The Florida Panthers' West Point Connection

Three years ago, the Florida Panthers were on the verge of bankruptcy, constantly being bandied about as a relocation candidate. As such, the franchise's run to the top of the Atlantic Division this season was one of the NHL's most surprising stories.

More surprising? The run didn't begin on the ice with the acquisitions of Jaromir Jagr or Roberto Luongo. It began when Vinnie Viola bought the team in September, 2013. Viola, who attended the U.S. Military Academy in West Point and served in the 101st Airborne Division, has turned to his military background to restructure the franchise, and instill purpose into an organization that spent years adrift.

The Panthers, who are tied 2-2 in their first round series with the New York Islanders and play Game 5 tonight in Florida, are in the playoffs for the first time since 2012, and just the fifth time in 22 seasons of existence. However, they expect to be back often. Viola has ensured that the franchise's military bearing is more than just the cliched, superficial sports team-adopts-war metaphors or wears-camo-uniforms stuff. He has already hired seven front office staffers with military backgrounds.

"One thing Vinnie would relay to anyone else buying a team or a business was it all starts with culture," Panthers President and CEO Matt Caldwell said. "I think in hockey there's so much parity. The difference in the league between the best player in the league and worst player in the league, in my opinion, is probably very, very small relative to other sports. You just see how many teams were in the hunt for the playoffs the last couple of games.

"So that margin of difference can depend on how guys care about each other and the organization. When Vinnie came in, he was very adamant that his players and his staff know that his one goal was to win the Stanley Cup. We may not do it overnight, and it may sound crazy to folks in South Florida, but we were going to be focused on doing that."

Caldwell graduated from West Point in 2002 and was hired by Viola and the Panthers in 2014. Viola already had hired a classmate of Caldwell's at West Point, Eric Joyce, as Assistant GM. He also installed another West Pointer, Adam Fullerton, as general manager of the BB&C Center where the Panthers play their home games.

"We also have four other vets working for us, and to us it's important," Caldwell said. "It's not just that we owe that to the nation, but these guys all have a great work ethic, professionalism and perform their jobs well. Our staff respects them and that's great."

Viola, who made his money in financial services, spearheaded efforts to open the New York Mercantile Exchange as soon as possible after September 11, and that's exactly what happened when they resumed business only four days later on September 17, 2001. Shortly after that, Viola founded and funded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, which is now in its tenth year of operation. Joyce worked for Viola there. He remembers how, like Viola, he did his best to identify the critical lessons learned in the military that he could apply in civilian life and at work.

"What I took away with my transition into civilian life was, one, understand the process and structure you're involved in, but two, remain flexible enough and open enough to solve hard problems," said Joyce, who served in Iraq and was in charge of running a territory and helping civilians. "What I took away from my experience in Iraq is I don't know everything and I'm going to ask my guys for help and input. Once everyone had input into the plan, they sort of owned a piece of it they want to see it through. So that's how I've approached jobs afterwards."

Caldwell echoed the sentiments of his colleague, pointing to a sum-is-greater-than-the-parts philosophy—which applies within a hockey franchise on and off the ice. Caldwell also cited the perseverance veterans possess, and how Viola has used his to help the Panthers rise.

"Perseverance is another huge character strength you build in the Army," Caldwell said. "Obviously, you have to have that in you to begin with if you're signing up, but going through the experience pulls it out and builds it. Military guys put their head down and say 'No, nothing is going to stop us or get in the way' and that definitely helps in life and in business and in sports. The state of the team now is reflective of that and the perseverance Vinnie has always shown."

Viola took the team for a bonding excursion at West Point prior to the 2014-15 training camp. Prior to this season, the Panthers went to a private shooting range in the Everglades and worked with special forces members. Panthers forward Shawn Thornton was immediately impressed by Caldwell on the trip to West Point, and by Viola when they first met.

"When we went to West Point on that first trip, I didn't know what to expect," Thornton said. "We were doing a drill carrying a guy through some water and we were slipping a bit. Now at that point, I didn't know who Matt was, and all of a sudden this huge dude, who turned out to be him, comes barreling out of the woods and gives us a hand and helps us through the exercise and walks around soaked with us the rest of the day.

"I mean, it's little things like that he or Vinnie and the other vets with the Panthers do that shows you the type of people they are, and how sincere they are about doing what it takes to make this a winning culture. Matt's an executive and he's getting in the water with us doing this? That's impressive! I have always had this gratitude and admiration for the military and the sacrifices they make and now to be working for veterans like Matt and Vinnie and all the others is an honor. They've already proven they go the extra mile being military veterans and they're doing that for us every day. You could see everyone buy in and now it's paying off for us."

Thornton, a 38-year-old Canadian enforcer, is experienced enough to be cynical about team-building exercises. But like the rest of the Panthers teammates—many of whom are NHL veterans like him—he has bought in. The only question now is how far the team's newly-infused spirit can take them.