill Zito as he proudly showed off his ring.
“It was truly a moving and special experience. »
Vincent Viola hinted to team captain Aleksander Barkov that he would like to hold another ring ceremony in a year.
“We have to aim for a second one, right?” “, he said to the Finn.
“Getting this ring is the icing on the cake,” Sam Bennett said. It’s a great way to start the new season. »
The Panthers will raise their Stanley Cup banner in a ceremony Tuesday before facing the Boston Bruins in their first game of the regular season.