© 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 day in his hometown with the Cup, after securing the championship last season with the Panthers, sharing the trophy with his loved ones. He similarly spent his day in Waterdown back in 2020, following his Cup win with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

However, the days appeared somewhat distinct. The COVID pandemic in 2020 imposed certain restrictions on what Verhaeghe could do with the Cup, and masks became a standard for both friends and fans. This time, the smiles were without masks.

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

This time around, Verhaeghe had the privilege of seeing his name engraved on the Cup twice. 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 occurred before the summer tour for the second time, succeeding the 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights. Formerly, the names were typically engraved on the trophy in late September or early October.

In addition to sharing the trophy with fans, Verhaeghe also had the opportunity to spend time with his family, including his grandmother who recently celebrated her 92nd birthday.

“Her coming was unexpected,” said Verhaeghe. “It’s incredibly special that she is able to share this day with us.”

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

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 overall with the Cup.

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

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) August 20, 2024