South Florida is still mourning the loss of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who passed away in a tragic boating accident on Sept. 25. Fernandez was such a huge part of the community in general, but he also had a relationship with the other professional sports teams in the area, including the Florida Panthers.
Fernandez was on hand for a game last season where he dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff and had struck up a relationship with some of the players on the NHL team.
.@Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez also dropped the ceremonial puck at BB&T Center prior to #PITvsFLA. pic.twitter.com/qUQCgcP6Kv
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 16, 2016
With the Panthers playing their first game of the regular season Thursday night, it was their first opportunity to publicly honor the late pitcher and friend of the franchise. The team did so by all of the players taking the warmup in jerseys adorned with Fernandez's last name and the No. 16 he wore for the Marlins.
#JoseDay ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MRKze5gzEg
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 13, 2016
The team also is wearing decals on their helmets with the No. 16 for the game.
Dee Gordon and Adam Conley were some of the Marlins in attendance. Both were wearing Fernandez Panthers jerseys and accepted an autographed jersey from the NHL club.
.@FlashGJr & @Adamconley29 with @FlaPanthers President & CEO, Matthew Caldwell. pic.twitter.com/4LWEbq9ZBp
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) October 13, 2016
The Panthers also committed $35,000 to the JDF16 Foundation as part of their initiative to give back to various community organizations over the next five years.
Every home game, we will donate $25,000 to a cause or charity.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 13, 2016
That begins tonight with $35,000 to the #JDF16 Foundation. https://t.co/Hyk2puaySB
As so many in South Florida did, the Panthers organization had a lot of admiration for Fernandez and paid tribute the best way they knew how.