Aaron Ekblad brings parking cone, message for Brooks Koepka to Stanley Cup rally
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad made an interesting callback during Sunday’s Stanley Cup Championship parade.
As Ekblad and his teammates made their way down A1A and eventually onto the beachside stage for a rally in front of tens of thousands of fans, he could be seen on stage with an interesting prop.
Ekblad had a giant orange parking cone that he appeared to be wearing as a hat.
img_6014
If you’re thinking, ‘Hey, this seems familiar’ then you are correct.
Last season, longtime Florida Panthers fan and professional golfer Brooks Koepka was filmed at a game in Sunrise holding up a parking cone while calling out Ekblad for his play.
The video went viral and it became a story, so much so that a couple weeks later, Ekblad admitted he received an apology text from Koepka.
So, all water under the bridge, right?
Whether he was joking or serious, Ekblad had a message for Koepka when he took the stage during Sunday’s Stanley Cup Championship rally.
“F--- you, Brooks Koepka!” were the first words out of Ekblad’s mouth. “Woooooooo!”
The former first overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft has spent his entire career with the Panthers.
He and Florida captain Sasha Barkov have seen the team in some rough spots, but also have played massive roles in the turnaround of the franchise, which is now considered one of the best, from front office to locker room, in the NHL.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Ekblad told the crowd. “Let’s go Cats!”
He didn’t stay at the podium very long, but Ekblad made the same kind of impression Sunday that he did when first entering the league as an 18-year-old defenseman.
Now 28 years old and a decade into his tenure in Florida, Ekblad did appear to get a little emotional as the fans let him know exactly how they felt about him.
“I don’t have much (to say), but thank you for coming,” Ekblad said as the crowd chanted his name.
He paused, smiled and put his hands to his heart.
Ekblad than grabbed the Stanley Cup and lifted it above his head, much to the delight of the fans on the beach.
After introducing his defensive partner Gus Forsling, Ekblad took his parking cone back to his seat and triumphantly lifted it the same way he’d just hoisted the Cup.
Serious or not, Ekblad sure was having fun.
LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
Joy, profanity, cats: Paul Maurice gives epic Stanley Cup parade speech
Report: Panthers sign Sam Reinhart to 8-year extension
Florida Panthers welcome massive crowd on Fort Lauderdale Beach for rain-soaked Stanley Cup Championship parade
'Either way, we'll have a good team': Latest from Bill Zito on Sam Reinhart, Panthers free agency plans
Panthers Parade of Champions is today, here's everything you need to know before going
unnamed