Number one.

Roberta Lubango.

Thank you.

I just I just want to start off by thanking everybody that's reach out over the last few days by calling text messaging messaging me on Twitter, Instagram, tic tac, whatever it is.

Just I just want to thank everybody has been really overwhelming for me, and I really appreciate everybody's gesture and goes without notice.

So I'm going to start our fellow story.

When I was a little kid and I fell in love with hockey, I was about 34 years old and my parents both worked.

So just go to my grandmother's house every day and she used to watch me and I always want to play hockey.

But she was busy in the basement, cranking out lasagnas non stops.

At one point.

I'm like, Can we play hockey?

And she's like, Sure, I'll take a break so she'd bring me downstairs and we'd have a table set up and she'd be a net with her apron on, and I'd be thinking shots on herself.

Really?

Have you seen my grandma on the video?

She's the one that I that allowed me to be here today.

So thank you.

Later on, when I started school, people just ask me, what do you want to do when your girl on, Uh, only one answer.

I wanted to be a hockey player and then be like, You know what?

You gotta pick something really like realistic.

And I went home, and my mom was like, Rob, you gotta do something realistic.

You can't be a hockey player.

Why don't you be like an accountant?

You're good in math.

I was like, No, I want to be a hockey player.

That's it.

That's all I have to do.

And I never wrote anything else moral.

This story is I'm glad that worked out, because if it didn't, I don't know what I'd be doing.

I'd probably be still living at home with my mom.

You'd probably like that, right?

But, you know, my parents obviously had a big part in where I am today, and we were three boys in the house and all three of us were goaltenders on.

It wasn't easy, you know, having to bring us to the arena every night.

There was not a lot of family dinners because we had either practice or games, and we're driving us out of town.

So there was a lot of sacrifices that had to be made for us to be where we are today.

And obviously that you guys played a big part in that and taught me what it is to work hard in life and dedicate yourself and have good values and morals on brought me a long way to where I am today.

So I love you guys got sip of Ah, you guys have played a big role in my life.

Oh, my, my brothers, we, uh, used to tear up the basement at home, playing hockey.

Just a ll.

The walls would be just ruined.

But we used to believe there every night after with the sticks and the nets.

And we go at it on growing up together, inflating a lot mostly my two younger brothers, but, um and then when I got older, you know, we we call each other after every game way.

Talk it out.

You know, we talk about what went right, what went wrong.

And, you know, I could never be thankful enough for you guys have been They're for me on.

You know, sometimes it was after a tough game, and they would be there to encourage me and, you know, bring me back up.

Um, I went through a lot of gold coaches in my career.

I think, uh, my most important one that really kicked off my career was a lie.

Ah, Director.

See, Frankie, um, go looking for more.

They're really be smart.

U S markets waste.

It's a swan.

Um, other people, they're going coaches that are very, very important to me.

My first goal in Cochin.

Minister Blair and Mario Baggy when I was here with the Panthers.

That clean Miller, Chuck, you and Clark as well when I was in Vancouver at ruling Johansson And last but not least, Robbie Tallas, who I saved from going into the NHL game.

Tell the real story what happened tonight.

You are Let's stick with your story.

All right, but thanks, Robbie.

I mean, um, we were on the same level.

You know, when I came here, you knew you knew me.

You knew what I needed.

How to handle my management and work on the ice together and work smart.

And you really kept my career going for a few extra years, and I really appreciate that I had had two agents, two agents in my career.

My first agent, I always remember, was 15 years old and after a game came up to my parents on Duh.

He told them that that I would be moving away from home next year, so that was quite a bit of a surprise to all of us.

My mom wasn't too happy about that one, but I guess it worked out for the best.

And he worked out for me for many years and, uh, a certain point when I switched change into Bad buddy, he made this move back the Florida possible.

He worked hard and he was involved, and I thank you for that.

I got my my personal trainer down here, Manual Mayor uh, every summer when I was playing for the other the Panthers or the Canucks.

I spend my summers down here and you work me relentlessly for hours and hours to make sure that I would be ready Thio to get the training camp in the best, my shape and ability.

And he did that and he pushed me to the limits that I didn't know where possible.

So I just wanted to thank Manny, and he's here tonight.

Thank you.

Have some ex teammates, obviously, that are here.

A couple of guys that came from Vancouver.

Juice.

Thanks.

Thanks so much.

I mean, I know we didn't play together here, but you guys were huge part of my career way did some great things together in Van.

And I'm happy and and honor for you guys to have been here tonight and we enjoy the moment together.

Noodles.

I mean, I think I'd probably still be playing hockey if you would have played more than two games.

I want here good extent of my career.

But, uh, you know, one game I remember I got a shot on my hands and I went to the bench and I was like, Man, I think I broke my hand.

I might have to come out.

He was like, Not your fine shook it off.

You go back in there, we'll see.

He was my week.

She was my first really partner in the NHL.

So he taught me that being late is not an option because he was never on time, But honestly, I would really appreciate it that when I when I got up, I was 20 years old and was young shy, and you took me in and you put me under your wing and I learned a lot from here that first year and, you know, it just set me off on my way.

And I took a lot from that first year and when I brought it here to Florida, really relinquished the time that we spent together.

And it's always special to me.

I got some teammates you're on the bench that would play with a bunch of years.

I just want to thank you guys for the few years You guys are, Ah, great group of guys and I'm really proud of you.

And I think that we have to believe in ourselves right now and enjoy the moment.

Just relinquishing it and come out here and have fun because you never know when you're gonna have an opportunity to either compete in NHL game, competed in a playoff hockey game, get to the Stanley Cup final or ever win the Stanley Cup.

Just go out there every game.

You can work your hearts out.

Enjoy it as much as you can never take it for granted.

My first, my first year when I came to the Panthers, when I got traded from the Islanders, I was new.

I didn't know my way around.

And Scott Mellanby, he's like, Do I want to take you this Italian restaurant?

The owner he wants to meet you is Italian.

You know he loves Italian, so I want to take you over there.

So I took took me over there and, uh, pizza time on.

Uh, so I met Mr Roberto, and, uh, we connected right away.

And we have developed a great relationship, and we can't became really, really close.

And you took me in as your one of your own.

And I really we'll always remember that and appreciate it.

Take me as one of your family.

I obviously we are family now, but at the time, you consider it part of the family.

And I love both of you for Thank you.

Way got my G and my Gabriella.

Um, I consider myself the luckiest that in the world to have two kids like you guys.

I'm so proud of you.

The way you hold yourselves the love you have, the kind hearts that you both have.

And nothing makes me prouder as a dad too.

Either.

Go to Gabriel has dance.

Competitions were watched.

Johnny play hockey.

Nothing fills my heart with joy more than those moments.

I love you both and I can't wait to hug you after For the love of my life.

Gina, I just want to thank you for being on this journey with me.

I know it was not always easy and there were some long road trips, but there's nobody else in the world that I would rather spend the with.

So you're my life and I love you forever.

I don't think they'll for believing in me for bringing me back to Florida.

Um, it really meant a lot.

And like you said, it's special for me to be working alongside you every day and learning.

And I want to thank you for that and Mr Viola Viola family also for believing in me and bringing me back, but also for honoring me and being the first Panther player to go up in the rafters.

Truly great honor.

And it means so much to me.

Thank you so much.

Oh, last but not least, I just want to thank the fans.

Um, thank you, everybody.

It's been a great ride.

It's been amazing.

It's still is amazing when I walk in the community and talk to you guys and see other grocery stores.

You guys have been behind me from day one and a truly humbled to have been through this journey with you guys and thank you for the support over the years.

Sometimes they were great.

Sometimes we're not so great.

But you guys always stuck behind me, and I truly appreciate that.

No, once again, thank you very much.

Thank you for being here tonight.

It is really appreciated.

Let's enjoy thank you.

It is now time for a first and Panthers history of player number will be retired.

Roberto Family Make your way down the red carpet.

Forgettable.

That's what to special Sunrise fertile along those number one etched in history and franchise.