Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe rejoined the team after welcoming his first child, a son named Rory, earlier this week. He shared his joy during Thursday's morning skate at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale. The locker room, already full of fathers, celebrated the new addition.
Carter Verhaeghe beamed with pride as he returned to the Florida Panthers following the birth of his baby boy, Rory. His wife, Casey, is reported to be doing well after the delivery, which Verhaeghe described as a memorable experience.
“There was a lot that went down,” Verhaeghe said while speaking to the media. “I’m just thankful that we got to welcome a baby boy into the world. My wife and I are so proud. I’m so proud of her. It was just a special day.”
The Panthers' locker room has become a hub for new and experienced fathers, with head coach Paul Maurice jokingly referring to it as “a daycare.” Verhaeghe noted the warm reception from teammates, many of whom are parents themselves. “Everyone was just so excited for me,” he shared. “Talking to all the guys that have kids, they’re just so excited. Even going through that, I’m just excited with a couple of the future dads we have coming to be able experience that. It’s just so special. I’m so thankful.”
Maurice, a father of three, highlighted the unique connection parenthood creates. “It’s a thing that you can’t explain to somebody until it happens to them,” he explained. “Now, you have another bond between you and a player, something that you’ve been through.”
Approximately 15 players on the team now have at least one child, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie. Maurice added a lighthearted note: "Our peewee team in 10 years is going to be awesome.”
For Verhaeghe, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and the No. 23 forward who ranks eighth in franchise history with 142 regular-season goals (plus a record 33 in the playoffs), this personal milestone surpasses all professional achievements. “It’s not even close,” he said. “It’s the greatest thing in the world.”
Teammate Sergei Bobrovsky even commented on Verhaeghe’s practice shot, suggesting it felt harder, hinting at possible 'dad strength' benefits.