'It never gets old': Luongo gets warm reception at NHL All-Star Skills

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Roberto Luongo hit the ice to a familiar sound.
"Luuuuu!"
Between the pipes for the first time since retired from the NHL, the former Florida Panthers goaltender received a warm reception during NHL All-Star Skills at FLA Live Arena on Friday.
"It never gets old," said Luongo, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame back in November. "It's always fun. I had a little bit of that in Toronto during the Hall-of-Fame week. Any time I'm in front of the fans here in Florida, it's great. It brought back some good memories."

Hanging up his skates following the 2018-19 season, Luongo still holds numerous Panthers goaltending records, including games played (572), wins (230), shutouts (38), saves (16,086).
"I hadn't put the pads on since I retired," said Luongo, who currently works as a special advisor to Panthers general manager Bill Zito. "The first time I had them on was earlier this week. It felt great out there."
Turning back the clock, Luongo began the night by manning the crease during the "Breakaway Challenge." Facing down Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who was dressed up like James Crockett from "Miami Vice," Luongo denied the breakaway attempt after a big build up.
Also looking stylish, Luongo was sporting some South Florida-inspired gear.

"They were a gift for making the Hall of Fame from CCM," Luongo said of his palm-tree centric pads. "I didn't know that's what the design would be, and they were pretty cool. When I found out that I'd be in net, I thought it'd be a pretty cool idea to wear them for this thing."
In his second "Breakaway Challenge," Luongo was beaten by an unlikely shooter -- Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin's 4-year-old son Sergei, who went five-hole on the Hall of Famer.
On the goal, little Sergei was joined by his dad and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.
"He went with a deke, so he caught me a little off guard there," Luongo smiled.
Closing out the night, Luongo put on some sunglasses, grabbed a pool noodle and got back in the blue paint for Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk's entry in the "Breakaway Challenge."
Looking on during the beach-inspired shot was Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who was dressed up as a lifeguard, Tkachuk's brother Brady, who was lounging in a beach chair on the ice, and Miami Dolphins defensive end Christian Wilkins, who was firing up the fans.
After Tkachuk scored, the crowd let out its biggest cheer of the night.
For Luongo, putting smiles on fans' faces is what NHL All-Star Weekend is all about.
"I think so far it's been a great experience for everybody," Luongo said. "I haven't been down to Fort Lauderdale yet, but everything I see on social media looks fantastic. It sounds fun and exciting, and people are having a blast. The best part is yet to come tomorrow."