US President Donald Trump poses with a team shirt and a golden hockey stick presented to him by players of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, during a congratulatory ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026.
MANDEL NGAN
AFP via Getty Images
For the second consecutive year, the Florida Panthers made a trip to the White House.
The Panthers on Thursday were honored in the nation’s capital by president Donald Trump after winning the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season. The trip to Washington, D.C., came at the end of a three-day block without games for Florida before it finishes off a stretch of six consecutive road games.
The team traveled back home on Tuesday, practiced at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, then flew in to Washington, D.C., on Thursday for the White House visit. The team will depart for Raleigh, North Carolina, shortly after the visit for its game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Panthers are then back in D.C. on Saturday to face the Washington Capitals.
“Unbeliveable team,” Trump said. “Unbelievable athletes and players. These men are responsible for the greatest feats in Panthers franchise history and beyond that.”
Panthers owner Vincent Viola and star winger Matthew Tkachuk escorted Trump into the East Room of the White House, where Trump rattled off the team’s achievements before Viola and Tkachuk made brief statements.
Tkachuk, defenseman Seth Jones and captain Aleksander Barkov presented Trump with Stanley Cup rings from both championship season, a “Trump 47” Panthers sweater and a golden hockey stick. The team then visited the Oval Office, which they also did last year.
“Being an American, nothing beats this,” said Tkachuk, who along with Jones will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics next month in Italy. “I’m so proud to be an American, and so proud to be here with you and everybody else. ... Representing you and the millions back here next month in the Olympics will be one of the highlights of my life as well.”
Sports teams have been visiting the White House since the 19th century, but it wasn’t until 1991 that an NHL team had the privilege when the Pittsburgh Penguins were the first Stanley Cup champions to be honored.
The Panthers are the seventh team in the expansion era (since the 1967-68 season) to win consecutive Stanley Cups. They join the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020-21), Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-92 and 2016-17), Detroit Red Wings (1997-98), Oilers (1984-85 and 1987-88), New York Islanders (four straight from 1980-83), Montreal Canadiens (1968-69 and four straight from 1976-79) and Philadelphia Flyers (1974-75).
Florida beat the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final each year to become champions, winning in seven games in 2024 and in six games last season.
“I speak on behalf of every Florida Panther fan all over the world,” Viola said. “We’re not going to stop.”
See below for more photos from the visit.
The Stanley Cup and a team shirt with the US President Donald Trump's name are displayed during a ceremony with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026. MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to honor the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in the East Room of the White House on January 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in their first-ever championships since joining the NHL in 1993. Anna Moneymaker Getty Images
U.S. President DonalWASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola during a ceremony to honor the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in the East Room of the White House on January 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in their first-ever championships since joining the NHL in 1993. Anna Moneymaker Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: Members of the Florida Panthers look on as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to honor the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in the East Room of the White House on January 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in their first-ever championships since joining the NHL in 1993. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Anna Moneymaker Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers during a ceremony to honor the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in the East Room of the White House on January 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in their first-ever championships since joining the NHL in 1993. Chip Somodevilla Getty Images
US President Donald Trump shakes hands to congratulate players of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026. MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks during a ceremony to honor the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in the East Room of the White House on January 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year in their first-ever championships since joining the NHL in 1993. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chip Somodevilla Getty Images
US President Donald Trump wears the champions rings during a congratulatory ceremony with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026. MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images
US President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to congratulate the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images
US President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to congratulate the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images
US President Donald Trump poses with a team shirt and a golden hockey stick presented to him by players of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup, during a congratulatory ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 15, 2026. MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 5:25 PM.
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.
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