Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk lifting the Stanley Cup over his head after winning it during the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals

Photo credit: Jim Rassol – USA Today

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is under fire for a viral moment he had with the Stanley Cup that according to new reports breaks the rules of celebrating.

The Florida Panthers were able to bring home the most prized trophy in all of sports the Stanley Cup in 2024-25. In the hours after celebrating every player on the team was seen with the Stanley Cup including superstar Matthew-Tkachuk. He was able to create an iconic moment with the Stanley Cup by carrying it into the Atlantic Ocean.

Florida Man Matthew Tkachuk takes the Stanley Cup into the Atlantic Ocean

This moment went viral on social media showing just how wild things can get in a Stanley Cup celebration. Despite going viral the back story to the moment had not been told yet. Today all of that changed and even led to controversy.

Matthew Tkachuk reveals he broke the rules taking the Stanley Cup in the Ocean

In a new interview, Matthew Tkachuk spoke about the celebration after winning the Stanley Cup. He revealed that he was told that he wasn’t supposed to take the Stanley Cup into the Atlantic Ocean and that he did not know he wasn’t allowed before hand.

«I did not know that wasn’t allowed, I promise you,» Tkachuk told KSDK News. «It was the day after I won, I still hadn’t slept at that point, and it was just me and a few of my teammates. We had nobody with us to say, ‘Matthew, don’t be an idiot. Don’t do that.’ So I thought it was fitting, but if I would have known I wasn’t supposed to do it, I wouldn’t have done it, but also, I think it’s pretty funny.»

As for how the idea came to Matthew Tkachuk he blamed his brother Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk for sparking the inspiration.

My brother was like, ‘The ocean’s right there, why don’t you just go take it in there right now, Matthew explained. I’m like, ‘That’s a great idea. We’ll go do that.’ I guess I didn’t give him credit when I first got asked about it, and he was pretty upset with me, so there, he gets the credit for that.

Despite breaking the rules Matthew Tkachuk still got his individual day with the Stanley Cup in St. Louis. He spent it with his Hall of Fame father Keith Tkachuk and took it to the local St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Now with the celebrations behind him, Matthew Tkachuk can focus on getting back to training with his brother Brady to prepare to repeat as champions.