Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe Reveals Wild Stanley Cup Celebration Secrets!

After decades of waiting, the Florida Panthers finally clinched their first-ever Stanley Cup last month, and the celebrations were nothing short of legendary!

Carter Verhaeghe, the Panthers' left winger, shared some juicy details about the team's post-game revelry following their thrilling 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on June 24.

Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly on the ESPYs red carpet in Los Angeles, Verhaeghe revealed, "The best time we had, I think, was in the locker room after. I think we stayed until 5 a.m. You couldn't see in the room because it was so cloudy from all the cigars. It was awesome."

The celebration wasn't just limited to players and coaches; Verhaeghe disclosed, "Everyone was in there. Management, too. We were dumping the Cup on them full of beer. It was a great celebration. There's some things I can't mention, though."

The long-suffering franchise had endured over 20 years without a postseason series win until their triumphant moment in 2022. The Panthers' journey to the Stanley Cup Finals last season ended in disappointment, but this year, they were determined to rewrite history.

The nail-biting Game 7 against the Oilers almost turned into a nightmare as the Panthers nearly blew a 3-0 lead. However, they managed to secure the win, sealing their place in hockey glory.

Verhaeghe, reflecting on the intense season, shared, "I'll relax for a couple of weeks. We played so many games the last couple of years. I've been calming down and letting the body reset. After about a week of celebrating, the body isn't holding up as well anymore. So you want to get back in the gym."

As a Canadian player, Verhaeghe expressed his surprise at the passionate fan base in Florida, noting the growing support for the team. "It's been awesome. I've been there four years now. Every year it seems like we keep on getting more fans. People are coming up to me, recognizing me everywhere," he said.

With the recent success of Florida-based NHL teams, including the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, hockey in the Sunshine State has seen a resurgence, captivating fans across the region.

Verhaeghe's insights into the team's journey to victory and the euphoric celebrations shed light on the camaraderie and dedication that fueled their historic win. As the Panthers bask in their well-deserved glory, the future looks bright for this rising hockey powerhouse.

Reporting by Dan Trainor