When the Florida Panthers finally hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2024, and then remarkably did it again in 2025, the cameras rightfully stayed glued to superstars like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. You saw the sweat, the missing teeth, and the raw exhaustion of a roster that basically went through a two-year war. But if you look closely at the background of those celebration photos—the guys in the team polos instead of jerseys—you’ll spot the people who actually kept that engine running. Brian Riedel is one of those names that fans might not scream from the rafters, but the players sure as heck know who he is.
As an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Florida Panthers, Riedel is part of the medical glue holding a championship-caliber team together. It’s a job that is mostly invisible until someone goes down on the ice and the trainer has to sprint out there. Honestly, it's one of the highest-pressure gigs in sports.
Who is Brian Riedel and why does he matter to the Panthers?
Riedel isn't some newcomer to the hockey world. Before he was helping the Panthers secure back-to-back titles, he put in his time in the "bus leagues." He spent three seasons as the head athletic trainer for the Hershey Bears in the AHL. If you know hockey, you know Hershey is basically the gold standard for minor league organizations. He also had a stint with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the ECHL back in 2018-19.
He’s a Wisconsin guy through and through. Born in Sun Prairie and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he’s got that Midwestern work ethic that fits perfectly with the culture Paul Maurice has built in South Florida.
When Riedel joined the Panthers staff, he wasn't just joining a team; he was joining a mission. The role of an Assistant Athletic Trainer involves a million things we don't see.
- Managing chronic injuries through an 82-game grind.
- Coordinating with the head trainer, Dave DiNapoli.
- Handling emergency on-ice response.
- Basically acting as a part-time therapist and full-time healer for guys who play a contact sport at 20 miles per hour.
The Stanley Cup Homecoming in Wisconsin
One of the coolest things about the NHL is that every member of the winning staff gets a day with the Cup. When the Florida Panthers won it all, Brian Riedel didn't just take the trophy to a private party. He took it home to Madison, Wisconsin.
He made a stop at the UW-Health’s American Family Children’s Hospital. It’s a move that says a lot about the guy. While most people would be popping champagne, he was using his 24 hours with the most famous trophy in sports to put smiles on the faces of kids going through the hardest fights of their lives. He told local news at the time that he just wanted to give them something to admire and maybe inspire them to be champions themselves one day.
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Life on the Panthers Training Staff
It's easy to think of the Florida Panthers as just a collection of talent, but the logistics of health in Sunrise are intense. You've got the humidity of Florida, the constant cross-country travel, and the physical toll of a "heavy" playing style.
Riedel works alongside a deep medical and equipment team. This includes people like:
- Dave DiNapoli (Head Athletic Trainer)
- Mike Valcy (Massage Therapist)
- Teddy Richards (Head Equipment Manager)
In 2024 and 2025, the Panthers' injury report during the playoffs was surprisingly manageable compared to some of their rivals. That’s not just luck. That is a direct result of the "pre-hab" and recovery protocols established by the training staff. When a player like Sam Bennett or Aaron Ekblad can return from a heavy hit and not miss a beat, that’s Riedel and his colleagues doing the heavy lifting behind the curtain.
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Why the "Unsung Hero" Label Actually Fits
We talk a lot about "unsung heroes" in sports. Usually, it's a third-line winger who blocks a shot. But the training staff? They are the ultimate unsung heroes. If Brian Riedel does his job perfectly, nobody talks about him. We only talk about trainers when a star player is out for six weeks.
The fact that the Panthers have maintained such a high level of physical play over the last three seasons—culminating in those back-to-back cups—is a testament to the medical department. They’ve managed to keep a veteran core healthy enough to survive the most grueling postseason schedule in professional sports.
Key Takeaways for Panthers Fans
If you’re looking to understand the organizational depth of the Florida Panthers, don't just look at the scouting reports. Look at the continuity of the staff. Brian Riedel represents the high-level professional standard that the Panthers have adopted since Bill Zito took over as GM.
- Experience counts: From the ECHL to the AHL and finally the NHL, Riedel climbed the ladder.
- Community matters: Bringing the Cup to a children's hospital in Madison shows the character the team looks for.
- Recovery is the new edge: In the modern NHL, the team that recovers fastest wins. Riedel is a key part of that "recovery edge."
The next time you see a Panthers player take a nasty spill and head to the tunnel, keep an eye out for the training staff. They are the ones working in the dark to make sure the stars can shine under the bright lights. Brian Riedel's journey from Wisconsin to the top of the hockey world is a reminder that the Stanley Cup belongs to more than just the guys who score the goals.
To stay updated on the Panthers' medical staff and roster moves, it's best to follow the official team directory or local beat writers who cover the day-to-day operations at the Baptist Health IcePlex. Pay attention to the "behind-the-scenes" content the team releases; that's often where you get the best glimpse into the work Riedel and the rest of the training staff put in during the off-days.