Key Takeaways
- The Florida Panthers will roll out a Tier II (A and AA) girls travel hockey program in Fall 2026 across two South Florida rinks.
- USA Hockey registrations in Florida grew from 9,363 in 2005-06 to 22,888 last year, a 144.5% increase that helped justify the investment.
- Rob Granato joins as Youth Travel Hockey Director, bringing 15-plus years leading girls travel hockey at programs like Team Illinois and Chicago Fury.
- The new teams build on the South Florida Lucky Pucks Girls Hockey Club and will play out of Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs.
- The launch follows USA Hockey sweeping men’s, women’s, and sled gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics, raising visibility for the women’s game.
A Dedicated Competitive Track for Girls in South Florida
The Florida Panthers announced on April 13, 2026 that they will launch a Tier II (A and AA) girls travel hockey program out of Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, beginning in Fall 2026. The program elevates the existing South Florida Lucky Pucks Girls Hockey Club into a competitive, girls-only travel structure with dedicated coaches, skill development, and access to national competition.
The move positions the Panthers as one of the more aggressive NHL clubs in directly operating youth pipelines for female players, rather than partnering with third-party associations.
Hiring an Experienced Builder
To run the broader Florida Jr. Panthers travel structure for both girls and boys, the team hired Rob Granato as Youth Travel Hockey Director. Granato brings more than 30 years of coaching and player development experience and was part of growing several elite Tier I and Tier II organizations, including the Naperville Sabres, Chicago Fury, and Team Illinois. He has 15-plus years of experience specifically leading girls travel hockey programs.
“We want to create a clear, competitive pathway for female athletes in South Florida that supports development, confidence and a lifelong love of hockey,” Granato said in the team’s release.
A Market Reshaped by Explosive Growth
The decision lines up with the data on Florida hockey participation. USA Hockey registrations in the state climbed from 9,363 in 2005-06 to 22,888 last year, a 144.5% increase Chronicle Online. That base now supports a more layered competitive ecosystem, including girls-specific Tier II play, which historically required families to travel out of state.
Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito framed the timing bluntly. “Actually, the perfect time probably would have been 15 years ago,” KeysNews he said.
Olympic Tailwinds and the PWHL Pipeline Question
The launch lands shortly after USA Hockey swept Olympic golds at the Milan Cortina Games this winter across the men’s, sled, and women’s tournaments Chronicle Online, a moment that has historically pushed registration spikes at the youth level. There are currently no Florida products in the PWHL, although the league will likely welcome their first member from Florida via the 2026 PWHL Draft Yahoo!, underscoring the gap a team-operated girls pathway is designed to close over time.
The Panthers also operate adjacent entry points, including a learn-to-play program launched last year for girls and women age 14 and older with no prior experience.
What It Means for the Youth Hockey Market
For families, the immediate effect is a higher-level, in-state competitive option for girls without relocating to traditional hockey markets. For NHL clubs evaluating their youth strategies, the Panthers’ model treats girls travel hockey as a core organizational asset rather than a secondary program, with two ice sheets, a senior hire, and a stated pipeline goal that runs from learn-to-skate through national competition. Whether the structure produces the state’s first PWHL draftee remains to be seen, but the infrastructure is now in place.
Source: Florida Panthers PR, FloridaPanthers.com, April 13, 2026, https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-announce-tier-ii-girls-travel-hockey-program-commit-to-comprehensive-pathway-for-players-of-all-levels
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