Roberto Luongo gives emotional pregame speech about school shooting

Longtime Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo gave an emotional speech about the Parkland school shooting prior to the team’s home game against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.

Luongo is in his 10th season with the team, spread over two stints. Luongo lives in Parkland and says his children go to school in Parkland, so last week’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the city affected him deeply.

The Panthers were on a road trip until returning home this week for Thursday’s game, so this was the first chance Luongo had to address the home crowd. He gave an emotional speech:

An emotional Roberto Luongo addresses the home crowd prior to tonight's game, saying he is inspired by how the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas have responded after the school shooting last Wednesday. #MSDStrong #NHL #FlaPanthers #OneTerritory pic.twitter.com/KV1ERJvr7l

— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) February 23, 2018

Luongo called for the community to take action and put a stop to school shootings. He called the school’s teachers “heroes” and said the response of the students is giving him “hope for the future.”