Florida Panthers honor Jose Fernandez with warmup jerseys, donation

— -- The? Florida Panthers?honored the late? Miami Marlins?pitcher? Jose Fernandez?in their NHL season opener against the? New Jersey Devils?on Thursday by wearing warmup jerseys with Fernandez's last name on the back. The jerseys also featured Fernandez's No. 16, and the team's helmets included a No. 16 decal.

The Florida Panthers Foundation Community Champions Grant Program is also donating $35,000 to Fernandez's foundation, the JDF 16 Foundation. The Marlins'? Dee Gordon and Adam Conley?accepted the check.

Fernandez, who died in a boating accident in Miami Beach in September, visited the Panthers in February. He also invited Panthers players to take batting practice after the NHL season came to a close earlier this year.