Father's Day: Peter and Nick Luukko

THEY WERE BOMBARDED with expectorate from all directions and loved every second of it.

Hockey tournaments have taken Peter and Nick Luukko all over the world, but this particular trip to Russia will have them laughing for years.

The food was bad. Their hotel shower was always cold. The tap water wasn't exactly meant for drinking. Decked out in a vintage Olympic-style jersey, Nick felt like he was actually in "Miracle." His amateur team, which Peter helped coach, was composed of players from across the United States. As they walked onto the ice to play Russia's "Red Army" team in the finals, Russian fans spit on Nick Luukko and his teammates. Threw debris at them. Flipped them off.

"It was probably the best experience of my life," Nick said. "I really felt like I was in the movie. It was you against everyone else."

Team USA lost this 1980 rematch, but the end result didn't really matter. Through hockey, Nick has developed a one-of-a-kind bond with his father. Peter Luukko, the chief operating officer of Comcast-Spectacor, is a busy man. Overseeing the Flyers and Sixers dominates his time during the week. Hockey tournaments made it possible for him to stay close to his sons, Nick and Max. Peter and wife Casey also have a daughter, Dana.

A defenseman, Nick was chosen by Dubuque in the third round of the United States Hockey League entry draft last month and will try out for the team this week. He is expected to enroll at the University of Vermont in the fall of 2011. (Dubuque also chose John Stevens Jr., son of the former Flyers coach, in the fourth round of the futures draft.)

As Nick has gotten older, the trips fade. The memories don't.

"When we have these trips, that was our time together," Nick Luukko said. "We've had so much fun over these last 10 years."

In one year, they trekked to Boston six times. Nick estimates they've been to Beantown at least 60 times. And that's just one city. The Luukkos have traveled all over the world, from Chicago to Montreal to Russia to Germany. One game in Germany, Nick checked an opposing player whose stick, in turn, nailed Dad in the nose. Blood spilled. While getting a MRI for another injury after the fact, Peter Luukko realized he had broken his nose.

At steak dinners, the rink, the hotel and on the road, Peter and Nick learned about each other. They talked about everything, from game plans to schoolwork.

"It gives you an opportunity to be very close," Peter said. "The sport of hockey has created a bond that will never be broken. It has made us very close forever."

Whenever possible, they play hockey together at the Wachovia Center and the Flyers' practice facility. Sometimes, Danny Briere, Jeff Carter and other Flyers join in. Dad usually plays defense, while Nick hovers on the wing.

Most shifts, Nick keeps an eye out for Dad sneaking into the slot. "We play on the same team so I can feed him the puck and make him look good sometimes," said Nick Luukko, chuckling. "Not many kids can say they play hockey with their dads. I try to take advantage of it as much as I can."

Fast forward to today and Peter Luukko can't believe he's seeing his son's name under a list of draft-eligible players. Time has flown. Through hockey, Luukko made sure he was there for Nick.

"You're not Ward Cleaver coming home at 5 o'clock, but there are ways your family can benefit," he said. "Sports really forced us to spend that one-on-one time together. You have to find that time. At the end of the day, the Flyers and Sixers will be there."

Nick isn't sure where or how far hockey will take him. Wherever he is, he'll never forget the road trips with Dad.

"The fact that he always makes time to come with me on my trips," Nick said, "I cherish all the moments."