Today, Whitby celebrated a proud hometown hockey moment as Florida Panthers player Jonah Gadjovich brought the Stanley Cup to Iroquois Park Sports Centre; sharing this exciting moment in the community that started it all.

Today, surrounded by fans and future hockey stars, Jonah Gadjovich returned to the ice where he once played hockey. Jonah started playing house league with Whitby Minor Hockey in 2004. He continued house league until U13, when he made the jump to the AA team. He later played U16 AAA with Whitby Minor Hockey, before moving on to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), followed by the National Hockey League (NHL). The celebration marks a full-circle moment for the athlete and the Whitby community.

As part of the festivities, local hockey players of all ages had the chance to see the Stanley Cup and take part in the once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

Quotes

As a kid I grew up playing for the Whitby Wildcats and dreamed of one day being able to bring the Stanley cup home. On July 29, that dream became reality.

-          Jonah Gadjovich, Florida Panthers

Seeing Jonah return to the community where his hockey journey began is an inspiring reminder to every young player in our town that big dreams can start right here. On behalf of the Town of Whitby, congratulations to Jonah on this amazing achievement - and thank you for sharing it with your hometown.

-          Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

On behalf of WMHA and our Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome former Whitby Wildcat Jonah Gadjovich back to Whitby as he celebrates his second Stanley Cup win! Jonah continues the proud tradition of Whitby players achieving their dreams and reaching the next level. His success is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and we couldn’t be prouder. We hope Jonah enjoys his well-deserved day with the Cup in his hometown!

-          Sandra Perfetti, General Manager of Operations, Whitby Minor Hockey Association

Quick Facts

• This was Jonah Gadjovich’s second consecutive Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.
• Over the course of 16 playoff games in 2025, Jonah had 2 goals, 1 assist, and a +3 plus-minus rating, highlighting his positive impact on the team's performance.
• Whitby has a total of ten hockey arenas spread across three community centers: Iroquois Park Sports Centre, McKinney Centre, and Luther Vipond Memorial Arena. Iroquois Park Sports Centre contains six arenas alone.
• Whitby is home to minor hockey programs that are shaping the next generation of players.
• The Whitby Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) has over 100 House League teams and around 40 Representative teams, making it one of the largest minor hockey associations in Ontario.

For more information on hockey programs in Whitby, visit whitby.ca/CommunitySports

For media inquiries, contact:

Erin Mikaluk
Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca