Lindros surprises Flyers at morning skate

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TORONTO -- The Flyers got a neat surprise and maybe a bit of a morale boost at their morning skate on Thursday when Eric Lindros showed upon the ice.

It was very cool, Matt Carle said. He was in the locker room before we went out and rumors were swelling that he would come out and skate with us.

General manager Paul Holmgren invited the Big E to skate and he did, taking drills with the team, and even playing a little 3-on-3 shinny with the coaching staff long after the players left the ice.

That was a lot of fun, Lindros said. Any time you can wake up and head to this building to go on the ice, its a blast, it really is. Hockey is a great game. I really enjoy hockey.

Homer gave me a call and said come down to the room and say hello to the guys and go out for a skate. It was good time.

Both Carle and Braydon Coburn played against Lindros near the end of his career.

We got a lot of young guys in here and who grew up looking up to Eric Lindros and Im one of those guys myself, Coburn said. It was a nice surprise seeing him here.

Added Carle: He still seems like he can play. His hands are there, his shot is there.

Scott Hartnell spent a bit of time on the ice passing pucks around with Lindros.

He can still play, hes a big man, Hartnell said. He was out there for fun. It was kind of cool seeing him in the dressing room. I remember him as a Flyer out there absolutely dominating with big checks, big goals.

Just to see him wheeling around with us was cool. I am midget compared to him. He is just so thick.

Lindros played in the Alumni Game at this years Winter Classic.

Here we are, but what brings everyone together is the game of hockey, Lindros said. The purity of the sport. It can branch off into several different areas, but at heart is the game itself. Its wonderful around here.

The Flyers have had other guest skaters over the years, among the more famous: Jerry Bruckheimer and David Boreanaz.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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