For the 25th consecutive year, the ECHL has a presence on the Stanley Cup champion’s roster—this time through several South Division connections to the 2025 title-winning Florida Panthers. From prospects to player development staff, multiple Southern ties were part of the Panthers’ championship story.
Savannah Ghost Pirates: Panthers’ Affiliate
The Savannah Ghost Pirates, Florida’s current ECHL affiliate, were directly connected to the organization’s success. Since launching in 2022, Savannah has quickly grown into a key part of the Panthers’ player development pipeline. Although no Savannah players suited up for Florida in the Stanley Cup Run this year, the affiliation highlights the ongoing investment the NHL teams has been placing in their ECHL partners.
South Carolina Stingrays: Vitek Vanecek’s Path
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek, acquired by Florida from San Jose in exchange for Patrick Giles on March 5, 2025, brought a strong developmental pedigree from the ECHL’s South Division. He appeared in 34 games with the South Carolina Stingrays during the 2015–16 and 2017–18 seasons, posting a 19–8–6 record, four shutouts, a 2.02 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage—earning a spot on the ECHL All-Rookie Team in 2015–16.
Since then, Vanecek has built a solid NHL career, compiling a 96–56–21 record over 188 games with Washington, New Jersey, San Jose, and Florida. In seven regular season appearances for the Panthers this year, he recorded a 2–4–1 record, 2.99 GAA, .890 save percentage, and one shutout—providing key depth during Florida’s Cup-winning campaign.
Connection to the Atlanta Gladiators
Dakota King, now one of the Panthers’ assistant equipment managers, has a strong South Division tie: he was named ECHL Equipment Manager of the Year during his time with the Gwinnett Gladiators (now the Atlanta Gladiators) in 2014–15. King worked two seasons with the Gladiators before joining Florida’s staff in 2015–16, where he’s remained ever since.
Another equipment staffer, Thomas Anderson, served as an assistant equipment manager for the Gladiators during the 2010–11 and 2012–13 seasons. He is now in his seventh season with the Florida Panthers.
These former represent Atlanta’s indirect but enduring contribution to hockey’s highest level.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Staff on the Rise
Florida’s Assistant Athletic Trainer Brian Riedel also came up through the South. Riedel spent the 2018–19 season with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he helped manage player health and performance in the ECHL before advancing to a multi-year role with Hershey (AHL) and eventually joining the NHL ranks He is now in his third year with the Panthers organization.
Long History, Strong Pipeline
While the Florida Everblades, Orlando Solar Bears, and Jacksonville Icemen didn’t have direct representation on this year’s Panthers roster or staff, the South Division continues to be a crucial component of the NHL’s developmental framework.
From front office leadership to player development and equipment staff, the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Panthers underscore how deep the ECHL’s impact runs. South Division markets—including Savannah, South Carolina, Greenville, and Atlanta—can take pride in the roles they’ve played in producing professionals who rise to the game’s highest level.
The ECHL’s Ongoing Impact
In total, more than 768 former ECHL players have appeared in the NHL, and 2024–25 marked the 22nd consecutive season with over 50 former ECHL players on NHL opening-night rosters. The Panthers themselves have seen multiple ECHL alumni contribute to their championship runs in both 2024 and 2025, including Carter Verhaeghe, who previously played with the now-defunct Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL.
As the ECHL now celebrates 25 straight years with representation on a Stanley Cup-winning team, the league continues to prove that its reach extends far beyond the minors.
In the South, that pipeline is not just alive—it’s thriving.
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