Marlins to join the Florida Panthers as Jose Fernandez jerseys auctioned for charity

When the Miami Marlins last visited the Florida Panthers, pitcher Jose Fernandez dropped the ceremonial puck and stayed until the end, leading cheers in a custom Florida sweater as the home team beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime.

A number of Marlins players return to BB&T Center on Thursday night and Fernandez will be remembered once more.

Fernandez, who died in a boat crash off Miami Beach in September, was honored by the Panthers on opening night when the entire team came out for warmups in identical jerseys with Fernandez’s name and No. 16 on the back.

At Thursday’s game, five of those jerseys will be up for auction with the money going to the Florida Panthers Foundation and Fernandez’s charitable arm, the JDF16 Foundation.

Dee Gordon, who was at Florida’s opening night win against the Devils to accept a $35,000 donation on Fernandez’s behalf from the team foundation as well as money donated by Florida Panthers players, is expected to attend Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Miami’s Tom Koehler, JT Realmuto and Derek Dietrich are also expected to be at BB&T Center.

Three jerseys — worn and autographed by captain Derek MacKenzie, Keith Yandle and Vincent Trocheck — will be auctioned off outside Club Lexus near the main entrance.

HERALD HISTORY: Florida Panthers go ‘all in’ to honor Jose Fernandez

Two other jerseys, from Alex Petrovic and Mark Pysyk, will be available through a raffle with one ticket costing $5 and three available for $10.

The jersey worn by Aaron Ekblad was signed by the entire Florida team and auctioned off at the team’s ‘Cats & Cocktails’ event last week in Fort Lauderdale.

This story was originally published February 9, 2017 at 7:58 AM with the headline "Marlins to join the Florida Panthers as Jose Fernandez jerseys auctioned for charity."