On Sunday night, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights to capture their second Stanley Cup title. Among their top players earning their first championship ring was Pembroke Pines, FL native Shayne Gostisbehere.
With his victory, Gostisbehere becomes only the second player born in Florida to win the Stanley Cup, following Dan Hinote (Leesburg, FL), who was the first to achieve the feat as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2001.
Moreover, Gostisbehere becomes the first member of the Florida Junior Panthers to win the game’s greatest prize. Currently, the program’s NHL alums include Tyson Barrie, Andrew Peeke, Jacob Chychrun, and Brandon Duhaime. As of 2026, none of the alumni have ever worn a Panthers sweater in the NHL. Barrie is the only one to have missed the opportunity so far, retiring in 2025.
jr. panthers alum shane gostisbehere is a stanley cup champ https://t.co/u7WaMq95LT
— bailey (@flacatsandrats) June 15, 2026
According to player profiles at NHL.com, a total of 19 players have skated in the league and were born in Florida, with Gostisbehere logging the most games at 744. However, he may not be the most recognizable name on the list, as former Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes and his brother Jack are both from Orlando.
Historically, the first Florida-born player ever to lace’em up in the NHL was Val James (Ocala, FL), who played 11 games with the Buffalo Sabres (1981-82) and Toronto Maple Leafs (1986-87). Next was Dallas Eakins (Dade City, FL), who played 120 games over ten seasons.
Hinote became the first Florida-born skater to surpass 500 games in the NHL, followed by Gostisbehere, who achieved the feat during the 2022-23 campaign. Although the 33-year-old defenseman was the first player from Pembroke Pines, he is not the only one, as Chase Priskie played four games for the Panthers in 2021-22.
Orlando leads all Florida cities with the most NHL players at four, including both Hughes brothers, Ryan Carpenter, and Justin Richards. Regarding how many Florida-born players have ever played for the Panthers, the short list includes Eakins, Priskie, and Jaycob Megna.
Add us as a preferred source on Google