Florida Panthers bringing Stanley Cup team together for alumni game

[ryan2772]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/hockey/panthers/sfl-flsppanadvance26nbjul26,0,3065720.story

Florida Panthers bringing Stanley Cup team together for alumni game

By Steve Gorten | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

July 26, 2007

Two plastic rats hang in the basement of Brian Skrudland's house. Jody Hull also has a few of them. So does Mike Hough. Those rodents serve as the ultimate reminder of the most memorable and successful hockey season in South Florida.

John Vanbiesbrouck says he finds himself often reflecting back on the 1995-96 Florida Panthers, which Vanbiesbrouck, the goalie affectionately known as "Beezer," helped spur to a riveting run. To Ray Sheppard, "it seems like it was yesterday."

It has been 11 years since the Season of the Rat ended in the Stanley Cup Finals for these players, who are all now retired. But this weekend, for the first time since that magical third year of the franchise, they'll all reunite, along with most of their teammates, and coach Doug MacLean, from that season.

Saturday, they'll skate together again in an exhibition game at BankAtlantic Center. It's the featured event in the "Weekend of the Rat," a reunion organized by the Florida Panthers' Alumni Association. Players will be flown in and arrive at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood between 5-7 p.m. tonight and play in a golf tournament at Parkland Golf & Country Club on Friday, although that event is not open to the public.

"It's a chance for a lot of good friends to get back together and relive some memories," said Bill Lindsay, a left wing for the '95-96 Panthers who played in Germany the past two years. "Even though some of those guys I haven't had contact with, I could see them tomorrow and we wouldn't miss a beat. Being with them on the ice is going to be the beauty of this reunion. Once we all get back together, we'll fall right in step of where we've always been."

Two notables have other commitments and won't there: Rob Niedermayer and Robert Svehla.

Sheppard said he e-mails several former teammates, but seeing them in person will be special.

The Panthers haven't made the playoffs for six consecutive seasons, tied for the longest streak in the NHL. But in 1995-96, they finished third in their division (41-31-10, 92 points) and fourth in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, then beat in the Bruins 4 games to 1 in a seven-game series, the Flyers 4-2 and the Penguins 4-3 before losing to the Avalanche in four games in the finals.

Right winger Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the dressing room with his stick minutes before the home opener that season, then scored two goals that night, prompting Vanbiesbrouck to declare Mellanby's feat a "Rat Trick." Throwing plastic rats on the ice after goals soon became a phenomenon.

"We accomplished some pretty lofty things with a group of guys who were considered mediocre players at the time," Lindsay said. "That's what made it pretty special. … It's been a long time that we've been talked about. It shows you what kind of character that team had."

Lindsay said he wishes this reunion could have been last year, the 10th anniversary. Alumni Association president Randy Moller said the idea was discussed for years, but the timing wasn't right.

"Last year when we talked about it, it just wasn't right as far as scheduling for everybody," Moller said. "We thought, 'If we're going to do it, we're going to do it right.'"

more info:

http://panthers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=5531

[Guest dancefloored]

thoughts are with ya lindsay

[ryan2772]

game is sat 7/28 @ 3pm

[Bling]

8)

[Guest JMT]

i had season tickets back then.

brings back memories.

[Guest RzO]

i saw this, i wish i could make it down if i wasn't playing golf tomorrow afternoon. I used to go to alot of those games back when the beezer was in the net.

[Guest lulamishka]

::wipes tear from eye:: I love those guys. I still have all my autographed 8x10's, pucks, hockey cards, jersey and god knows what else put away under my bed. Brings back great memories before my clubbing days. ::sniff::

To this day I still have a Panther license plate.

[ryan2772]

i'm going to try my best to go, really hope i can. this would be freaking amazing. a lot of these guys are retired now.

"memories" is an understatement.

this was a truly remarkable team. no superstars, just everyone doing their part, busting their asses. and the whole "rat" thing will always be one of the most unique fan-interaction phenomena in any sport. it was something that everyone knew was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so everyone felt like they were part of something great. stanley cup finals in three years...there are decades-old franchises who haven't reached that point. it was a very special thing to be a panther fan at that time. they brought hockey to south florida, and it was awesome to be among the first players in ice hockey leagues as a teenager.

Rzo, i'm still waiting to fight you.

[Guest JMT]

finals game 4... although they were staring down the broom handles, and they ended up on the short end... it was still one of the best hockey games i've ever seen.

[Guest klubveteran]

that was a great run. Miami Arena.

since they moved to Sunrise. 3 name changes on the arena 2 playoff games in 10 years :'(

ouch. nice arena too. although im pissed cuz last year i went to a few games and they dont accept credit cards at the concession. ??? im like even walgreens and macdonalds accepts credit cards.

