Panthers to hold blood drive Feb. 22

The Florida Panthers will host a blood drive for Parkland on Feb. 22 at the BB&T Center, the team announced.

The event, in conjunction with One Blood and JetBlue, will go from noon to 7 p.m.

Fans attending the Panthers’ game against the Washington Capitals can donate blood inside the arena from 7:30 p.m. through the end of the second intermission.

The drive comes after the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Wednesday that killed 17 people.

The Panthers’ practice facility in Coral Springs is less than 4 miles from Douglas and the BB&T Center is about 15 miles south of the school.

A handful of Panthers also live in Parkland.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of [the] shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland,” Panthers president Matt Caldwell said in a statement Wednesday.

“The hearts of the entire Florida Panthers organization are broken by the news.

“We are committed to providing aid and support to our community as it grieves in response to this senseless tragedy.”

On Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks observed a moment of silence for the victims prior to their game against the Panthers. players

mdefranks@sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @MDeFranks.