Torrential downpours and lightning did not stop droves of Florida Panther fans in Fort Lauderdale from partying outside for hours to celebrate the NHL team鈥檚 championship.
The victory was dramatic. A Game 7 win after blowing a 3-0 series lead to lift the first Stanley Cup in the team's 30-year history. The celebrations were appropriately wild. Not even the heavy rain 鈥� so bad that flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service 鈥� accompanied by a huge lightning storm could stop the
The fans braved all the elements, awaiting the champs' arrival on double-decker buses that took a beachfront route down the A1A before stopping for a rally where the trophy was hoisted time and time again.
鈥淭his is the most Florida thing I can think of, I mean what鈥檚 more Florida than it raining on a special event?鈥� said Andrew Garcia, who had traveled from Charlotte, N.C., and could not have cared less about the weather conditions.
The 28-year-old grew up in Broward and spent his childhood playing hockey at what is now the Florida Panthers IceDen. Last Monday, when the team clinched the win, is a night he will never forget.
鈥淚 was jumping up and down, and I was screaming, it was amazing,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淚 sent flowers to my downstairs neighbor because she鈥檚 a lovely old woman and I definitely woke her up.鈥�
Christina Lewis is another fan who travelled far to join in the celebrations. The 31-year-old, who grew up watching Panthers games in Fort Lauderdale, had hopped on a redeye flight from San Diego and landed in Florida at 6 a.m.
鈥淚 need a coffee, but I鈥檓 so excited,鈥� Lewis said.
Her cousin Charly Zubizarreta, recalled going to games together when she was a kid and Lewis was a baby.
鈥淚t feels like a long time coming, but at the same time, extremely well deserved,鈥� Zubizarreta said. 鈥淎fter rooting for them and waiting for it and hoping and praying, [we] see it come to fruition.鈥�
READ MORE: 'Unbelievable': Fans celebrate Florida Panthers' first Stanley Cup win after Game 7 nail-biter
At the end of the parade, a stage was set up on Fort Lauderdale Beach, where the team held a rally before thousands of soaked fans.
Carter Verhaeghe was the player who got to initially bring the Cup onto the stage, as Queen鈥檚 鈥淲e Are The Champions鈥� blared 鈥� and nobody minded that it was still raining.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice 鈥� no stranger to profanity 鈥� dropped more than a few bleepable moments in his remarks. "Thirty f***ing years," he shouted to the crowd. "This is for all of you!鈥�
鈥淚n my wildest dreams I never would have thought I could see this,鈥� Maurice said from the stage, thanking fans and players for making the Cup run possible. 鈥淪eriously. Understand this. Everybody that we love in this world is ... happy right now.鈥�
The parade and the rally capped a first few days of celebration that included the following items, among others, going into the Stanley Cup at various times: beer, champagne, apple juice, no fewer than three human beings 鈥� all children of players 鈥� and a steaming dish of pasta topped with freshly grated cheese, a dinner that Panthers legend Roberto Luongo proudly enjoyed.
Orlando resident Belal Jaber came to the parade with his 6-year-old son Dean. The 39-year-old hopes that the Panthers can go back to back and win the cup again next year.
鈥淸My son] has helped us become a hockey family, so it鈥檚 really exciting to see the excitement through him,鈥� Jaber said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a true South Florida celebration unless there鈥檚 some thunderstorms.鈥�
Additional reporting from the Associated Press.
