The Panthers celebrated their first Stanley Cup with a parade Sunday, and LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka was the subject of a jab from one of their key defenseman — although it was a callback.
Last March, Koepka a Panthers fan, called Florida star Aaron Ekblad a “f–king traffic cone” while at a game, even holding up an actual traffic cone while pointing in his direction after Ekblad allowed a goal.
Ekblad never forgot, and he responded at the parade commemorating the Panthers’ first title after they survived a blown 3-0 lead to the Oilers and won Game 7 at home last week.
Warning: Adult Language
“F–k you Brooks Koepka!” Ekblad exclaimed while on stage with a traffic cone on his head.
After the incident last year, Ekblad said that he didn’t know who Koepka was and that they’d “never be buddies,” according to Sportsnet.
But then their feud faded for a bit, though Koepka — a Florida native who also went to college at Florida State — continued to cheer for the Panthers during their recent postseason run.
His wife, Jena Sims, captured Koepka with both hands on his head in disbelief while also celebrating with others in attendance at a Nashville bar following the Panthers’ 2-1 victory in the winner-take-all game.
“POV: your team finally wins,” Sims, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, wrote in the caption of her TikTok, with another video capturing Koepka standing next to a screen and pretending to hold the Stanley Cup.
And Ekblad, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft who has been with the Panthers ever since, played a critical role in the team’s title.
The two-time NHL All-Star — in 2015 and 2016 — appeared in 51 games during the regular season, collecting four goals and 18 points.
He added six points across 24 postseason games, too.
