Baptist Health IcePlex Opens in Fort Lauderdale's Holiday Park

Thanks to its longtime support of the Florida Panthers, Baptist Health is familiar to ice hockey fans in South Florida and beyond. And now, the organization’s familiar pineapple logo is visible on ice skating rinks from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, where the Panthers play their games, to the new Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, home to the team’s new practice facility.

A partnership between Baptist Health and the Florida Panthers, the Baptist Health IcePlex opened recently in Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Park, as part of the revitalization of the city’s historic FTL War Memorial. The sleek new facility not only serves as the new practice facility for the Panthers, it’s also a place that opens up ice hockey and skating to the community, Baptist Health leaders say.

(Watch now: The Baptist Health IcePlex at Fort Lauderdale’s FTL War Memorial isn’t just the Florida Panthers’ sleek new practice facility, it’s a community hub that opens up ice hockey and skating to everyone, leaders say. Video by Alcyene de Almeida Rodrigues.)

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the Florida Panthers through the impressive transformation of the War Memorial Auditorium into the Baptist Health IcePlex,” said Bo Boulenger, president & CEO of Baptist Health South Florida, at the center’s grand opening in March. “This state-of-the-art facility not only serves as an excellent practice venue for the team but also fosters community engagement and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle. We look forward to the positive impact this space will have on the community for many years to come.”

Florida Panthers and Baptist Health are longtime partners

Baptist Health has been treating Florida Panthers players for more than 15 years, according to Gautam Yagnik, M.D., orthopedic surgeon for Baptist Health Orthopedic Care and team physician for both the Florida Panthers and the Miami Dolphins.

“This is a natural extension of our partnership with the Panthers and a great addition to Fort Lauderdale’s War Memorial,” said Dr. Yagnik. “And on a hot summer day in South Florida, who wouldn’t want to be skating or spectating here in this beautiful new facility?”

With two National Hockey League-regulation-sized ice rinks, the Baptist Health IcePlex was designed to serve as a standard-setting practice facility for players, coaches and hockey operations staff.

A celebration of the game and the community

Florida Panthers’ general manager Bill Zito calls the Baptist Health IcePlex “a game-changer.” “It’s great for hockey, it’s great for the League and it’s a celebration of the game and the community at the same time.”

The 144,000-square-foot facility serves as a community hub for Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Park and is already attracting families from throughout the area with a variety of programming options. “We see this bringing everyone together and bringing families together,” added Matthew Caldwell, the Panthers’ president and CEO.

In addition to traditional co-ed hockey opportunities, the Panthers have said they will dedicate ice time and resources to build a full spectrum girls hockey program, starting with a ‘Girls Learn to Play’ series.

People can register for a variety of Baptist Health IcePlex activities and events, including public skating sessions; Panthers Skating and Hockey Academy Spring classes; Adult Hockey Leagues; summer camps; ‘Try Hockey For Free’ events, and more.