Anaheim Ducks News for Thursday - Non Game News

More info on Pahlsson via MVN

He had hernia surgery that was supposed to correct the problem. As a result of the surgery, he missed the first five games of the season after having played 275 consecutive games for the Ducks. In spite of his medical issues, Pahlsson was still a finalist for the Selke award last year for best defensive forward, an award he should have won hands down.

The surgery did correct part of Pahlsson’s problems, but did not correct everything.

Read the rest here - Link

BOC has a great analysis of Powerplay goals allowed by the Ducks and our rivals to the north

One thing that really caught my eye over at BTN's blog, though, was tracking shots and goals from where they are taken on the ice. This is a pretty fascinating new layer of data, and while its accuracy or its usefulness is still being explored, I think it's pretty darn cool that the data is being collected. It may not mean much just yet, but I think it's day is coming.
As an example, I asked Gabe in the comments of his blog whether it would be possible for him to run some shot and goal charts for the BoC teams, specifically on their 4-on-5 penalty kills. Why the PK? Well, just for starters we've observed this year how the Sharks are killing penalties with ease, whereas the Ducks and Kings have struggled in that area. Perhaps by looking at the shot charts side-by-side maybe some aspect might become apparent--some difference in how the different PK units are allowing shots, and which shots are becoming goals.

See all the great details here - Link

Anaheim Duck Fan has a sneak peak at the City of Anaheim float that will feature the Stanley Cup

The City of Anaheim is sponsoring a float in the Roses Parade on New Years Day.
On the float is a replica Honda Center and riding down the parade route on the 1st is going to be the Stanley Cup. I was hopeful that the Stanley Cup would be appearing before the 31st, and had been told this morning that the Rose Parade was talking to the Ducks about having a player standing with the Cup for the Judging on the 31st. I have been told by a Ducks representative, who was here today, that the Cup will not be here before the first, and that no Ducks player will be here either.

See some pictures and more details here - Link

Ace Got Skills update

The next edition of Ace’s Got Skills will be here in January! Last year’s edition saw four of the eleven youth players representing the Ducks come home with titles at the National Championships in New York City. Several youth players will hope to duplicate that success, taking the first steps at local competitions held in January. 

The three local events will be held Jan. 10 from 5:45-8:45 p.m. at Anaheim Ice, Jan. 11 from 6-9 p.m. at the Glacial Garden Skating Arena and Jan. 12 from 3:15-6:15 p.m. at the Aliso Viejo Ice Palace. Anaheim Ducks players Corey Perry and Kent Huskins will be present on the ice to participate and give instruction to participants.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Tuesday

Nearly all of today's links cover's Scott Niedermayer and a few other things. So here you go!

Scott Niedermayer doubtful for Wednesday

Back home from a three-game road trip, the Ducks and their returning former captain, Scott Niedermayer, finally got the chance to get reacquainted on Tuesday.
In an optional day of practice at Honda Center, Niedermayer took to the ice with teammates Jonas Hiller, Kent Huskins, Brad May, Drew Miller, Geoff Platt, Brian Sutherby and recent call-up Bruno St. Jacques.
It was the first time the Conn Smythe Trophy winner has had the chance to skate at Honda Center or practice with any of his teammates since announcing his plans to return. The Ducks departed for the road the morning of Dec. 6, around the same time Niedermayer practiced for the first time at Anaheim Ice.

Read the rest here - Link

Scott Niedermayer made  an appearance on Ducks Calls (December 10) - Link

Stanley Cup to appear in Tournament of Roses parade and some repetitive coverage of Scott's possibilities to play on Wednesday - Link

Drew Miller makes a kid feel very special (and vice versa)

Back in October I attended the "Face Off Fest" with my wife and our two children(Aiden, 8 and Haili, 7) We had two goals... Get my 06/07 Jersey signed by as many of the Players who's names are on the cup as possible and, possibly more importantly, get the same players to sign my daughter’s Teddy Bear(who wears a Stanley Cup Champs T-shirt). This endeavor was VERY successful, with many memorable conversations with players, But one encounter left a lasting impression on my daughter, Haili.
When Haili handed the bear to Drew Miller he gave it a BIG hug smiled and said "It's so cute! Can I keep it?" Haili gave an emphatic "No" Drew looked over at Andy Mac who told him "No man, you can't keep the bear" we all had a good laugh and Drew promptly signed the bear, gave it another hug and gave it back. We really thought nothing of it at the time... Little did we know how much Drew's playful banter had meant to Haili.
Fast forward to November.

Read the rest at the allducks.com message boards. - Link

Girl with a Puck has a great new round up including news on the State of the Franchise event

... is coming your way, January 8th! Sweet. I've got to start coming up with some questions to pick the brains of Brian Burke (Sleek, here's your chance!), Coach Randy Carlyle, and the unnamed players who will be in attendance.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Thanksgiving Catch Up Post Part 2

Even though this was a holiday weekend, there was still hockey going on and lots of news. So here you go!

Did you see Jonas Hiller's masks on Friday?  Here is a lot closer look - Link

The latest Duck Cast has been posted featuring Brent Severyn - Link

A lady named Kathryn got to participate in the Stanley Cup celebration and posted her photos here - Link

OC Register Ducks blog has a look at the line changes

The latest twist in Ducks coach Randy Carlyle’s season-long quest to ice two productive scoring lines involves newcomer Brian Sutherby.

Sutherby, an erstwhile center acquired Monday from the Washington Capitals, moved to left wing alongside the team’s top two scorers, center Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Corey Perry, during Friday’s 4-3, shootout loss to the visiting Phoenix Coyotes, and skated there again during Saturday’s practice. While Carlyle would never publicly identify line combinations, chances are that Sutherby will start in that spot Sunday night, when the Ducks face the Kings at Honda Center.

Read the rest here - Link

Sutherby profile via the LA Times

The more nights he spent watching from the Verizon Center press box in Washington, the more Brian Sutherby sensed his days with the Capitals were numbered.
To say that being traded to the Ducks on Monday was welcomed would be an understatement.

"I'm excited," Sutherby said. "I had no idea where I was going. I wasn't in the lineup very much so I was kind of expecting to be moved. When I found out it was Anaheim, it was exciting."
Sutherby, 25, is viewing this opportunity as a new start after leaving behind unfulfilled expectations in Washington.
A first-round pick of the Capitals in 2000, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Sutherby never grew out of a checking role there. He fell further on the depth chart at center when they acquired Michael Nylander and promoted rookie Nicklas Backstrom.

