© Florida Panthers

Carter Verhaeghe and the town of Waterdown, Ont. may have felt some déjà vu on Monday when the Panthers forward stopped by.

Verhaeghe celebrated his championship victory with the Panthers last season by spending his day sharing the trophy with his friends and family in his hometown. Similarly, in 2020, he had spent his day in Waterdown after clinching the Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

However, the days appeared somewhat altered. The 2020 COVID pandemic restricted Verhaeghe’s activities with the Cup, and masks became commonplace for both friends and fans. This time, the smiles were not hidden behind masks.

“Seeing it here and witnessing all the kids’ reactions was awesome,” said Verhaeghe. “Some of them are so starstruck by the Cup that they can’t even speak. It’s incredible. That’s what it’s all about.”

This time, Verhaeghe had the pleasure of seeing his name engraved twice on the Cup. He stated that both of his names are located on the bottom ring, making them easy to locate.

Verhaeghe is only one of two Panthers who had their named engraved on the Cup a second time, along with forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who on the Cup in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues.

Seeing your name on the Cup never gets old pic.twitter.com/L9BwRwVOsu

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) August 19, 2024

The engraving has happened before the summer tour for the second time, the first being with the 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights. Traditionally, the names were engraved on the trophy around late September or early October.

Verhaeghe not only shared the trophy with his fans, but also spent time with his family, including his 92-year-old grandma.

“Her presence was unexpected,” Verhaeghe stated. “It’s extraordinary that she gets to be a part of this day with us.”

Verhaeghe concluded his day with his family by enjoying a sweet treat from the bowl, following a round of golf with the Cup.

An awesome way to end a great day for @FlaPanthers Carter Verhaeghe. Ice cream, anyone? (Waterdown, ON) #StanleyCup @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/gHnx2QFN4e

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 20, 2024

Verhaeghe and Waterdown had another eventful day with the Cup, adding to the overall excitement.

Carter's day with the @StanleyCup is complete ☑️ pic.twitter.com/bmzRY0JiK2

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) August 20, 2024