FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Workers at a Fort Lauderdale business got up close and personal with the Stanley Cup Tuesday morning after Florida Panthers players paid a surprise visit following their victory the previous night.
Workers at Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar, located at 1001 E. Las Olas Blvd., opened up as normal at around 8 a.m. and about a half hour later, noticed something shiny in their business.
Photos show Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk walking into the business with the Stanley Cup in hand.
He was accompanied by a few other players, including Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell.
“There (were) four players and they are players that we see often. We saw they rolled up on golf carts, they had a -- kind of like an entourage of family and friends with them,” coffee shop owner Taylor Fuentes said. “And all of a sudden, one of my baristas was like ‘Taylor, Taylor, they brought the cup, they brought the cup.’”
Panthers fan — and former “Bachelorette” contestant — Jason Tartick said, “I’m pretty rattled by it because I’m staying like right over here, I flew in for the game last night and to know the cup was like on this barstool just a couple hours ago, I’m completely rattled.”
Fuentes said the players came in just for their normal coffees. She said she did make sure to add a few extra shots of espresso after their long night Monday.