Ron DeSantis is a proud supporter of all things Florida as Governor.
Now he put state pride and bragging rights on the line in a surprising fashion.
And Ron DeSantis was sweating bullets to win this big bet with a Canadian politician.
Ron DeSantis wins bet with Canadian politician after Florida Panthers win Stanley Cup
The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in a hard-fought game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.
That marked the first Stanley Cup championship for the Panthers during their brief history in the National Hockey League (NHL). They began playing as an expansion team during the 1993-94 season.
It was a Stanley Cup Finals of momentum swings.
The Panthers jumped out to a commanding 3-0 series lead and appeared to have it wrapped up.
But the Oilers used an 8-1 rout in game four to go on a three-game winning streak to force game seven in Sunrise, Florida.
The Panthers avoided one of the worst collapses in NHL history, only one team has ever blown a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, the 1942 Detroit Red Wings.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had to sweat it out, but he won a bet he made with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on the Stanley Cup Finals.
Smith challenged him over the results of the Cup finals, involving whiskey.
“This is for all the marbles…The Stanley Cup. Our Edmonton Oilers are going to beat the Florida Panthers and when we do, would you send some of your finest Florida rum to Alberta for us to celebrate with? If by some miracle the Panthers win the series, then I will send some fine Alberta-made whiskey down to Florida,” Smith said.
Ron DeSantis responds to Stanley Cup bet
DeSantis never backs down from a challenge.
“With this Stanley Cup, I just want to let everybody know I actually have a bet with the Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith,” DeSantis said at a press conference. “If the Oilers win, then I’ve gotta send Florida rum up to Alberta, but if the Panthers win then she has to send some nice Canadian Whiskey down to Florida, so we’re going to do that.”
DeSantis sweetened the bet by throwing in some of Florida’s famous key lime pie.
Florida has had a surprising amount of success in the NHL during his time as Governor despite not being a hockey state.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, narrowly missing a three-peat with a loss in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals.
Florida’s success over the last two NHL seasons has been a boon to the South Florida community they call home.
Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority CEO Jenni Morejon estimated that the NHL team generated more than $100 million for the local economy.
“It’s amazing to see the community rallying behind us and the team, and seeing the banners around town on the streets, and flags [at] restaurants… the hospitality industry in Fort Lauderdale, in South Florida, within one degree of separation, everyone kind of knows each other. So, I get a lot of stories and feedback back to me of how all of them are playing the game… driving business to their restaurants, all while providing support for the team,” Panthers COO Bryce Hollweg told Fox News Digital.
Florida has become hockey country after their success of their NHL teams.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
