Weekend Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Offseason Open Forum

The Florida Panthers will host an ice hockey clinic at Icetopia Skating Rink in Wildey, Barbados on Tuesday, August 22 as part of the Panthers youth hockey and community outreach initiatives. The NHL’s first ice hockey clinic in the Caribbean will feature defensemen Alex Petrovic and Ian McCoshen as head instructors.

Joining Petrovic and McCoshen on the trip will be Vice President, Business Operations Shawn Thornton and Vice President of Broadcasting and Alumni Randy Moller.

The first skating rink of its kind in the Caribbean, Icetopia Skating Rink uses a synthetic ice surface requiring all participants to wear ice skates. Participants in the clinic will range from ages 5-14. All equipment used in the clinic will be donated to Icetopia.

The trip to Barbados marks the Panthers sixth consecutive offseason visit to the Caribbean involving community outreach and youth hockey. The Panthers previously have visited Barbados (2016), the Dominican Republic (2015), the Bahamas (2014) and Puerto Rico (2012-13).

The Buffalo Sabres signed restricted free agent Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million per season. Girgensons, Buffalo’s first-rounder in 2012, produced seven goals and nine assists in 75 games last season.