from Pat Pickens of the New York Times,

It was 12:30 p.m. last Thursday, and the Wells Fargo Center’s janitorial staff was mopping the concourses and seating areas before that night’s game between the Flyers and the Colorado Avalanche. A few of the workers noticed a pickup game on the arena’s ice.

Although many team officials would have been using that time to prepare for the game, the Avalanche’s Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic were immersed in a game of shinny with some members of the training staff. Roy, the coach, and Sakic, the executive vice president for hockey operations, could stuff a trophy case with mementos from their Hall of Fame playing careers, yet their competitive spirit and good nature prompted this light moment.

“Joe is on the road trip, so we took advantage of him,” Roy said of the impromptu game. “It is fun. It is also is good to lose a bit of weight and get in better shape.”

continued