Panthers’ Sam Bennett helping pets find forever homes with every goal he scores

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates after scoring past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara, Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

SUNRISE, Fla. – As the Florida Panthers continue their push for a second consecutive Stanley Cup, one of their players is also helping some lovable canines find their forever homes.

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On Tuesday night, Florida defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

During the third period, Panthers center Sam Bennett scored a power play goal to give Florida a commanding 4-1 lead.

The goal was extra special not only because it further cemented Florida’s lead in a crucial victory, but it also came on National Rescue Dog Day.

While Bennett may not have known about the day, he knows a lot about the cause.

This season Bennett teamed up with the Humane Society of Broward County for “Benny’s Buddies” to help cover pets’ adoption fees every time he scores a goal.

So while Bennett’s goals are big for the Cats on the ice, they’re also big for loving pets who are looking for a permanent home.

For more information, follow Benny’s Buddies on social media and head to the Humane Society of Broward County website.


About the Author
Clay Ferraro headshot

Clay Ferraro joined the Local 10 News team in 2014 to take his dream job: covering big-time sports at a first-class station in paradise. 

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