Read the rest here - Link

Perry contract status update via the OC Register

With 12 goals and 19 points, right wing Corey Perry ranks first and second, respectively, among Ducks scorers entering tonight's game against the Kings at Honda Center.

Perry's 36 penalty minutes, a product of an edgy style that often infuriates opponents, are third on the team. At 22, the third-year right wing is nowhere near reaching his immense potential, in the estimation of Ducks coach Randy Carlyle.

So, given that Perry's entry-level contract stands to expire at the conclusion of this season, Ducks executives would figure to be working intently on a deal to guarantee that Perry's hockey future remains in Anaheim, just as the club did Tuesday by signing Perry's sidekick, center Ryan Getzlaf, to a five-year, $26.625 million pact.

Read the rest here - Link

How Scott Niedermayer affects Perry

Niedermayer, who's still under contract with the Ducks, was sighted in recent weeks skating in a rink in Anaheim, fueling speculation he could be back by January.

If so, his return could complicate Anaheim GM Brian Burke's attempts to re-sign winger Corey Perry, a restricted free agent next summer who's on pace for a 40-goal season.

Burke presently has over $46 million committed to 17 players for next season. If Niedermayer retires it'll free up $6.75 million, giving Burke the cap space he needs to re-up Perry and fill out the rest of his roster.

Read the rest here - Link

Tired of seeing the Kings? So are the Ducks.

After the Ducks completed practice Saturday, Coach Randy Carlyle stood outside the team's locker room at the Honda Center and gave a one-word reply when asked about playing the Kings tonight.
"Again!" he said, making his feelings clear about facing the Ducks' Southern California neighbors for the fifth time in less than two months.
"We played them in our first two games in England and we've played them twice since," said Carlyle, whose Ducks lead the series, 2-1-1. He later added, "This will be game five. So we're more than halfway there."

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has a look at the Ducks

This week it felt like the Ducks took a step backward after a regulation loss to Dallas on Wednesday and a shootout loss to Phoenix last night. Coach Randy Carlyle stated there is “lots of room for improvement for us.” One of those areas is the penalty kill. They spent quite a bit of time on that this morning at practice.

The penalty kill has not been stellar this year and ranks 28th overall in the NHL with a 78.9% success rate. That is not good enough for a team that wants to defend their Stanley Cup title. The Ducks took two fluke penalties in Dallas with consecutive pucks going over the boards. Two delay of games, two power play goals in :41 seconds for Dallas, game over. Last night the Ducks took what was termed a “good” penalty by Carlyle towards the end of the game. Instead of killing the penalty, the Coyotes scored on the power play to tie up the game and went on to take the extra point in a shootout.

Read the rest here - Link

One more thing.........

The Hockey Hall of Fame updated the Stanley Cup Journal

Although the Ducks statistically opened their regular season with a 'home;' game in London, England, the first opportunity to play in front of their home fans at the Honda Center took place last night (October 10) against the Boston Bruins.

At 6:45PM, with every fan sitting on the edge of their seat, the ceremony began with video highlights of the 2006-07 Stanley Cup championship season. Some clever animation saw Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, holding the Stanley Cup, spin into the scoreboard. Unbeknownst to the fans, the actual Cup was hidden in the scoreboard and was lowered to the ice surface on a silver tray to a roar unheard in Southern California in decades. Once near ice level, the Cup was placed on a table beside the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Campbell Cup, both won by Anaheim this past spring.

Shawn Thornton, A champion with the Ducks last spring but now a Boston Bruin, takes his first look at his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
(Phil Pritchard/HHOF)

Each team executive, coach, trainer and player was then introduced, including Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, wearing suits. Although each person was afforded a tremendous ovation, the loudest were reserved for GM Brian Burke, coach Randy Carlyle and injured goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. When the former captain and Selanne were introduced, they were welcomed by chants of, 'One more year! One more year!'

When the introductions concluded, there was a very special presentation. For the first time ever, the Hockey Hall of Fame was presented with its own Stanley Cup ring. Although players' rings have graced the Hall of Fame through the years, never has a ring been created specifically for hockey's Hall. It was a humbling yet exciting moment for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Fittingly, Shawn Thornton, a champion with the Ducks last spring but now a member of the visiting Boston Bruins, took the opportunity while attention was elsewhere to sneak over to the Stanley Cup and see, for the first time, his name engraved there. His smile almost distracted the proceedings!

Read the rest here - Link

Tuesday News

Today's news coverage is on the Duck/Red Wings rivalry, Brian Burke interviews, stuff to buy and Stanley Cup news.

Official Ducks preview of the Red Wings vs Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks are eagerly awaiting the return of No. 1 goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. In his absence, they appear to have a pair of capable replacements.

Fresh off splitting their first two games in England, the Ducks continue their stretch of games away from home Wednesday night when they face the Detroit Red Wings in a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals.

Anaheim began defense of its first Stanley Cup championship Saturday with a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings as the NHL opened its season outside North America for the fourth time.

The Ducks rebounded Sunday with a convincing 4-1 victory over the Kings as Corey Perry scored a pair of goals in support of Jonas Hiller, who made 22 saves in his NHL debut.

"We competed hard in both hockey games, so we've got some wear and tear in our bodies," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "But our mental focus was good."

Hiller got the nod on Sunday after regular backup Ilya Bryzgalov gave up three goals on 23 shots in Saturday's loss.

Although Bryzgalov took the loss Saturday, he has proven to be a more than solid backup the past two seasons. Bryzgalov is 24-21-0 with a 2.49 goals-against average in 61 games with Anaheim.

Giguere missed the first two games while he continues to recover from sports hernia surgery. He hopes to be ready to play either Wednesday, Friday at Columbus or Saturday at Pittsburgh.

The Ducks already have logged a lot of travel and won't raise their Stanley Cup banner at home until Oct. 10 against Boston.

"It's their home opener, so it's gonna be pretty difficult," Ducks captain Chris Pronger said. "We're pretty well adjusted now (to London time). And now you have to readjust the other way."

Giguere isn't the only key player missing from Anaheim's lineup. Defenseman Scott Niedermayer and right wing Teemu Selanne are still undecided on their playing futures, and checking forward Samuel Pahlsson is also recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who spent the past 3 1/2 seasons with Detroit, is still out with a broken ankle and won't face his former team.

