Sliver of family time on home ice a big deal for Maple Leafs' John Tavares

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John Tavares easily meshed with his Maple Leafs linemates on Tuesday afternoon.

The veteran Leafs centre had his young sons, Jace and Axton, on the ice for a skate at Scotiabank Arena following the annual team photo and the subsequent Leafs practice.

Given the Leafs’ packed schedule and the amount of time the team has spent on the road since the end of January (three lengthy trips with four more multi-game trips before the end of the regular season), the chance to have his boys join him at the office meant a lot to Tavares.

It was the first — and likely will be only — time the Leafs held a practice at Scotiabank Arena this season.

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“It’s cool to get them out on the big rink and take it all in and spend some time with them,” Tavares said on Wednesday, hours before the Leafs played host to the Colorado Avalanche. “They’ve taken to the game. It has been a lot of fun sharing it with them all season long, and to get some moments like that. I really enjoyed it.”

Naturally, hockey is a significant part of the boys’ lives.

“It’s all day every day throughout the hockey season,” Tavares said. “Having me around, they can’t get away from it in general. It has been a lot of fun just watching them grow as little kids and enjoy the game.

“I’ve talked about that, to have that bond as a parent, father, son, with my daughter (Rae) as well, for them to see what I do, what I love to do every day and they’ve taken to it themselves, it’s great to share with them.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun