Photo: @TedStarkey

On Valentines Day, students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida were having a normal, usual Wednesday afternoon. Then a gunman entered school property and murdered 17 teachers and students. This all happened 13 miles from BB&T Arena, the home arena of the Florida Panthers, and four miles away from their practice facility. Thursday night’s Panthers home game against the Washington Capitals was the first game since the shooting occurred. 

Prior to the game, both teams took the ice for warmups sporting Stoneman Douglas hats.

Caps wearing Stoneman Douglas hats in warmups. pic.twitter.com/TVc53UX5Zf

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 23, 2018

When warmups concluded the videobard played a tribute slideshow with pictures of the victims as well as those in the community who were grieving.

Remembering the lives lost in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting last week in Parkland, Florida. pic.twitter.com/sXsdDhujS2

— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) February 23, 2018

When the video was finished there was moment of silence as several spotlights on were shining on the ice. Each spotlight represented a victim that was lost in the shooting. In addition Randy Moller, a former Panthers player and current broadcaster at Fox Sports Florida and Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo addressed the crowd. Luongo lives in Parkland with his family. On that Wednesday afternoon, his son’s class was on lockdown in a closet for three hours.

An emotional Roberto Luongo addresses the home crowd prior to tonight’s game, saying he is inspired by how the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas have responded after the school shooting last Wednesday. #MSDStrong #NHL #FlaPanthers #OneTerritory pic.twitter.com/KV1ERJvr7l

— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) February 23, 2018

A tearful Luongo had some powerful words saying, “It’s time for us as a community to take action. It’s enough. Enough is enough. We have to take actions. To the teachers at the school, you guys are heroes protecting the children. Some of them didn’t make it trying to protect children.”

When it was all said and done, both the Panthers and the Capitals had to play a hockey game. As tough as it was watching that and seeing the emotion from both the players and fans, it is touching seeing how the community has come together. Luongo is right. All the evil in this world needs to stop. Enough is enough.

By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo

Names of the victims on the ice. Randy Moeller speaking to the crowd from a podium at center ice. pic.twitter.com/kVZVsJQFo6

— Ted Starkey (@TedStarkey) February 23, 2018