Jayson Tatum, Matthew Tkachuk Champ Material At Young Age ... Ex-Gym Teacher Says

ABSOLUTELY TALENTED
TMZSports.com

Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk were destined to be world champions ... so says their former middle school gym teacher, who tells TMZ Sports he recognized long ago that there was something special about the two.

The Boston Celtics hooper and Florida Panthers left winger -- who both won their respective titles in the NBA and NHL this month -- both attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, MO as kids ... and Michael Derkits -- who also coached Tatum on the basketball team -- got an early look at their potential.

Derkits said Tatum and Tkachuk hit it off as soon as the former transferred to Chaminade as a 7th grader ... and he credits to them having similar personalities.

Celine Dion Announces Pick During NHL Draft ... Amid Neurological Disorder

Celine Dion hit up the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas on Friday -- and she even participated in the event despite her constant battle with a rare neurological disorder.

The iconic singer seemed to be in great spirits as she arrived at The Sphere in Sin City to attend the National Hockey League's big night.

During it, Celine walked onstage in a chic dress and stepped up to a microphone, telling the crowd she was excited while joking that she's "not even a hockey mom."

Florida Panthers Lord Stanley Gets VIP Treatment ... At Miami Nightclub

PANTHERS PARTY IT UP
Media Monsters

The Florida Panthers' championship rage fest continues -- the latest stop on their victory tour was a popular Miami nightclub ... and Lord Stanley was the life of the party!!

The Panthers -- who won their first-ever Stanley Cup on Monday -- were spotted at E11EVEN ... and it's clear they're not slowing down their celebration any time soon.

You can see Aleksander Barkov and the team get the VIP treatment at the venue, with a celebratory welcome, a bunch of bottles (including Ace of Spades), and tons of Panthers fans.

Ex-NHL'er Sergei Berezin Dead at 52

Sergei Berezin, who played 7 seasons in the National Hockey League, has died at the age of 52.

Sergei's death was announced Wednesday by the NHL Alumni Association ... though the cause of death is unclear.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Sergie in the 10th round of the 1994 NHL Draft out of Voskresensk, Russia. He went on to play 5 seasons for the franchise, scoring more than 20 goals in four of those campaigns.

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Parades Stanley Cup Around FL Bar ... Dunks It In Ocean!!!

The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions ... and star forward Matthew Tkachuk is celebrating accordingly -- parading it around a Florida bar, before dipping it in the ocean!

The 26-year-old took Lord Stanley to the Elbo Room -- an iconic watering hole in Fort Lauderdale -- bright and early on Tuesday ... and he created quite the scene.

Alongside Sam Bennett, Tkachuk helped give fans a chance to do something many could only dream of -- drink out of the trophy ... just hours after the team had won it over Edmonton in Game 7 of the Finals.

Drake Loses $500K Bet! ... On Oilers In Game 7

Drake's summer vibes aren't high right now ... and they certainly didn't get any better on Monday, as he lost a massive $500k bet after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final!

The Toronto-based rapper put down a $500,000 wager on the Edmonton Oilers (vs. Florida Panthers) to win the country's first Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadians did it back in 1993. Unfortunately for Drake and our friends up north, the wait will continue.

The Panthers took game seven by a final score of 2-1 ... handing Drake an L.

Brooks Koepka Goes Crazy Over Panthers' Win ... Ariana Celebrates Too!!!

GOING CRAZY

The Florida Panthers won their first-ever Stanley Cup on Monday night, and perhaps nobody was happier to see it than golf star Brooks Koepka, who celebrated the dub with a boozy night in Nashville!!

Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky got the job done in Sunrise ... beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Final, 2-1 -- and while Koepka couldn't be there in person, he certainly didn't let the moment pass by quietly while he was out in Tennessee.

Watching from a bar in the Music City, Koepka went crazy as soon as the clock hit 0:00 on the Panthers' season.

Oilers Flasher From Stands to Pro Shoots ... Signs Deal w/ Playboy!!!

The famed Oilers Flasher's going to be showing her viral pucks once again ... 'cause Playboy announced she's joining their roster!

The publication -- which has transitioned to include an OnlyFans-style site in recent years -- announced the free agency signing in a hockey-themed photo shoot posted to Instagram Friday.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Check out the pics ... there's the famed flasher -- who recently revealed her first name's Kait in a social media post -- lacing up her skates in a tight white top and barely-there bottoms. She also threw on an Edmonton jersey for a pic, too.

Carrie Underwood & Family Unharmed After House Fire on Father's Day

Carrie Underwood and her family must feel pretty relieved right about now ... 'cause they managed to escape a house fire in their Tennessee home over the holiday weekend.