Detroit won its sixth straight division title in 2006-07, tying Buffalo with a league-best 113 points.

After defeating Calgary and San Jose in six games in each of the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Red Wings were eliminated in six games by Anaheim in the conference finals.

Read the rest here - Link

The OC Register has a look at the Ducks vs. Red Wings

Ducks, Detroit renew rivalry

The Ducks expect to encounter an extremely motivated group of Red Wings when the teams face off at Joe Louis Arena for the first time since last season's Western Conference finals.

By DAN WOOD

The Orange County Register

DETROIT -- Less than a minute remained in the third period of Game 5 of last season's Western Conference finals at Joe Louis Arena.

Down a goal to the Detroit Red Wings, the Ducks seemingly needed a miracle.

Displaying the uncanny flair for the dramatic that makes him a sure-fire Hall of Fame choice someday, Scott Niedermayer provided exactly that. He banked a 6-on-4, power-play goal off the stick of perennial Norris Trophy-winning Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom with 47.3 seconds left.

In overtime, Teemu Selanne, exhibiting the magic goal-scoring touch that first began torching NHL goaltenders in 1992, took advantage of a turnover forced by linemate Andy McDonald. Selanne drew goalie Dominik Hasek into a full sprawl and popped the water bottle atop the net for the winning goal 11:57 into OT.

Suddenly, the Ducks had an improbable 2-1 victory, a 3-2 series lead, and the next thing anyone knew, they were skating the Stanley Cup around Honda Center.

It might be simplistic to say that any one game in a sequence of 21 was thedefining moment, especially when 12 of the Ducks' 16 postseason victories came by one goal. But that is understandably the view from Detroit.

"You realize how close you were," Red Wings center Kris Draper told Detroit-area reporters. "You don't forget things, especially the way Game 5 ended. I still kind of see that puck hitting Nick's stick and kind of going above the crossbar and dropping in, obviously losing in overtime, the flurry at the end of Game 6, almost putting ourselves in a situation to force a Game 7.

"Those are things you're always going to remember. You realize how close you were to taking the next step and putting yourself in the Stanley Cup Finals."

The Ducks expect to face exactly such a determined mindset Wednesday night, when the teams reunite at Joe Louis Arena. While the Ducks already have played two regular-season games, splitting last weekend's set with the Kings in London by identical 4-1 scores, the Red Wings will celebrate opening night.

"We know Detroit is oozing to get back at us," Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger said.

Read the rest here - Link

An article on how Burke builds his teams

Brian Burke laughs at the idea that is so widely shared in the N.H.L. that it qualifies as a cliché. Burke, the idea goes, builds his teams in his own image. After all, his Anaheim Ducks — as his Vancouver Canucks once were — are feisty bordering on bellicose, a phrase that should headline Burke’s résumé.

Skip to next paragraph

His Ducks reflect his preference for speed and toughness. They do not back down from fights; in fact, they frequently start them.

Burke sits atop the hockey world these days, as general manager of the defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks, who began the season over the weekend by splitting two games against Los Angeles in London.

Burke could bask in the championship glow and feed the cliché, except that one of his other qualities is blunt honesty, which prompts him to poke his own holes in the analogy.

“Everyone says to me that you’re building your team in your own image, but whoever says that never saw me play,” Burke said. “I was such a marginal pro at the American Hockey League level. That’s why I went to law school.”

Burke laughed as he sat back in his chair in his office at the Honda Center in Anaheim one afternoon before a Ducks preseason game. An untied necktie hung around his neck, having surrendered to the force of his personality.

The 52-year-old Burke long ago built his reputation with that personality, having spent 19 seasons in the N.H.L. He is entering his 10th season as a general manager, and also spent five as the director of hockey operations for the league.

Read the rest here - Link

Another article on Burke via Sportsnet

It would have been disastrous for the Ducks to start the season 0-2 but Randy Carlyle made all the right moves.

I admire Randy Carlyle for how seriously he reacted to losing the first game of the NHL season. The Anaheim Ducks have begun the year hammered by key injuries and no-shows and their head coach is coaching like it's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final to avoid a disastrous start.
Leaving England at 0-2-0 was not an option given what's at stake this week, home openers in Detroit on Wednesday, Columbus on Friday and Pittsburgh on Saturday.
His team didn't look very good in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings at the 02 Arena in London. What does he do? He switches goalies, giving Swiss League star Jonas Hiller his first career start over Ilya Bryzgalov. What does Hiller do? He looked splendid in turning away 22 of 23 shots in Sunday's 4-1 win by Anaheim.
Carlyle also switched his top two forward lines, breaking up Todd Bertuzzi and Ryan Getzlaf after having the pair together for most of training camp, pre-season and Saturday's first game. Getzlaf was reunited with Corey Perry on a line with Chris Kunitz and they combined for three goals Sunday.

Read the rest here - Link

One more on Burke from the Globe and Mail

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The request, from NHL headquarters, came last winter. Would Brian Burke — the volatile, larger-than-life general manager of the Anaheim Ducks — keep a diary of his moves leading up to the trading deadline and then publish the account in USA Today?

The idea was to bring fans behind the scenes for February's annual rush for reinforcements, one of the most anticipated moments of the NHL season. Dutifully, Burke agreed — and mindful of his colleagues, was careful to delete any and all references to players that didn't move, for fear of compromising their relationships with their holdover teams.

Even so, it made compelling reading: How he traded a regular, Shane O'Brien, for a first-round pick, in the hopes of flipping it again, to get added depth up front for the playoff run — and the frustration that he had in coming up short, in one overture after another. It was just what the league needed — powerful positive publicity at a time when it is still trying to get a foothold in the U.S. market after the devastating effects of the lockout.

And of course, his colleagues hated it.

That's Burke though — in the buttoned-down universe of NHL managers, he is out there, selling, promoting and otherwise doing what he can to get the game front and centre, all the while trying to bring home a winner, and not worrying too much about any feathers he may ruffle.

In the six years he spent as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, he turned a franchise with a minimal season-ticket base coming off a last-place finish in the Pacific Division into a winner — both on and off the ice. When he joined the Ducks, they were in the midst of an ownership change — from the Disney Corporation to the Samueli Family. Season-ticket numbers were at their lowest since the early days and the Ducks were an afterthought in Orange County.

Read the rest here - Link

Stuff You Should Buy

The 6 Disc DVD Collectionis out and is available for $37.49 at Amazon - Link

Anaheim Ducks 2008 Calendar - Link

Donald Duck Bobble head - Just Kidding, but yeah it is still available - Link

The Keepers of the Cup get coverage of their favorite experiences with the cup and some pics of your favorite Ducks.

The Stanley Cup is always accompanied by a handler, one of several who rotate, and is supplied by the Hockey Hall of Fame. On the surface, being 'keeper of the Cup' is the greatest job in the world, but underneath that shiny veneer, it truly is one of the great unheralded jobs -- too many nights with no sleep, too many meals eaten on the fly racing through the airport to make a connecting flight, and extended travel that takes the keeper away from family and friends over long periods of time. Yet, there's not a hockey fan we've met yet who wouldn't trade his or her soul for the chance to accompany the greatest trophy in sport — the Stanley Cup.

* * *

Mike Bolt spends almost as much time with the Stanley Cup as the NHL's championship team. Crisscrossing the continent, Mike ensures that the rights and privileges that accompany winners of the Stanley Cup are both enjoyed and upheld, doing so in a firm yet most entertaining way. Loved by both players and management, Bolt is a hockey fan first and foremost, but treats his job with the seriousness it demands. Even NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman once took him aside and said, "You've got an awesome job."

Born and raised in Toronto, Mike dreamed of one day hoisting the Stanley Cup just like every other hockey-playing youngster. After all, the Leaside area in which he grew up was rich in hockey heritage -- former Maple Leafs George Armstrong, Carl Brewer, Bob Davidson and Cal Gardner all called the area home. But life took a different turn early on, as Mike's career saw him managing a cowboy boot and western wear store. It wasn't until 1995, when he joined the Hockey Hall of Fame working on special events and as a guest services associate, that the path veered back towards hockey. Mike's first foray with the Stanley Cup was a quick jaunt down the street from the Hockey Hall of Fame to the studios of the CBC, Canada's public broadcaster, in 1997.

Read the rest here - Link

The Stanley Cup Visits Maine

The Portland Pirates, the proud AHL affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks, announced today the team's plans for Opening Weekend on Friday, October 5th and Saturday, October 6th. The plan includes the arrival of the Stanley Cup, great giveaways, a ticket plan and great entertainment all weekend.

The Pirates first two games of the 2007-2008 season will feature an Opening Weekend ticket package where fans can get tickets to both games for the price of one. Fans that buy one ticket to Friday's game at full price will receive one ticket to Saturday's game free. To take advantage of this money saving offer, fans must purchase tickets before Thursday, October 4th. Individual tickets for all Pirates home games will go on sale Saturday, September 29th at 10:00 a.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Opening weekend will include numerous events and giveaways surrounding the celebration of the Anaheim Ducks capturing the Stanley Cup this past spring.

On Friday the Pirates will open the 2007-08 season against the Springfield Falcons (Edmonton Oilers) at 7:05 p.m. Plans for Opening Night include a magnetic schedule giveaway sponsored by New England Credit Consultants. During the game the videoboard will feature highlights from the Anaheim Ducks championship playoff run.

Saturday marks the arrival of the Stanley Cup to Maine. It will be the first time since 2003 that the Cup has come to Portland. During the day the Pirates will provide an opportunity for fans from all over the state of Maine to view take pictures and celebrate the Stanley Cup in Maine. A schedule of appearances leads up to the Pirates game versus the Lowell Devils (New Jersey Devils) at the Cumberland County Civic Center at 7:05 p.m. The pre-game events at the Civic Center will also include a performance from the band WEATHERD, an acoustic, pop, rock style band that is appealing to all ages. Plus, the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive Duck Calls courtesy of Ducks Unlimited.

The Pirates will celebrate the Anaheim Ducks Championship with a full schedule of events throughout the day. Transportation for the Stanley Cup will be provided by Lilly's Limousine. The schedule for the day is below:
Saturday, October 6th
Androscoggin Bank Colisee (Lewiston, ME)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Appearance by Governor Baldacci)
L.L.Bean (Freeport, ME)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Portland Museum of Art (Portland, ME)
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Barbara Bush Children's Hospital (Portland, ME)
1:45 p.m.– 2:30 p.m.
Cumberland County Civic Center (Portland, ME)
5:15 p.m.
The Stanley Cup is the most famous trophy in the sports world. The Cup was first presented in 1893 and is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes. The historic trophy has logged more than 400,000 miles in travel during the past five seasons and raised more than $4 million for charity during the past three seasons. After winning the Stanley Cup, each winning player and team management member gets to have the Cup for a day to share with family and friends. The Stanley Cup weighs 35 pounds and stands just under three feet in height.

Visit the Portland Pirates here - Link

Thursday Night Ducks News - Part 2 Miscellaneous News and Analysis

So I am leaving the London news for last.  Can you feel the anticipation building?  I've got some cool stuff for that post.  However here is all other non Bertuzzi, non London related news.

Ask Sevy has is being advertised again. So if you have a Hockey question, here is your chance!

Got a question about the Ducks or the game of hockey in general? You can send an email to Ducks radio analyst Brent Severyn and he'll give you an answer. He might read your question and answer it on the air during the second intermission of a Ducks broadcast.
CLICK HERE TO ASK SEVY!

See the original post here - Link

So you create a game where a person can play as a hockey GM.  How do you promote it?  By scoring and interview with Jennifer Burke and challenging her and her husband Brian Burke to a game.

See the 5 minute (funny) video here - Link

Buy the game here - Link

USA Today has a "What to watch for this season in NHL" article today and the Ducks get some coverage

Three reasons the Ducks could repeat as Stanley Cup champions. 1. Even without Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks, with Mathieu Schneider added, have one of the league's better defenses. 2. No other team can match Anaheim's blend of talent and toughness. 3. This team understands what's required to win it all.

Three reasons the Ducks probably won't repeat: 1. The Ducks are banged up. Samuel Pahlsson, Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Schneider all are starting on the injured list. 2. Teemu Selanne has unofficially retired, and his eternal optimism and jovial demeanor will be missed. Even at the most pressure-filled times, Selanne could keep his teammates loose. 3. This is the salary-cap era, and there's too much parity to allow for any hint of dynastic rule.

Most improved teams: 1. Philadelphia Flyers. 2. Los Angeles Kings. 3. Washington Capitals.