[Guest lulamishka]

i'm going to try my best to go, really hope i can. this would be freaking amazing. a lot of these guys are retired now.

"memories" is an understatement.

this was a truly remarkable team. no superstars, just everyone doing their part, busting their asses. and the whole "rat" thing will always be one of the most unique fan-interaction phenomena in any sport. it was something that everyone knew was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so everyone felt like they were part of something great. stanley cup finals in three years...there are decades-old franchises who haven't reached that point. it was a very special thing to be a panther fan at that time. they brought hockey to south florida, and it was awesome to be among the first players in ice hockey leagues as a teenager.

Rzo, i'm still waiting to fight you.

I remember crying when I heard Skrewy got traded. And then I went out and bought an autographed plaque w/ his 8x10 photo on it with the little money I had in honor of him. lol. I later tossed the plaque and kept the signed 8x10.

[Bling]

i have a signed poster by beezer i framed it professionally. got it from him himself during a game that season i had 4th row tix behind beezer...

[Guest Clubhopper11]

I will never forget Game 6 between the Panthers and the Penguins. I was fortunately there to witness the Beezer stop Jagr on the penalty shot. I will never forget the crowd going ape shit.

Another memory I will never forget was a playoff game vs. the Bruins whereby Lindsey scored that diving goal and my brother was so happy he poured beer over my head. LOL

I miss Miami Arena. I miss those Panthers.

[Guest JMT]

i will also never forget when i saw the remote control blimp go down once during an intermission. it was hovering over the corner of the upper deck of Miami Arena and bounced off one of those clumps of monitors that formed a big screen. someone in the crowd got a hand on it and it was pulled down into a mob of people and it deflated over the seats as they attacked the coupons. the operater stared up at it from the ice for a few moments, then collapsed the antenna on the controller and slowly walked away shaking his head. from then on they flew the blimp further inside on the upper level.

[Guest RzO]

i'm going to try my best to go, really hope i can. this would be freaking amazing. a lot of these guys are retired now.

"memories" is an understatement.

this was a truly remarkable team. no superstars, just everyone doing their part, busting their asses. and the whole "rat" thing will always be one of the most unique fan-interaction phenomena in any sport. it was something that everyone knew was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so everyone felt like they were part of something great. stanley cup finals in three years...there are decades-old franchises who haven't reached that point. it was a very special thing to be a panther fan at that time. they brought hockey to south florida, and it was awesome to be among the first players in ice hockey leagues as a teenager.

Rzo, i'm still waiting to fight you.

I remember crying when I heard Skrewy got traded. And then I went out and bought an autographed plaque w/ his 8x10 photo on it with the little money I had in honor of him. lol. I later tossed the plaque and kept the signed 8x10.

we already had our fight ;D

but i was at game 4, i remember it well, third overtime, uwe krupp, top shelf right over beezer's glove. I was sad, but happy i got to see the cup come out. Indeed that team was oen of the greatest, from doug mclean behind the bench to each and every player, really a team in every essence. It is funny last time i was in vegas i ran into doug mclean at ghostbar. He is now the GM of the columbus blue jackets, we had an awesome conversation about that team over a couple of macanudo's, he said that year was one of the greatest of his life, I knew exactly why.

lula didn't realize you were into hockey, that's hot lol

[ryan2772]

i will also never forget when i saw the remote control blimp go down once during an intermission. it was hovering over the corner of the upper deck of Miami Arena and bounced off one of those clumps of monitors that formed a big screen. someone in the crowd got a hand on it and it was pulled down into a mob of people and it deflated over the seats as they attacked the coupons. the operater stared up at it from the ice for a few moments, then collapsed the antenna on the controller and slowly walked away shaking his head. from then on they flew the blimp further inside on the upper level.

hahaha that's freaking hilarious, i saw it too

[Guest dancefloored]

i will shoot that blimp down and the lamb chop punk pilot who drives it

obviously you know the ref im talking bout ryan, rzo...

[Guest RzO]

i will also never forget when i saw the remote control blimp go down once during an intermission. it was hovering over the corner of the upper deck of Miami Arena and bounced off one of those clumps of monitors that formed a big screen. someone in the crowd got a hand on it and it was pulled down into a mob of people and it deflated over the seats as they attacked the coupons. the operater stared up at it from the ice for a few moments, then collapsed the antenna on the controller and slowly walked away shaking his head. from then on they flew the blimp further inside on the upper level.

hahaha that's freaking hilarious, i saw it too

do you guys remmeber the operator?

He was the mutton chop referee from sunrise, If you ever saw him you would remember, i forget his name but he reffed many of our games back in the day. He had the super shaggy elvis chops he was such a bozo.

[Guest lulamishka]

i'm going to try my best to go, really hope i can. this would be freaking amazing. a lot of these guys are retired now.

"memories" is an understatement.

this was a truly remarkable team. no superstars, just everyone doing their part, busting their asses. and the whole "rat" thing will always be one of the most unique fan-interaction phenomena in any sport. it was something that everyone knew was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so everyone felt like they were part of something great. stanley cup finals in three years...there are decades-old franchises who haven't reached that point. it was a very special thing to be a panther fan at that time. they brought hockey to south florida, and it was awesome to be among the first players in ice hockey leagues as a teenager.

Rzo, i'm still waiting to fight you.

I remember crying when I heard Skrewy got traded. And then I went out and bought an autographed plaque w/ his 8x10 photo on it with the little money I had in honor of him. lol. I later tossed the plaque and kept the signed 8x10.

lula didn't realize you were into hockey, that's hot lol

Haha.. Yea, I used to REALLY be into hockey. Now, not so much. Back then, my spending money went to going to games, buying memorabilia, yadda yadda yadda... That was BEFORE I ever went to a club. Once that happened, my money started going to buying drinks at the club, paying for parking, food after the club, etc. Hehe.

I got rid of some of my hockey memorabilia, but I still have a lot left. I even have a Larionov Red Wings jersey. ;D I also had the opportunity to get a different license plate since my original Panther one expired, but I couldn't bring myself to get another one. I ended up ordering another Panther tag.

[Guest JMT]

Thousands of fans honor Panthers '95-'96 squad

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

July 29, 2007

The squeaking of black, rubber rats being squeezed could be heard throughout BankAtlantic Center for more than an hour before probably the most anticipated exhibition game in Panthers history.

The 1995-96 Panthers team was back on the ice Saturday, and so were the rats that symbolized that group and their magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The announced crowd of 11,817 fans, many of whom waited beforehand in long lines that snaked through the arena's concourse for autographs and pictures with the players, tossed the rodents with glee onto the ice — the first time they've been able to at a game since the league banned it after the 1995-96 season.

"I was amazed at the amount of people in the building and the excitement," retired winger Dave Lowry said. "It was overwhelming."

The fans had plenty of chances, especially in the second period, to celebrate goals by stars from the franchise's greatest era. They saw Stu Barnes score, and Ed Jovanovski, Bill Lindsay, Tom Fitzgerald, Geoff Smith, Ray Sheppard and Mike Hough. They saw Scott Mellanby light the lamp twice.

They saw John "Beezer" Vanbiesbrouck, the goalie whose jersey many of them wore Saturday, make several saves — most notably one against his teenage son, Ian, on a penalty shot. And if that wasn't enough, in the third period Paul Laus and another ex-Panther tough guy, Peter Worrell, dropped gloves and faked a fight — it was really a huge embrace — for which both went to the penalty box 5 minutes for dancing ... yes, dancing.

During the first intermission, current Panthers Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss modeled the team's new jerseys for next season, which feature a larger logo on the front and red sleeves on both the white and blue jerseys.

It was all part of the 1995-96 Panthers' 9-5 win against the Panthers' alumni/celebrity team, the highlight of a "Weekend of the Rat" reunion that brought the players and coach (Doug MacLean) from that season together for the first time since they captivated South Florida.

"You know what, when I was putting the equipment on I was actually getting a little nervous," said retired defenseman Gord Murphy, who had 30 points in '95-'96. "It was a lot of fun. This is a special, special group and to be able to get back together with them and have a fun game brought back a lot of emotions, a lot of memories. I wish it would have lasted longer."

As it was, two 20-minute periods and a 10-minute third period, all with a running clock, was pretty tiring for those on the ice. Of the 1995-96 members on the ice, only Jovanovski and Barnes are still playing in the NHL.

"I don't know how much longer my body would have held up, but the mind was willing and the heart was willing," Murphy said with a smile.

The time it took to sweep rats off the ice after seven goals from the 1995-96 team in the second period — including four on four shots with WSVN-Channel 7 sportscaster Mike DiPasquale in goal — helped provide a "nice break," said former winger Mellanby, who retired after this past NHL season.

"To see the fans still doing that, and telling us stories of how they used to throw rats at their TVs and stuff like that is pretty cool," he said. "We had such a tight group of guys. We've spent a lot of time together the last few days, drank a lot of sodas and shared a lot of stories. … It would have been nice to win the Cup, but we feel like we were a champion-quality team."

The captain of the 1995-96 Panthers, Brian Skrudland, said he hopes the franchise will continue to reconnect with its past.

"It was everything and more than I expected," Skrudland said of the reunion weekend. "If I may throw this at the Panthers organization, history is where it's all about. You dig into the history of the franchise and you take the good and throw out the bad. Hopefully they look back at that '96 team and think it was pretty good."

[Guest lulamishka]

Aww, that article brought a to my face.

[Guest JMT]

it warmed my heart.