Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler writes a weekly scrapbook for NHL.com. Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers each Wednesday. This week focuses on Florida Panthers media through the eyes of a reporter who was there when the franchise was born nearly 33 years ago. A former Newsday columnist, Joe Dionisio wrote the inaugural story about the Panthers' admittance to the NHL. He discussed South Florida's early NHL journalism scene with a look at present coverage as well.

Joe Dionisio looked around the press room at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Then, he did a double take.

"It was hard to believe," Dionisio said. "I was one of the only reporters there. Even the Canadian turnout was sparse."

This was Dec. 10, 1992, and Joe was in t

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