Better than you realize: The Florida Panthers. Nathan Horton and Jay Bouwmeester are coming of age, and newcomer Tomas Vokoun brings stability in net. When you add the bullishness and talent of Olli Jokinen, you have the picture of a playoff team.

Read the rest here - Link

TSN cover the top 20 rookies in the NHL, Bobby Ryan is on that list

Bobby Ryan, RW, Anaheim - Power forward taken with the second pick in 2005 has earned a spot with the defending champs and is currently working with Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Bertuzzi on a potent power line.  There's no telling how long Ryan will last in a prominent scoring role with the Ducks (particularly if Teemu Selanne was to return), but he had 102 points in the OHL last year, so he knows what to do around the net.

Read about the other rookies here - Link

The LA Times thinks the Ducks have what it takes to repeat and thoughts on will make it to the playoffs from the Western Conference

Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, two talented forwards who play in the Eastern Conference, have been on the fast track to becoming the faces of the new NHL for a while now.
And rightfully so, based on their early success.
But news flash to the league: The Western Conference has a bunch of young phenoms too, starting with the Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, Colorado's Paul Stastny and the Kings' Anze Kopitar.
Throughout the west, every team seems to have a youngster with enough size and skill to dominate offensively and enough grit to be known as a solid two-way player. How quickly they develop will go a long way toward determining who wins the Western Conference this season.
The Ducks hold the distinction as defending Stanley Cup champions, but for them to become the conference's first repeat winner since the Dallas Stars in 1999-2000, they are going to have to hold off several Cup-ready teams.
The San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings thought they were ready last season and are determined to take the next step this season. Colorado, Vancouver, Minnesota and Calgary believe this could be their time, while teams such as St. Louis, Dallas and even the Kings, think that they are good enough to surprise.

Read the rest here - Link

The LA Times also have a brief scouting report on the Ducks

2006-07 record: 48-20-14, 110 points, first in Pacific.
* Playoffs: Defeated Minnesota, 4-1, in first round; defeated Vancouver, 4-1, in second round; defeated Detroit, 4-2, in Western Conference finals; defeated Ottawa, 4-1, in Stanley Cup finals.
* Coach: Randy Carlyle, third season.
* Additions: Todd Bertuzzi, Shane Hnidy, Maxim Kondratiev, Mathieu Schneider, Jonas Hiller, Brandon Segal, Bobby Ryan, Mark Mowers.
* Subtractions: Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Dustin Penner, Ric Jackman, Ryan Shannon, Mark Hartigan, Shawn Thornton.
* Outlook: And now they are the target. The rough-and-tumble Ducks started fast, survived a spate of injuries and rode a postseason wave that culminated in their first title. Now they must defend without Niedermayer and Selanne, who may call it quits for good. Schneider and Bertuzzi can put up numbers when healthy but can they replace the dynamic duo's leadership?

See the original article here - Link

The Stanley Cup visits Maine

The most famous trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup, will make an appearance in Maine.
The Anaheim Ducks, who won 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, will bring the trophy to Maine Saturday, Oct. 6. The NHL Ducks’ are the parent team of the AHL Portland Pirates, who open their season against the Springfield Falcons at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5.
Fans hoping to see the Cup will have several opportunities to do so Saturday, Oct. 6. The Cup will appear at five different locations, where fans can view the trophy. The tour starts from 9-10 a.m. at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, home of the Lewiston Maineiacs. From there, the Cup heads to L.L. Bean from 11 a.m.-noon, then to the Portland Museum of Art from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and finally to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital from 1:45-2:30 p.m.
The Cup will end up at the Cumberland County Civic Center at 5:15 p.m. prior to the start of the Pirates game at 7:05 p.m. against Lowell.

Thanks to Maine Today for the info - Link

One more London Article via NHL.com

LONDON -- The Anaheim Ducks have certainly hit the ground running here in London.

But ever since winning the Stanley Cup, it seems that the club has done everything at warp speed.

“Our summer seemed like it was just the blink of an eye,” coach Randy Carlyle said.

Not that anyone is complaining.

“That’s the way you want it,” says J.S. Giguere, the club’s injured goalie. “A short summer is a good summer because it means you have been successful. That’s what we want.”

So you couldn’t find many complaints Wednesday morning as the team took the ice for the first time at the 02 Arena. Not even the fact that the club did not land until late Tuesday night could put much of a damper on things.

”We are thinking of this experience as a great experience,” Giguere said. “It’s not every day that you get to come to London and represent the NHL.”

As such, it appears that the Ducks don’t want to waste a minute of their time here. First, the team took part in a spirited two-hour practice, which was run at high speed by the always demanding Carlyle. But there was a reward waiting for the players at the end of that torture session. The Ducks’ good friend, the Stanley Cup, was on hand. But he was sporting a new look, featuring the names of the Anaheim players engraved on the trophy for the first time.

So, as they approached an old-fashioned bus parked outside the arena, waiting to take them on a sight-seeing tour of the city, the new-look Cup was waiting. Not surprisingly, the players made a beeline for it.

Read the rest here - Link

Wednesday News - Part 2 London and the Stanley Cup

Well the Ducks had a fun day with the Stanley Cup in London today. They finally go to see their names on the Cup. They took a tour and got to see a football (soccer) game. So all in all a great day. Here is the coverage of the game.

Their Names.........Finally

Pictures from today

Their first practice - Link

Their day in London - Link

Various image wires had pictures. AnaheimDuckFan has them nicely linked here - Link

Here are my favorites

The OC Register covers the fact that they got their names on the Cup

Like any other tourist, Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere stood with a camera at the ready Wednesday as he and his teammates prepared to board a sightseeing bus for an afternoon tour of Great Britian's signature city.

Giguere captured his most prized photograph, however, before he ever ascended the stairs to the second level of the old, double-decker coach that marked a page out of the past.

Giguere knelt in front of a small table in a parking lot outside the glistening new O2 Arena, where the Ducks and Kings will open the NHL regular season with games Saturday and Sunday, and snapped a photo of a special portion of the Stanley Cup. For the first time Wednesday, Ducks players saw the latest addition to the revered trophy – the inscription of their names, commemorating last season's Stanley Cup championship.

"Now it's official. Nobody can deny it," Giguere said. "It just makes it even that much more special. There are so many great names on the cup. To be one of the guys who have won the Cup, it's a special feeling. Everybody is like a little kid right now."

