Give The Gift Of History This Holiday Season - Meet Florida Panthers Alumni Serge Payer and Peter J. Worrell Plus Receive A Yearly Membership Gift To History Fort Lauderdale

These new announcements complement the recently added exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the venue for 30 VIP ticketholders which includes the hidden world beneath the Baptist Health IcePlex — a marvel of sports engineering and the sanctum of the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers — their official locker room.

“We are thrilled to welcome Florida Panthers players Serge Payer and Peter J. Worrell to our History Makers Fundraiser honoring the past, present and future of our hometown heroes sports franchise,” said Patricia Zeiler, Executive Director of History Fort Lauderdale. “What makes this fundraiser extra special is that every ticket purchased will directly support our local efforts to preserve our heritage and foster a sense of pride and stewardship for the vibrant tapestry of our region's history.”

Serge Payer, a Canadian and American retired professional hockey player, engaged in 12 years of professional hockey, retiring in 2011. He played in over 119 career NHL games with the Florida Panthers and the Ottawa Senators. In 1996, Payer also won a gold medal with Canada's National U18-Team, In 1999, Payer's career nearly ended when he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barre Syndrome. After an 11-month battle with the disease, he returned to play major junior hockey with the Kitchener Rangers before eventually making his NHL debut in 2000 against the Atlanta Thrashers. That same year, he was the Florida Panther nominee for the NHL Bill Masterton League Trophy Nominee. Now, as a highly regarded speaker, Payer shares his leadership, teamwork and life lesson experiences. He is an energetic entrepreneur, an NHLPA certified agent, a current asset manager and realtor. He continues to serve and impact lives through his namesake foundation, a NonProfit Organization that raises funds for those afflicted with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), for single parents in need and post-secondary school scholarships. In his free time, Payer is a youth mentor, coaching the Panthers Selects U8 and U10/U12 Clubs.

Peter J. Worrell is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player known as one of the NHL's most feared enforcers during his seven-season career with the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche. Drafted in the 7th round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, he debuted in 1997 and led the league in penalty minutes in 2001–02. Worrell also contributed offensively, scoring 19 NHL goals, and was recognized for his physicality and commitment to his role. Before turning professional, Worrell excelled with the Hull Olympiques in junior hockey, winning two QMJHL championships and the 1997 Memorial Cup. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into coaching, leading Florida Atlantic University's hockey team and later working with the Fayetteville Marksmen in the Southern Professional Hockey League. His contributions to hockey as a player and coach continue to inspire, making him a respected figure both on and off the ice.

Event attendees, honoring South Florida’s back-to-back 2024 & 2025 Stanley Cup Champions, will enjoy wine and spirits with culinary delights plus an opportunity to view Florida Panthers memorabilia and other collectibles from the exclusive Wayne Huizenga collection, which was donated to History Fort Lauderdale. WSVN 7 Sportscaster Donovan Campbell will be the special guest host of the awards portion of the event, which recognizes individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the growth of the City of Fort Lauderdale,

Since taking to the South Florida ice in 1993, the Florida Panthers have established an unmatched legacy of award-winning sportsmanship, economic development, corporate philanthropy and civic responsibility.

According to the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, the Panthers have impacted the local economy by at least $110 Million over the last two seasons during the team’s long playoff runs; a number that is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. As a catalyst for urban growth in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, the Florida Panthers have invested $100 Million into the construction of their official practice facility Baptist Health ICEPLEX with two NHL-regulation sized ice rinks and the recently revitalized historic War Memorial Auditorium, a 44,000-Square-Foot multipurpose concert venue. As part of the project, the Panthers renovated all veteran art and monuments around the venue (which has drawn visits from U.S. Presidents and celebrity icons from Buddy Holly to World Boxing Champion Hector Camacho over the decades) including the merchant marine monument outside the venue, the red flags along the exterior walkway which represents soldier art, one plaque representing Broward County Veterans that served in the Vietnam War and a second plaque representing those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation. Overlooking the main lobby from the top of the wall, patrons will find a soldier statue that was donated in the early 1970s by Gold Star Mothers, which is a group of mothers who lost a child or loved one during the Vietnam War. This statue is now located in a more prominent location inside the lobby and serves as a representation of all Broward County soldiers.

Philanthropically, the Florida Panthers Foundation is committed to making a positive impact on the South Florida community and beyond. The Florida Panthers Foundation was established to benefit the South Florida community by focusing on four priority areas: building the game of hockey for children and youth, supporting health and education initiatives for children, advocating for and supporting Veterans’ issues, and raising awareness about the endangered Florida panther. The Foundation fundraises through several events and in-game initiatives that have helped them donate over $8 Million to local NonProfits in the South Florida community since the 2016-17 Season. The South Florida community can visit: https://www.nhl.com/panthers/community/foundation - for more information on how to support.

History Fort Lauderdale’s 29th Annual History Makers is presented by Alligator Ron & Ali Bergeron, Miles & Tara Forman and Murphy Family Charitable Trust and is sponsored by Hudson Family Foundation, FPL, The Kelley Law Firm, Miller Construction Company, Waste Management, Denison Yachting, Pier Sixty-Six, Hooper Construction, Inc., Wards Marine Electric, Cathy & James Donnelly Charitable Fund, CBI, Gulf Stream Distillery, Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, GPR | Goodman Public Relations, 41 North and Sun Sentinel Media Group.

Event tickets are $125. Only 30 VIP tickets with the exclusive behind-the-scenes tour are offered for $250. From now through December 24th, ticket purchasers receive an added bonus of a complimentary Sustainer Family Membership to History Fort Lauderdale, which includes free entry to the 1905 New River Inn Museum, exhibit openings and special events, benefits for up to four family members, a 10% Museum Store discount, four additional free Museum guest passes and an annual Southeastern Reciprocal Membership that includes free admission to hundreds of national museums. All tickets are available for purchase online at: https://historyfortlauderdale.org. For sponsorships or more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call: (954) 463-4431. Or visit: https://historyfortlauderdale.org.

About The Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers enter the 2025 - 2026 Season as the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions, having gone to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past three seasons. The National Hockey League’s southernmost team, the Panthers, have reached the postseason in a club-record six consecutive campaigns. The Panthers operate four facilities in Broward County, Florida: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, the new state-of-the-art practice facility Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, as well as the renovated War Memorial Auditorium, which hosts concerts and events for the South Florida faithful. An organization with deep roots in the community, the Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Emphasizing a culture of selfless service both on and off the ice, the Panthers pillar program ‘Heroes Among Us’ honors a United States military veteran at every game and the Florida Panthers Foundation has four main focuses including veterans affairs, children's health and education, raising awareness for the endangered Florida panther and growing youth hockey.

About War Memorial Auditorium

War Memorial Auditorium is South Florida's newest premier entertainment destination, located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale while still only minutes away from the city’s scenic beaches. The recently revitalized venue offers 44,000 Square Feet of versatile space with a 3,400-person capacity featuring a general admission floor and premium seated mezzanine level. Originally opened in 1950 and situated in the 93-acre Holiday Park, the venue combines historical significance with modern amenities, including state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. War Memorial Auditorium can host a diverse range of events, from concerts and performances to community gatherings, galas/dinners, graduations or reunions and more. For more information, visit: www.FTLWarMemorial.com. Follow us on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook at: @ftlwarmemorial.

History Fort Lauderdale

Since 1962, History Fort Lauderdale has been committed to preserving our collective heritage, promoting historical literacy, and fostering a sense of pride and stewardship for the vibrant tapestry of our region's history. Through dynamic exhibitions, engaging educational programs, and meaningful community initiatives, we strive to connect individuals of all ages and backgrounds with the stories, artifacts, and experiences that shape our shared past, present, and future. Guests to Fort Lauderdale are invited to explore the city’s rich past that is housed in historic buildings on a lushly landscaped campus - the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale situated in the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 Pioneer House Museum, the 1899 Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse Museum and the Hoch Research Library, South Florida’s foremost history center housing print resources and newspapers from 1910 - present plus 400,000 archival photos, 2,500 maps and 5,000 architectural blueprints. History Fort Lauderdale is located at 231 SW Second Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Museum tickets are available online at: HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a nonprofit agency supported by memberships, grants and charitable contributions. For more information, call: (954) 463-4431. Or visit us online at: https://historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ftlhistory - And on Instagram: @ftlhistory. Subscribe to us on YouTube at: www,Youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.