Noah Cates was sporting a big grin after Friday’s practice and there was more to it than just the Flyers’ season-opening win over the Devils on Thursday night.
After the game, Noah learned his brother, Jackson, was being recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and a reunion on the ice looks very probable when the Flyers host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.).
The two siblings did see some time together during the preseason, playing on a line which included highly touted prospect Tyson Foerster.
With right wing Owen Tippett injured in the New Jersey game and Cam Atkinson already sidelined by a problem which kept him out of the preseason, bringing up Cates made sense.
Plus the Flyers apparently weren’t all that enamored with the play of fourth-line right wing Hayden Hodgson against the Devils. He was sent to the Phantoms.
In one other move, the Flyers also signed defenseman Ronnie Attard to the Phantoms.
While the possibility of the Cates playing together down the road might be fun, Noah is just happy to have his brother around no matter where they play.
“We’re both really excited,’’ Noah said after Friday’s workout at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “Jackson texted us (after the game) and we were all super happy.’’
Noah can play either wing or center and with both Sean Couturier and Patrick Brown sidelined, Cates is even handier for the Flyers at this time.
Against the Canucks, Noah might be at center on a third line with Joel Farabee at left wing and Wade Allison on right.
Jackson could see action at center on the fourth line.
According to Noah, Scott Laughton (first line left wing) serves as a good role model for him and the team.
“He’s huge for this team,’’ Cates said. “His mindset, his mentality, he wants to win. He doesn’t care about anything else. He’s very good with the young players – he was awesome with me last year. He makes winning plays, whether they show up on scoresheet or not, he doesn’t care. He does it for the team.
“I think he’s a guy I can model my game after and be very similar to, the versatility. He does the details and that’s huge for me to watch every night.’’
Also on Friday, the Flyers announced forward Linus Sandin was placed on unconditional waivers. He is returning to Sweden for personal reasons.
