The Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, edging out Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday in Sunrise, FL. Capping off a dominant postseason run, Florida hoisted hockey’s ultimate prize for the second straight year – this time getting the job done in one less game than their seven-game triumph in 2024.
Five former OHL players are part of the Stanley Cup-winning roster, while several more names in the organization’s front office have come through the league in a playing or managerial capacity.
WHL graduate Sam Reinhart opened the scoring early in the first period, followed up later in the period by Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights) to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead going into the second intermission. However, Reinhart wasn’t finished. He went on to score three more goals, becoming the first player to record four goals in a Stanley Cup-clinching game since Babe Dye did so with the Toronto St. Pats in 1922.
With his four-goal effort, Reinhart joined an exclusive group of players to register a hat trick in a Stanley Cup-clinching game, following in the footsteps of Dye (1922), Jack Darragh (1920), and, most recently, Mark Stone (2023).
Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin spoiled Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout bid with a late backhand, but by then, the outcome was all but sealed as the Panthers cruised to victory in front of a roaring South Florida crowd.
The 2025 postseason was rich with OHL alumni contributions. Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) tied for the league lead in playoff scoring with 33 points, while Evan Bouchard (London Knights), Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights), and Carter Verhaeghe (Niagara IceDogs) were tied for third with 23 points apiece.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice is a Stanley Cup champion for the second time in his 28-year NHL coaching career. The Sault Ste. Marie, ON, native and former Windsor Spitfire and Detroit Jr. Red Wing, coached Detroit to an OHL Championship in 1995.
Florida’s Sam Bennett earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Kingston Frontenacs graduate led the postseason with 15 goals, including five in the Cup Final and finished with 22 points (15-7-22).
“My whole focus was on winning the Stanley Cup. It’s a huge honour to be nominated as the MVP, but there truly are 25 MVPs on this team, and it could’ve gone to anyone,” Bennett said postgame.
Bennett became the fourth active NHL player to score at least 15 goals in a single postseason, joining Zach Hyman (16 in 2024), Alex Ovechkin (15 in 2018), and Sidney Crosby (15 in 2009). He also set an NHL record for the most road goals in a single postseason with 13, and became just the fifth player in league history to score in six straight road playoff games.
He is the first Panther in franchise history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Last season, despite Florida’s championship win, the honour went to McDavid, who became just the sixth player to win the award while playing for the losing team in the Final.
The Panthers entered the playoffs as the Atlantic Division’s third seed with a 47-31-4 regular season record before embarking on the playoffs, where they eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes before besting Edmonton for a second straight year.
OHL Alumni crowned 2025 Stanley Cup Champions with the Florida Panthers:
Forwards:
Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs, 2012-15)
Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights, 2015-16)
Carter Verhaeghe (Niagara IceDogs, 2011-15)
Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack, 2014-18)
Defencemen:
Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts, 2011-14)
Hockey Ops./Front Office:
Head Coach – Paul Maurice (Windsor Spitfires/Detroit Jr. Red Wings, 1984-95)
Assistant General Manager – Gregory Campbell (Plymouth Whalers/Kitchener Rangers, 2000-03)
Sr. Advisor to General Manager – Rick Dudley (St. Catharines Black Hawks, 1968-69)
Amateur Scout – Jeff Twohey (Peterborough Petes/Oshawa Generals, 1980-2014)
Pro Scout – Dalton Prout (Sarnia Sting/Barrie Colts/Saginaw Spirit, 2006-11)
Chief Revenue Officer – Shawn Thornton (Peterborough Petes, 1995-97)
