The Florida Panthers won't begin their season until October but the preparation will officially get underway this Thursday.
On Thursday, the Panthers will begin their training camp with physicals for the roster. Those physicals will take place at BB&T Center. Just five short days later, the Panthers will take the ice at the same building for the preseason opener.
In addition to the beginning of training camp, the Panthers announced their schedule for this year's Fan Fest. The annual event will be this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday at the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs.
Fans that would like to get a glimpse of the 2014 - 2015 team can do just that on Saturday when the team has an open practice. For three hours starting at 10 a.m., the Panthers will practice at the IceDen. There is a question and answer session available with the broadcasters of the team on Saturday as well.
The next day, the Panthers will do more of the same in another open practice. That will be a shorter one running from 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. There will also be an intra-squad scrimmage from 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
More information on Fan Fest can be found at Panthers.com.
The preseason begins on Sept. 24 with a home game against the Dallas Stars. The Panthers will play six games in all this preseason with two coming at BB&T Center. There is a day-night doubleheader on the 27th against the Nashville Predators.
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After playing the Tampa Bay Lightning to begin the season on Oct. 9, the Panthers will open up their home schedule two days later. The game on the 11th will be against the New Jersey Devils.
