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A Broward County native made hockey history for his hometown — and South Florida

By Edited by Mike Garbett and produced with AI assistance
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is the third Florida-born player, second Broward County native and first Pembroke Pines product to win the Stanley Cup.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is the third Florida-born player, second Broward County native and first Pembroke Pines product to win the Stanley Cup. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com

A Broward County native just etched his name into hockey history, as Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere became the first player born and raised in South Florida to win the Stanley Cup.

A product of Broward’s youth hockey scene, Gostisbehere played for local travel teams and attended Broward County Public Schools before embarking on his professional career.

FULL STORY: Meet the Broward County native who made history by winning the Stanley Cup

Carolina's Shayne Gostisbehere (center) celebrates with Seth Jarvis after the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Gostisbehere was born and raised in Pembroke Pines.
Carolina's Shayne Gostisbehere (center) celebrates with Seth Jarvis after the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Gostisbehere was born and raised in Pembroke Pines. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com

Here are key takeaways:

  • Gostisbehere is the third Florida-born player, second Broward County native and first Pembroke Pines product to win the Stanley Cup. He was born April 20, 1993, six months before the Florida Panthers played their first NHL game.
  • Nicknamed “Ghost,” he got his start with the Junior Panthers travel program at the Panthers’ IceDen in Coral Springs after tagging along to his older sister’s figure skating lessons.
  • He attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland through his sophomore year before transferring to a Connecticut boarding school at 16. After the 2018 shooting at MSD, he wore an “MSD Strong” helmet decal and hosted the school’s hockey team at a Flyers-Panthers game.
  • Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round in 2012, Gostisbehere has 117 goals and 345 assists over 744 regular-season games across stints with the Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings and Hurricanes.
  • He posted three goals and nine assists in 19 playoff games as Carolina went 16-3 in the postseason to capture the franchise’s second Stanley Cup title.
  • According to the Hurricanes, Gostisbehere is “the first player born and raised in South Florida to make it to the NHL.”

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.

Pembroke Pines native Shayne Gostisbehere helped the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights to win the franchise’s second Stanley Cup title.
Pembroke Pines native Shayne Gostisbehere helped the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights to win the franchise’s second Stanley Cup title. Ezra Shaw Getty Images

This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "A Broward County native made hockey history for his hometown — and South Florida."