Panthers to honor members of 1996 Stanley Cup finalist team on March 12
FLORIDA PANTHERS PRESS RELEASE
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers announced that the organization will honor members of the 1995-96 Panthers team that went to the Stanley Cup Final as part of a 20-year reunion on Saturday, March 12, when the team hosts the Philadelphia Flyers at the BB&T Center at 7:00 p.m.
Among the players, coaches and staff confirmed for the event are Scott Mellanby, John Vanbiesbrouck, Ed Jovanovski, Bill Torrey, Doug Maclean, Bill Lindsay, Johan Garpenlov, Tom Fitzgerald, Brian Skrudland, Jason Woolley, Radek Dvorak, Terry Carkner, Mike Hough, Ray Sheppard, Bryan Murray, Chuck Fletcher, Duane Sutter, Gord Murphy, Dave Smith and Scott Tinkler.
"We are thrilled to welcome so many players and staff from the 1995-96 Stanley Cup Final team back to Florida," Panthers Executive Chairman Peter Luukko said. "We look forward to honoring their accomplishments and having a great reunion weekend."
The 1995-96 team was the first playoff team in franchise history and played its first playoff game on April 14, 1996 at the Miami Arena. The team went on to defeat the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Philadelphia Flyers in the semifinals and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the conference finals before heading to the Stanley Cup Final. The 1995-96 Panthers ultimately fell to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final.
