FILE – Florida Panthers fans wave towels during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
FILE – Florida Panthers fan Richard Ginsberg holds a sign during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
FILE – Florida Panthers’ Seth Jones (3) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
FILE – Los Angeles Kings defenseman Caleb Jones (82) moves the puck during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
A young Florida Panthers fan watches during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
Dallas Stars fans cheer during the first period of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Dallas.
FILE – Then-Denver Nuggets interim head coach Popeye Jones directs his team against the Utah Jazz in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Denver.
FILE – Florida Panthers fans wave towels during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
FILE – Florida Panthers fan Richard Ginsberg holds a sign during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
FILE – Florida Panthers’ Seth Jones (3) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
FILE – Los Angeles Kings defenseman Caleb Jones (82) moves the puck during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
A young Florida Panthers fan watches during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.
Dallas Stars fans cheer during the first period of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Dallas.
FILE – Then-Denver Nuggets interim head coach Popeye Jones directs his team against the Utah Jazz in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Denver.
Popeye Jones was an NBA rookie with the Mavericks the same season that Dallas debuted its new NHL team, and he decided to go to a Stars game after meeting future Hall of Fame player Mike Modano.
“I couldn’t figure out hockey. They were jumping over and off the ice … I’m like, ‘what’s going on with this sport?'” Jones said. “The puck flew up, I remember it hit somebody in the nose, blood was all over the ice and they kept playing.”
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