Well it was a news filled day. I've got a small update from a reliable source on the retirement watch. I have a Bryzgalov video, Andy and Corey's day with the cup has been posted at the Stanley Cup Journal. The Wild Wingers Kids Club renewals have gone out, and more!
Niedermeyer and Selanne Retirement Watch Update.
Niedermayer, Selanne status known next week
Ducks General Manager Brian Burke said he will ask the players for a decision, probably this weekend.
By DAN WOOD
The Orange County Register
The Ducks expect to know by early next week whether to expect team captain Scott Niedermayer and fellow superstar Teemu Selanne on the ice when training camp begins Sept. 10.
It doesn’t look promising in either case.
"Obviously, at some point I have to ask Scotty if he plans to come to camp or not," General Manager Brian Burke said Tuesday. "I have to ask them both that. I probably will pretty quickly, probably by this weekend.
"My guess would be that they’re probably not. If that were their intent, I think I would have heard by now."
Read the rest here - Link
The Stanley Cup Journal has been updated with Andy and Corey's days with cup.
Andy
After returning from Russia, the Stanley Cup was the guest of honour of All-Star
sniper Andy McDonald on Saturday, August 11. It was an early birthday gift for the high-scoring McDonald, who celebrates his 30th birthday on August 25.
Andy met the Cup in London, Ontario, just outside his hometown of Strathroy. He and his guests climbed into a private plane and flew to Hamilton, New York, the home of Andy's alma mater, Colgate University.
It was on this campus that McDonald earned his introduction to the NHL. Deemed "too small" to play pro, he spent four seasons starring with Colgate, progressing further each year: 19 points in 1996-97; 32 in 1997-98; 46 in 1998-99 and 58 in 1999-2000. That spring, Andy McDonald was signed as a free agent by Anaheim.
Corey
For a young man just turned 20, Corey Perry has already seen the halcyon highs of hockey. In 2004-05, Perry led the Ontario Hockey League in scoring as his London
Knights steamrolled over the competition on their way to the Memorial Cup. In addition to winning junior hockey's top prize that year, Corey also was part of Team Canada's gold medal win at the World Junior championship. Drafted by Anaheim in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he made his professional debut with the Ducks in 2005-06. Then, of course, in his sophomore season, Corey Perry is part of Stanley Cup history.
Sunday, August 12 saw Perry meet the Stanley Cup at the Peterborough Memorial Arena in his Ontario hometown. Joined by his brother and parents, Corey spent two hours signing autographs and posing for photos.
Al Coates
Before jetting off to Europe, Al Coates, the Senior Advisor to GM Brian Burke, took hockey's legendary trophy home to Listowel, Ontario.
It was a day of celebration with a tinge of melancholy for the community. There, in front of the library, is a monument that pays tribute to a horrific accident that befell the community at 9:30 on the morning of February 28, 1959. An accumulation of snow weighed down the roof of the local arena. Crackling timbers gave the peewee game in progress no warning, and the roof collapsed, killing eight and injuring 29. Seven of the dead were young hockey players.
Read the rest here - Link
The Keeper of the Cup photo blog has been updated. Here are a few samples
See the rest here - Link
Ilya Bryzgalov video, courtesy of No Pun Intended. The video is in Russian, but is interesting - Link Visit No Pun Intended here - Link
A nice review of the happenings this month by MVN
Even though the Ducks extended their hockey season into June and the players are still taking turns with the Stanley Cup, it is inevitable by this time in August that we all find ourselves yearning for the season to start. Enough with the 90 degree weather - where is that refreshingly cool ice rink? The free season feeding frenzy has slowed to a virtual standstill. There aren’t even interesting arbitration hearings set (anyone else wish they had been a fly on the wall at Sean Avery’s?)
Read the rest here - Link
Rick Paterson had his day with the cup Monday
The Stanley Cup made its return to Tampa Bay on Monday - even if only for a day.
Treasure Island resident Rick Paterson, scouting director for the Anaheim Ducks, used his turn with hockey's Holy Grail to court it around several spots in St. Petersburg.
Paterson, 49, a former Lightning assistant and scout, hosted the Cup for the fourth time (he won two as a Penguins assistant in 1991-92). But this time has been more special: his wife, Kathy, gave birth to twins less than two days after the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in June.
"It was a pretty darn good 48 hours," Paterson said. "Won a Stanley Cup and had two healthy babies in 48 hours. That's tough to beat."
Read the rest - Link
The Wild Wingers Kids Club memberships are available for renewal. You should be getting a letter in the next few days. Here is what your little duckling gets this year. The captain this year is Chris Kunitz and the cost is $20. They sold out last year so renew as soon as you can and for those of you may be new fans, please keep an eye out for when they make it open to everybody.
One Ticket voucher to a select home game
Kids Club Hat
Kids Club T Shirts (youth large and adult medium)
Ducks Jersey Backpack
Duck Call
Calendar
Duck Tag - Glow in the dark
Discounts to various places (Ducks Team Store, Discovery Science Center, etc.)
Three in season parties
End of Year party
Weekly drawings to win Zamboni Rides and other cool stuff.
