Photo credit: https://x.com/JamesonCoop/status/2002763993723855006
Hockey spilled outside the rink in Sunrise this weekend, and it felt exactly right.
Amerant Bank Arena was buzzing Sunday morning as the NHL Street Championships took over the surrounding grounds. According to Jameson Olive, the event wasn't just about competition, it was about history. The goal was to break the Guinness World Record for the largest one-day street hockey championship, and the turnout made that ambition feel realistic.
Dozens of games, sticks clacking, kids sprinting between rinks, parents lining the boards, this was grassroots hockey in its purest form. No glass, no Zambonis, no pressure. Just nets, sneakers, and a lot of excitement in Panthers territory.
For the Florida Panthers, this fit perfectly with the bigger picture. The franchise has spent years trying to grow the sport in a nontraditional market, and events like this show tangible progress. You don't break participation records unless interest is real and widespread.
The setting mattered too. Hosting the championships at Amerant Bank Arena connected the NHL product directly to the community. For many kids, this isn't just a tournament site, it's the home of their local team, suddenly accessible and welcoming instead of distant.
Florida Panthers help push hockey beyond the rink
Here's the fan reality, this is how growth actually happens. Not through slogans, but through access. Street hockey lowers barriers. You don't need ice time, expensive gear, or travel schedules. You just need a stick and a place to play.
From a development standpoint, these moments matter. Players don't all start in structured programs. Many start by falling in love with the game in parking lots and playgrounds. Florida embracing that pathway helps widen the funnel instead of narrowing it.
There's also pride attached. Seeing a Guinness World Record attempt tied to hockey in South Florida sends a message that the sport belongs here. It's no longer borrowing space. It's creating it.
The Panthers have leaned heavily into community engagement during their championship window, and this event reflects that philosophy. Winning Cups brings attention. Sustaining interest requires connection.
Street hockey might not look like the NHL, but it feeds it. Every kid who picked up a stick Sunday walked away with a memory tied to hockey and Florida.