With Labor Day come and gone, so too has summer. Everyday this week up until the official start of the Flyers 2010 Rookie Camp philadelphiaflyers.com will profile one player and what their summer was like. Today’s feature: Kimmo Timonen.

After 11 seasons in the NHL, veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen usually gets to enjoy his summers to the fullest. This past summer however was unlike any summer, not only for himself, but for so many of his returning teammates whose season stretched an additional 23 games and into the first weeks of June.

“It took me a while to get back to the normal life,” said Timonen after the team’s drive to the Stanley Cup Final. “It is just a long haul. It feels like 120 games down the drain. It took me a couple of weeks to get over it and get things organized and my head straightened out.” 

A process that Timonen admitted wasn’t easily solved by taking vacation or returning right away to his native Finland.

“I took it easy and spent some quality time hanging around the house with my wife and kids… With the World Cup going on, my son Samuel and I played a lot of soccer this summer.”

Once the time came for vacation and summer mode being in full-swing, he was able to check off an important landmark off his list of sights to see.

“My wife and I spent a week in Paris, France. That was very nice to see some different things and relax. We got to see the Eiffel Tower and visited several different museums.   There are so many things to see and lots of different restaurants in Paris. It was a lot of fun.”

After vacationing, Timonen returned to Finland where he enjoyed what he called a particularly special summer.

“The best part of the summer was being able to go back home.  I live right by a lake and the weather was probably the best it has been in the past 15 years in Finland.   It rained maybe three times the whole seven weeks I was there.  It was very nice to hang around my family, being at the lake house was very enjoyable.”

Along with some Flyers teammates and other friends in the NHL, Timonen also kicked off another event of special importance.

“[This summer] was the first time I had my own golf tournament, called Kime 4 Kids. It did really well.  People seemed to be really pleased with the way it worked out.  We raised almost $42,000 for the Children’s Hospital over in Finland.  I had a couple of my teammates participate.  [Scott] Hartnell was there as well as a couple of Finnish NHL players. We are planning on doing it again next year… Now I am just getting mentally ready for another season.”

Tune in tomorrow when we catch up with now sophomore forward James van Riemsdyk.

The best way to watch Flyers Hockey…as close as possible! Great lower level locations are available now. As a Flyers Season Ticket Holder, you’ll receive great benefits including big discounts, flexible payment plans and playoff priority. Call 215-218-PUCK (7825) or visit philadelphiaflyers.com.