Tell Us Your Panthers’ Fan Story: Yuri Peralta

Hockey. One can say Hockey is a very common sport in Florida, but it is the biggest sport in Canada. My family who live in Canada came by to visit and introduced me to this fascinating sport when I was 5 years old. From what I can recall it might have been Hockey season that one day when they sat me down and made watch a Panthers vs. Maple Leafs game. I can’t remember what year it was but all I know is that I couldn’t get my eyes off the Panthers team.

They tried to explain to me how the sport worked out but I never payed attention. I was just so amused of how one little black dot was passed so quickly on the ice by sticks which were controlled by the players. After that day I realized the Panthers were a Florida team. I was instantly in love. In malls people would talk about then and how great of a team they are and everything. People bought jerseys with their favorite players number.  Years passed and I grew up, the talking about the Panthers team  and about the game Hockey started to fade. I got busy with school and I just took as that team disappeared and were never heard of again. My hockey passion left me.

Not until December 5,2010 did one of my friends reintroduce me to the sport and the Florida Panthers. He asked me one day If I’d like to go to a hockey game. I was responded with “ who against who?” His reply,, “ Panthers vs. Avalanche.” All I could do at that moment was scream with joy and cry because I thought the Panthers no longer existed. December 7,2010 was game day. It was my first hockey game ever and I was 3 rows from the ice. While the game was going on I proceeded to study and remember all the players names and the numbers they wore on their jerseys, and their faces.

After going through several Panthers games this season, I understood how the game was played. What icing meant, and all the penalty movements(hooking,slashing,etc.), offside, and of course the fighting( drop the gloves, drop the sticks and go at it!). You can say I have been a Florida Panthers fan since I was a girl. They have been my childhood team. In all sincerity, win or lose, Stanley Cup or no Stanley Cup, good trades or bad trades, I will always be a proud Florida Panthers fan.

Got a Panther’s Fan story? Submit it to us via email joshluecht@gmail.com and share with your fellow Panther fans how you came to be one of us…Don’t worry no judging…but we want to give you an opportunity to share your Fan Story.

We will choose some of the entries to be featured on the blog and every entry received will entitle you to be entered to win a Rat Trick Panthers Fan Pack including tickets to a Panthers game next season and other cool Panthers swag!!!

So submit your entry today!!!!

Thanks for reading. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

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