On Jan.30, the Fort Lauderdale-based Museum of Discovery and Science welcomed a new traveling exhibition, “Hockey: Faster Than Ever,” featuring interactive and technology-driven displays that showcase the sport's history, equipment, and records for visitors of all ages.
The state of Florida concluded a month of hockey celebration by hosting the 2026 NHL Winter Classic in Miami on Jan.2 and the Stadium Series in Tampa on Feb.1. It was a productive time focusing on sports growth in Florida, breaking stereotypes, welcoming fans from around the world, and holding a massive in-state competition on “who will have the best outdoor game”. The Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning received significant attention, two sold-outs, online ovation, and, surely, some negative reviews.
While both national events were successful, the local ones were somewhat overshadowed. The question, once the buzz fades, is how to continue educating people effectively about hockey and celebrating milestones. It looks like the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions have found a way to highlight their history and winning culture on a whole new level.
With everyone’s focus shifting to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, it becomes even more important to maintain a close relationship with the community and grow the Panthers’ army. The loyal fanbase will remain, but for healthy organizational growth, the community needs to be entertained. The Florida Panthers, the NHL, and the NHLPA will address this with the new exposition, engaging visitors with hockey from different angles.
The interactive hockey area features a Stanley Cup touchscreen, shooting zones, a mini rink, a locker room display, and other hands-on activities. Visitors can practice their hockey skills, explore professional equipment, and engage with exhibits that explain the game's rules and culture. This setting is ideal for introducing parents and kids to ice hockey, especially as youth teams’ tryouts begin in April and May across the state. To further promote the exhibition, the Florida Panthers were represented by a special influencer unit at the grand opening.
Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Dmitry Kulikov, Seth Jones, and Jonah Gadjovich attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Fort Lauderdale. More experienced fans will acknowledge that all those players are still recovering from injuries and preparing to return after the Olympic break. But it didn’t matter to the kids in attendance, who had a chance to spend some quality time with and be coached by NHL players. The injured Panthers don’t fall out of the wagon. Without ice time, they invest more efforts into the community outreach. It’s a positive sign when a team can manage good deeds off the ice and aggressively battle for points and a better standing on the ice. It shows wholesomeness.
Before the Panthers’ display opened at the MODS, any Cats’ supporter could showcase their memorabilia at the museum. There was an online casting call inviting Florida Panthers fans to submit their favorite pieces. It’s also a brilliant idea for the future Panthers’ Museum to accept contributions and showcase personal collections and artifacts.
Fort Lauderdale now hosts a new hockey hub. Local fans and visitors should catch the Panthers’ exhibition before it ends on May 3. Ticket details are on the museum’s website.