Read the rest here - Link

The official Ducks Blog has coverage of their day

Alright, let's get back to it. I have always believed that life is all about having good stories. This would certainly qualify for that.
The Ducks and assorted Ducks staffers decided to go to the Fulham-Bolton match, since if you're in London, you have to try and make it to a football match. The Ducks had arranged to do some kind of jersey exchange with Fulham after the game. So, about a dozen Ducks players and a half dozen staffers headed to the train station to make our way to the stadium.
Somehow, half the group got separated from the other half of the group, and the only guy who knew which trains to take was in the group separated from ours. So, our group that included three other staffers, two team doctors, the team photographer, radio analyst Brent Severyn, Travis Moen, Rob Niedermayer, Sean O'Donnell, Joe DiPenta tried to figure out which trains to take and where those trains actually were. Suffice to say, two 20-minute train rides and a 5-minute cab ride took us all of 2 1/2 hours. Most of that was spent looking at signs, standing in line for tickets and looking at each other and wondering if this was all worth it. Not to mention, it was about 45 degrees outside.
Finally, we arrive at our last stop and find out that it's too long a walk to the stadium, that we have to split into cabs. A few of the guys considered bagging the whole thing, but we stayed with it, using the "we've come this far..." methodology like we're Frodo and Sam in Lord of the Rings.
We asked a local guy for directions and he gave them to us, but not without asking "why the bloody hell" we would want to go to a Fulham game. We didn't have an answer for him. He also advised us not to eat the stadium food, "unless you want to get sick."

Read the rest here - Link

LA Times has coverage of their visit

The Ducks arrived at O2 Arena Wednesday for practice, trying to get ready for the two games this weekend against the Kings that open the NHL regular season.
Although veteran goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere appeared in a colossal bandage atop his right leg, he pronounced himself "not very far" from recovery from his hernia surgery. "If not this weekend. . . hopefully one of those games" in Detroit, Columbus or Pittsburgh, he said, referring to the team's schedule next week beginning on Opening Night No. 2 on Oct. 3, when the rest of the league begins play.

As to why he didn't just wait over there, he said, "There's many reasons why it's good for me to be here. As well as starting the season, I think it's going to be a team-building week," a chance to foment "some team spirit."
For about 12 of the team members, fomenting today will entail golf.

Read the rest here - Link

Canadian Press has coverage

LONDON, England — A group of Ducks and a shiny trophy turned heads near Tower Bridge on Wednesday.

The puck is about to drop in England. But not everyone knew exactly what was going on.

So one confused local approached Anaheim Ducks forward Todd Marchant and asked: "What are you fellows doing?"

"We're in town to the play the Los Angeles Kings this weekend," replied Marchant.

"And who might 'we' be?," said the still puzzled man.

They would be the Ducks, the Stanley Cup champions trying to take London by storm this week. They hit the ice at the new 02 Arena on Wednesday in preparation for the NHL's regular-season curtain raiser Saturday and Sunday. The Kings don't arrive from Austria until Thursday night.

An 18-hour trek from Southern California to London on Tuesday was a little hard to take — even by charter — but the Ducks were in great spirits as they hit a few tourist spots on a privately rented double-decker bus and later took in an English Premier League soccer game.

"I think originally not too many guys were excited about coming," said star defenceman Chris Pronger. "It's a long way to go for a couple of games. But as we got to training camp and we got close to the actual date, I think the guys that were initially skeptical are excited now.

"We've never been here before, most of us. We want to make the best of it."

Goalie J.S. Giguere went one step further.

"It's not every day that you get to come and play in London and represent the NHL," said Giguere. "I think it's an honour to be able to do that."

The players also got a thrill before boarding the bus — the Stanley Cup was awaiting them with their freshly inscribed names on it. It was done earlier this week in Montreal before hopping a plane for London. One by one the players filtered around the Cup, making sure their name wasn't forgotten. It was like children trying to spot gifts with their names on it under the Christmas tree.

But not all the Ducks hovered around the Cup. The newcomers to the team this year kept a safe distance. Hockey superstition No. 1 — don't touch the Cup until you've won it.

"That's not for me," said newly acquired winger Todd Bertuzzi. "That's for these guys, they're the ones who went to war for it and rightfully deserve it. It's their moment with it.

"They can enjoy their time with it. I'll just wait until it's mine."

Read the rest here - Link

USA Today has coverage of their visit

The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks have brought the oldest team trophy in North American sports back home to England.

The Ducks, who practiced at the O2 Arena for the first time Wednesday, will open the NHL season in the British capital on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings - a game far away from home and one which Ducks coach Randy Carlyle could have done without.

"It's the hand we've been dealt," Carlyle said. "We're never happy with the scheduling."

The trip may not fit in with Anaheim's plans for a repeat championship, but they are perfect for the NHL, which is trying to further break into the European market.

"There is a hockey tradition here that goes back to Lord Stanley," said Ken Yaffe, a senior vice president for NHL International. "We've got a big British fan base. We've got a big ex-pat fan base."

Lord Frederick Stanley, a Governor General of Canada in the 19th century, bought the cup from a London silversmith and donated it to Canada's top amateur team in 1892. In 1910, it was given to the champion of a professional competition and remained that way until it became the property of the NHL in 1917.

Read the rest here - Link

Fox Sports has coverage

LONDON - Welcome to a new National Hockey League season.

Sure, training camps have been going for a while, but it's only now that the Anaheim Ducks have arrived in London for their opener against the Los Angeles Kings that it gets serious and the recognition sinks in that the start is only days away.

Even though the Ducks travelled in luxurious fashion, it wasn't an easy trip. First they went coast to coast from Long Beach, Calif., to New York, then after a refuelling, across the Atlantic to London.

They landed at Stansted, one of London's more remote airports, and by the time they got to their hotel — a Marriott, of course — the trip was well past the 12-hour mark.

Add to that the fact they they had crossed eight time zones and it was no wonder that they were a little disoriented when coach Randy Carlyle put them through a two-session practice yesterday.

But if you're going to have to make that kind of trip, it's best to do it the way the Ducks did.

They had a charter flight, which means they avoided the usual troglodytes who run the airport-security lanes that you and I have to use. And their plane had none of those five-seat rows that we seem to get stuck in when we fly.

Instead, it had 48 private compartments with seats that fold down into flat beds so that even someone as tall as Chris Pronger could get some comfortable sleep.