A rep for the country singer tells TMZ ... "There was a fire on the property on Sunday night, which was quickly contained. There was no fire damage to the primary residence, and the family and their pets were unharmed."

According to Williamson County & Fire, several crews were dispatched to the residence just before 10 PM on Sunday evening -- Father's Day -- after a fire started in Carrie and husband Mike Fisher's garage. The responders were able to put out the fire relatively quickly thanks to a 10,000-gallon water tank ... which was located on the singer's estate.

Charles Barkley Drops F-Bomb On Live TV ... Sorry Kids!!!

Charles Barkley gave an unfiltered interview during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday ... accidentally letting an F-bomb slip on live TV.

It all went down during the second-period intermission of the Oilers vs. Panthers matchup ... when Kyle Bukauskas of SportsNet asked the 11-time All-Star for his thoughts on the series so far.

Barkley was in the middle of praising Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky ... when all of a sudden, he slipped up and dropped the expletive.

Oilers Flasher Scrubs Accounts From Social Media ... After Viral Video

The woman who became an internet sensation for exposing her boobs in support of the Edmonton Oilers has disappeared from the internet ... with the flash-happy fan removing her accounts from all social media platforms amid her newfound fame.

TMZ Sports is told the hockey hottie has gone into hiding after the NSFW clip went viral over the weekend -- and those close to her say she did, in fact, have an online presence ... that is, 'til everyone saw her tatas.

FLASH FOR THE FANS
X/@stashme

Several sources have confirmed the woman's identity to us ... but sorry, pervs -- it's clear she doesn't want it out there, so we're not going to namedrop.

Drake Drops $1 Million On Mavs, Oilers ... Win It All, Win Me Money!!!

Drake might've lost the Kendrick Lamar beef, but the 6 God is looking to get back in the win column with his latest bets ... putting a combined $1 MILLION on the Dallas Mavericks and Edmonton Oilers to win it all this season!!

The musician took to Instagram early Thursday morning to show off his jaw-dropping receipts -- he unloaded 500k to win $1.375 million if Luka Dončić and Co. handle the Boston Celtics ... and another 500 stacks to earn $1.025 milli if the Oilers defeat the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

Drizzy explained his reasoning behind the bets ... saying, "Dallas cause I'm a Texan, Oilers are self explanatory."

NHL Bringing Stanley Cup Final To Deaf Community ... Special Alternate Telecast

A new, one-of-a-kind broadcast will be available during this year's Stanley Cup Final ... the NHL just revealed it's going to offer a telecast of the championship series entirely in American Sign Language.

The league announced the unique broadcast of the Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers contests will begin when the puck drops on Game 1 on Saturday.

It will feature Jason Altmann -- a third-generation Deaf -- and Noah Blankenship ... who works in the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in Denver.

50 Cent and Ben Crump Representing Black Spirit Industry ... Hitting Capitol Hill!!!

UPDATE

6/5 -- 10:50 AM PT -- As promised, 50 Cent and Ben Crump staged an audience on Wednesday in Washington D.C. for Black entrepreneur empowerment ... where they were confronted by a reporter inquiring about 50's voting pick for the upcoming election.

True to the meet-up, the reporter suggests President Joe Biden is pro-Black business but asks 50 if his past support of Donald Trump still holds up, to which 50 says tell them, "I don't know how to answer that question!!!"

50 Cent and Ben Crump are on a mission to increase minority representation in America’s booming booze industry … 'cause they say Black people are missing out on billions!!!

Edmonton Oilers Fan Gets Porn Site Offer ... Show Your Boobs Again With Us!!!

If the Edmonton Oilers fan who flashed her boobs on camera wants another crack at the experience -- a super popular porn site tells TMZ Sports it'd be more than happy to give her the avenue!!

A rep for The Porn Dude -- an adult website that snares over 61 million views a month -- said after seeing the woman display her assets during the Oilers vs. Stars Western Conference finals series last month, they want her in front of a cam.

FLASH FOR THE FANS
X/@stashme

The spokesperson said they believe her boobs "were made for porn" -- and are offering her a place on their famous PornDudeCasting set.

NHL Star Milan Lucic Wife Files For Separation ... 5 Months After Alleged Dom. Violence Incident

Milan Lucic and his wife are officially splitting up ... TMZ Sports has learned Brittany Lucic just filed for separation from the NHL star some five months after the two were allegedly involved in a domestic dispute.

Court records show Brittany submitted the documents on Monday evening ... citing "irreconcilable differences."

She listed the date of their marriage as July 19, 2012 ... and their date of separation as Nov. 17, 2023 -- the day before Milan was arrested for allegedly getting physical with Brittany during a disagreement.

Old news is old news!
Be First!

Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser!