Matthew Tkachuk comes clean about dipping Stanley Cup in Atlantic Ocean amid Florida Panthers' afterparty

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Jun 27, 2024 06:04 GMT

Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers are reveling in full celebration mode following their inaugural Stanley Cup win against the Oilers in a thrilling Game 7 showdown on Monday night. The team paraded the coveted Stanley Cup around South Florida, with Tkachuk and numerous others spotted in Fort Lauderdale commemorating their triumph over the Edmonton Oilers.

Embracing the summer vibes of Florida, the Panthers opted to celebrate by taking the Cup to the beach. Matthew Tkachuk along with other teammates and enthusiastic fans, escorted the Cup to the nearby beach, where he made the spontaneous decision to venture into the Atlantic Ocean.

Tkachuk took off his championship belt before sprinting into the surf with the Cup.

In a candid revelation on "The Pat McAfee Show," Matthew Tkachuk comes clean on the impulsive decision to dip the Stanley Cup into the Atlantic Ocean during the Cats' afterparty.

"Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking there. We’re at Elbo room, and a few of us just looked out in the ocean were like, Oh no, I think it's time, boys. And before we knew it, we were racing into the ocean, and we had hundreds and many people behind us following us into the ocean. And that was a really special moment," Tkachuk said.

The spontaneous act, driven by the celebratory atmosphere, led to a unique and memorable celebration shared with teammates and fans alike on the beach.

Matthew Tkachuk opens about celebrations at Elbo room

After their Atlantic Ocean adventure, the Panthers' crew, with Matthew Tkachuk, Sasha Barkov, Brandon Montour, and Sam Bennett, continued their party by taking the Stanley Cup to the Elbo Room via A1A for more celebrations with fans.

Some lucky Panthers fans got the opportunity to sip from the Cup, while others found themselves showered with beer from the Elbo Room balconies. Tkachuk, in his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," shared the Elbo room experience with fans, highlighting the ever-growing excitement of the celebration.

He expressed:

"The party just kept getting better throughout the whole day. It was crazy and yeah, I think the party is gonna continue all week until the end of the parade. We have the parade on Sunday."

The Florida Panthers won their first-ever title in the franchise's 30 years of existence. This was their second appearance in the Stanley Cup Final after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games last season.