Read the rest here - Link

Mark Mowers is in London too

While most members of the Ducks began at least thinking about this week's visit to London midway through last season, when players voted on whether to accept the NHL's invitation to be part of the league's latest overseas venture, newly acquired center Mark Mowers had about four hours to prepare.

Acquired in a Monday afternoon trade with the Boston Bruins, Mowers quickly threw together a few things, spent as much time as possible with a family that includes two young daughters, and made his way to New York to join the Ducks' charter flight that had made a refueling stop before its overnight trek across the Atlantic.

"It's kind of a shocker, at first to switch teams, and then come to the realization that you're not just going out to California, but you're going overseas," Mowers said. "It was a crazy 24 hours, but I feel like I'm settling in, getting to know the guys. The excitement is definitely starting to hit me now."

Mowers, 33, is a veteran of 261 games with three NHL teams and is coming off a career-best five-goal, 17-point season in 78 games with Boston. He practiced with the Ducks for the first time Wednesday and likely will be in the lineup for Saturday's regular-season opener against the Kings at the O2 Arena.

Read the rest here - Link

CanWest has coverage of the visit to Europe as well

The Anaheim Ducks proudly toted the Stanley Cup they won last spring to various tourist sites on a double-decker bus here Wednesday to promote this weekend’s National Hockey League season curtain raiser.

But few Londoners seemed aware of who they were, or what they were carrying, as the team braved a chilly autumn wind that swept across the Thames River.

Steve Campbell, a sports fan from northern England, looked baffled as he watched playoff star Ryan Getzlaf lug the Cup across a busy street to pose with his teammates in front of Big Ben.

“I don’t really know why they’re here, though I do know the NFL is due here next month,” he said, referring to a heavily promoted National Football_League game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 28.

“Maybe it’s a bit of a promotion due to that, possibly?”

Campbell isn’t the only one in the dark, as shown in the blank stares and dearth of NHL coverage in the vast sports sections of London’s daily papers

Read the rest here - Link

Tuesday News - Anaheim Ducks go to London and more

So, today the team arrived in London today after a long flight.  The Official Ducks blog has great coverage and photos.  I also have player interviews, analysis, Stanley Cup Journal update and other news.

The Ducks go to London (with link to photos)

The Ducks arrived at London Stansted Airport at approximately 7:30 London time (11:30 a.m. Pacific), which is just about the same time they left Long Beach Airport yesterday. They headed to the team hotel, where they engaged in a stretch and will be having a team meal before bedtime. They practice tomorrow morning at around 11 a.m.

See photos by team photographer Deb Robinson

The Ducks travel in style during the regular season and playoffs, but it’s nothing compared to the luxury of their trek to London.

The team and various staffers (including this guy) flew across the pond on an EOS 757 aircraft, where each passenger has his own area that doesn’t so much resemble a seat as a mini-apartment. Each seat has a foot rest/ottoman across from it, and with a push of a button the seat reclines all the way back into a flat position, making sleeping on the long flight much easier.

Meanwhile, each seating area comes with its own electrical outlet, so no more fiddling with fancy adapters if you’re hoping to get some power on the plane to do some work or watch movies on a laptop. Of course, you don’t even need the laptop for movies, since near the beginning of the trip, flight attendants handed each passenger his/her own portable entertainment system, which comes with dozens of movies and TV shows stored on it.

During the flight, I caught a couple episodes of “The Office”, one “How I Met Your Mother” (a great show if you’re not already watching it) a not-bad movie called “Fracture” with Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling and fell asleep to my 112th viewing of “The Bourne Identity”. This thing was a godsend.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has some details on the trip

After a long flight that went through New York to pick up new acquisition, Mark Mowers, the Ducks have finally arrived in England. The Ducks flew in luxury, which for the rookies will be quite the step up from their usual mode of transportation between games. With the eight hour time difference and less than four days until the games, the Ducks will need to acclimate quickly.

Tomorrow there is a practice at 11:00am and at 2:00pm the Ducks will get to visit 130 Regent Street, where the Stanley Cup was originally purchased. The Cup gets to come along as well, sporting the newly engraved names of the 2007 Champions. Thursday the Ducks will make themselves available to the media and will be seeing the sights around London. The Kings arrive on Thursday evening. On Friday the Ducks will practice in front of specially invited US military personnel.

Read the rest here - Link

Another analysis of the Ducks

ANAHEIM, California - Duck-hunting season is underway.

Not the one in which people with rifles shoot at flying fowl, but the one that will have 29 NHL teams trying to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions from Anaheim.

And Ducks players know they are in everyone’s sights.

“We have a target on our back,” defenseman Chris Pronger said. “Each night, it’s going to be, ’Try to knock off the Stanley Cup champion.’  We’ve got to be prepared for that and make sure we are even more focused and determined each and every night.”

The Norris Trophy finalist’s thoughts were echoed by center Ryan Getzlaf and blue-liner Sean O’Donnell.

“We’re going to have to play hard every single night we step on the ice,” Getzlaf said.  “We have a target on our back from the way we played last year, and we earned it.  Now we have to earn it again.”

“We’re the Stanley Cup champions, and everyone is going to be ready for us,” O’Donnell added.  “It’s a long season, and teams get up for certain games for different reasons - division rivalries, playing against the defending champions.  Everyone is going to get fired up when it’s time to play against us.

Read the rest here - Link

The Canadian Press also has some Ducks analysis

Randy Carlyle has warned his players. After you win a Stanley Cup, 29 other teams want to take you down. There will be no easy nights for the Anaheim Ducks this season.

"We're not going to sneak into any building," said the head coach.

No team has repeated as Cup champions since the 1997 and '98 Detroit Red Wings and while the Ducks have the core that can deliver another championship, they've got all the excuses in the world to fail:

-Star defenceman Scott Niedermayer, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, is home contemplating retirement, as is 48-goal man Teemu Selanne.

-Every Cup champion battles the effects of a short summer but it was even worse for the Ducks, who had to report to camp early because of a trip to London to start the season.

-Some people around the league believe the trip overseas will knock the stuffing out of the Ducks early on as they recover from the long trip, which includes having to play home openers in Columbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh after coming home from England.

Read the rest here - Link

Sammy Pahlsson does a quick Q & A with Sports Ticker via Yahoo

PA SportsTicker recently obstructed Anaheim Ducks center Samuel Pahlsson and held him long enough to ask the following questions:

1) What opponent do you least enjoy playing against?

