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The Panthers paid tribute to their friend Jose Fernandez before their home opener. USATSI

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.

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.

The team also is wearing decals on their helmets with the No. 16 for the game.

#JDF16

A photo posted by Florida Panthers (@flapanthers) on

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.

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.

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.