Florida Panthers Launch Girls Travel Hockey Programs, Hire Rob Granato to Lead

The Florida Panthers are going all-in on growing the game at the grassroots level. The organization announced Monday it will launch a girls travel hockey program out of its current and former practice facilities later this year, a project years in the making that comes on the heels of USA Hockey’s historic Olympic sweep.

General manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito, who has long envisioned bringing this type of program to South Florida, called the timing ideal despite wishing the initiative had launched 15 years earlier. “But now we have the chance,” Zito said at the announcement.

The Panthers hired Rob Granato as youth travel hockey director to lead the program. Granato, the brother of women’s hockey legend Cammi Granato, brings decades of experience and a deep connection to Zito — the two were linemates together in a Chicago summer league, with Cammi centering the line.

Rob Granato said the growth of girls hockey in the area made this the right moment. “There are girls that played here and they’ve had to leave the area if they want to continue their path,” he said. “Now we want to make sure they’ve got an opportunity here, in our buildings, to stay in their own beds, not travel far to play other teams. And there’s enough players now.”

The program will emphasize player development while providing a pathway to national-level competitions. Interest has been exceptionally high in recent weeks, according to Zito, even before the official announcement.

Youth hockey in Florida has exploded in recent years. USA Hockey registration in the Sunshine State has grown from 9,363 players in 2005-06 to 22,888 last season — a 144.5 percent increase. The Panthers have previously run learn-to-play programs for girls and women age 14 and older with no prior experience.

Zito also expressed hope that older kids still considering the sport would give it a try, pointing out that Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo didn’t focus exclusively on hockey until age 14. “If you’re 14 and you want to play hockey, you can play hockey — and you might make it to the Hall of Fame,” Zito said. “Come and play fun.”