"I'll just be there, get some laughs in, congratulate them on winning the state title," he said.

Shayne Gostisbehere didn't know what he was going to say to the members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school boys hockey team, but the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman was hoping to see some smiles on Sunday.

Gostisbehere spent time with the players and signed autographs after the Flyers' 4-1 loss against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center.

Video: Ghost meets Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS Hockey Team

Stoneman Douglas High won 7-4 against Jesuit High School on Feb. 25 to win the Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida High School State Championship. It was their second win of the day, after a 3-1 win against top-seeded East Lake High earlier Sunday.

The championship came 11 days after 17 students and staff members were killed in a mass shooting at the school Feb. 14.

Gostisbehere attended Stoneman Douglas for two years prior to transferring to South Kent School in Connecticut.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas boys attended the game Sunday with tickets provided by the Florida Panthers Foundation.

"It's the least I could do," Gostisbehere said. "I've got to thank the Panthers for setting it up and the Flyers for going with it. It's just something to take their mind off (things). They've had a rough past couple weeks here. Just (want to) get their minds off some things, have some laughs."

Stoneman Douglas will play in the high school hockey national championship tournament, which will be in Plymouth, Minnesota from March 22-26.