Aleksander Barkov and others receive high honors from the President of Finland

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Tom Banks
July 23, 2024 (3:19 PM)

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The Florida Panthers finally won the Stanley Cup in 2024, and with several key Finnish stars, they've now received a major honour in their home country.

After years of battling, Aleksander Barkov led the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup in 2024, and now, the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb has shared photos of meeting Barkov and Niko Mikkola.

An honour to host our Finnish Stanley Cup winners. Great gang. We are so proud of you guys. Nice to have my Dad around the table.

In the photos shared to Instagram, Stubb showed himself holding a Panthers jersey, revealing how proud he and the whole country are of their Stanley Cup heroes, with Barkov becoming the first Finnish captain to win the trophy in league history. In the United States, title-winning teams have made a tradition of visiting the White House and the President, and this is on the same level for those Finnish players, who rarely get this incredible honour.

The country of Finland has become a true threat in hockey, especially with Barkov leading the way as the Panthers captain, and with this honour, we could see more and more Finnish players starring in the league in the future.

Source: SportsKeeda
In Photos: Panthers' Aleksander Barkov, Niko Mikkola, and others honored by Finland President Alex Stubb post Stanley Cup success