If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve no doubt seen this viral video by now: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice rewarding his fourth-line forwards in the waning seconds of this year’s Stanley Cup final.
“I want you three f—ing guys out there for the last shift,” said Maurice, in a behind-the-scenes moment recorded on the bench. “You throw your sh— off when we win this.”
Maurice was acknowledging the fact that his grinders — A.J. Greer, Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich — had played a pivotal role in the team’s championship run, especially against the Toronto Maple Leafs in round two of the playoffs.
How many times has Gadjovich watched the now-viral clip?
“Countless times for sure,” he smiled, during a recent appearance on our ‘Closer Look’ podcast. “I love that video. It’s so cool. It brings back just such a special memory. I wasn’t expecting that to happen, obviously.”
Last season, Gadjovich was on Florida’s postseason roster but never saw the ice. This year, he emerged as a critical piece of the title team, even playing Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers with a broken foot.
Now back home in Ontario for the summer, Gadjovich took some time to talk to our podcast about everything — his injury, the post-victory parties, and how grateful he is for the love and support of his family.
For him, the video reveals everything people need to know about Paul Maurice.
"I think it shows how much he cares about each and every one of his players," Gadjovich said. "I have personally had so many amazing interactions with him, and he's been so supportive of me and my family."
You can watch the full interview HERE.
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