I really don't like playing against Joe Thornton. He's a really tough guy to play against because of his size and his skill.

2) What CD would you have to have with you on a cross-country drive?

Any of the Takida CDs. I like them.

3) What city do you look forward to visiting during a road trip?

Find the answer to question three and two more questions here - Link

Bobby Ryan hopes to make his mark and stay with the Ducks the whole season

Bobby Ryan was able to turn his cellphone back on and pack his passport.
Ryan survived the last round of cuts made by Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle to end training camp Monday, and the former second overall draft pick boarded an airplane for London with his teammates in preparation for Saturday's regular-season opener against the Kings.

Promoted

click to enlarge

The Ducks made several moves to pare their roster to 27 players, which include injured veterans Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Samuel Pahlsson and Mathieu Schneider.
Wingers Drew Miller and Jason King were assigned to the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Portland, Maine, along with center Petteri Wirtanen and defenseman Aaron Rome.
"Some guys earned a longer opportunity," Carlyle said after Sunday's 5-0 victory over Vancouver in the Ducks' exhibition finale. "Some guys proved that maybe they weren't ready."
But it was the long-awaited promotion of Ryan that made news because many had started wondering when the 20-year-old would make the leap to the NHL after being drafted in 2005 behind reigning Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby and ahead of Kings rookie Jack Johnson.
Ryan got plenty of chances to win a job in camp and he probably clinched a roster spot with four assists against the Canucks, flourishing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Bertuzzi. Getzlaf had two goals and Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists.

Read the rest here - Link

The Samueli Family had their day with the cup

The Stanley Cup arrived at the incredible Orange County home of the Samueli family on Saturday, September 8. If you think that owners are unemotional business people simply focused on the bottom line, you're wrong when it comes to the Samuelis. Both Henry and Susan, along with their children, were every bit as excited as any player, trainer or scout (perhaps more!). No doubt, these are fans first and foremost.

The Samuelis carried the Stanley Cup into the most magnificent backyard in southern California. Positioned on a beachside cliff overlooking the mighty Pacific, it's arguable that the Stanley Cup may never have had a backdrop so extraordinary. Wow!

Yes, captains of industry can be hockey fans but so too can they love their music. With Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' blasting from an incredible sound system, Henry proudly showed off his music room. There, amidst memorabilia from rockers like Led Zeppelin sat the Stanley Cup. Howie Morenz would have been listening to 'Puttin' on the Ritz' by Harry Richman when he won the Stanley Cup in 1930. Dave Keon would have enjoyed Lulu's 'To Sir With Love' when the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967. As for the Samuelis in 2007, it's rock -- and the harder the better!

Henry Samueli proudly hoists the Stanley Cup atop a large stone wall that reads "The Henry Samueli School of Engineering" at the University of California.
(Mike Bolt/HHOF)

Through the afternoon, Henry and Susan took the Cup to various spots in celebration — the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, to name but two.

While on the campus, a young lady spotted the Stanley Cup and bolted over. "Oh my gawd," she exclaimed. "Is this the real Stanley Cup?" Henry nodded, "Yes, it's the real deal." Puzzled, the student furrowed her brow and asked, "Are you one of the Ducks?" Henry laughed and replied, "Well, no. But I own the team." The girl squinted and became incredulous. "You…you…you're Henry Samueli!! Oh my gawd!! I go to your engineering school!!"

Henry blushed, but immediately got himself tagged with a nickname by Susan. "Hey, C.M.," she'd laugh throughout the afternoon. "Chick magnet!"

The Samueli family groups together for a classic family photo on the wing of their private jet with the Stanley Cup. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

The couple visited a few other sites, including their temple, one to which they have offered incredibly generous gifts. Henry is the son of Holocaust survivors, and has never forgotten the atrocities witnessed by his parents, their families and friends. The philanthropy of the Samuelis has extended from education to health, from the arts to their faith. "It goes back to my parents," Henry mentions. "They were nearly eradicated in the Holocaust, and this was a way to maybe make up for that by creating a permanence of Judaism in society."

That evening, Henry and Samueli hosted an outstanding party for guests affiliated with Broadcom.

Read the rest here - Link

Busy News Day - Part 1, The Stanley Cup

So there is a lot of news today so I am breaking up tonight's post into multiple parts. This post is all about the Stanley Cup.  The Stanley Cup Journal was updated.  Unfortunately the Cup Keepers Photo Blog was not.  There was also some more on the Cup summer with the Ducks and Carlyle's day with the cup (they also discussed with Burke other Ducks news).

Stanley Cup Journal's update featuring Bob Murray.

There's a lot to be said for consistency, and Bob Murray practically defines the word.

Drafted by the Chicago in 1978, Murray spent his entire career — all 1,008 games — in the red, black and white of the Black Hawks. A tireless worker and a fearless leader on the ice, Bob brought those same attributes to the organization when he was appointed a scout for the Hawks after hanging up the skates for good in 1990. A year later, he was Chicago's Director of Player Personnel, and by 1995, Bob was the club's assistant general manager. During the summer of 1997, Murray was promoted to general manager, a role he held for two years. In all, Bob spent 28 years with the Chicago organization.

After a one-year stint Anaheim, Bob worked with the Vancouver Canucks from 1999 to 2005. In July 2005, Murray returned to Anaheim, hired as the Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations.

Bob met the Stanley Cup at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Saturday, September 1. It was the first time Murray had contributed to a Stanley Cup championship, although in 2005, he had watched both the NHL Ducks and their AHL affiliate in Portland go to the conference final.

Read the rest here - Link

More on Carlyle's day with the cup and a discussion of other topics

This might tell you something about Randy Carlyle.

The Anaheim Ducks coach had the Stanley Cup for two days in mid-August and arranged for two public appearances with the Grail. His first stop was the Edgar LeClair Community Centre in his hometown of Azilda, Ont., a building Carlyle helped construct 178 years ago when he was a teenager.

There, some 2,000 people lined up to have their picture taken with Carlyle and the Cup. This is noteworthy because there aren't 2,000 people in Azilda.

Azilda, we hasten to add, was also the more glamourous stop on Carlyle's summer victory tour. The next came in Rockville, near his summer home on Manitoulin Island in Georgian Bay, where 1,000 or so locals queued up to visit with Stanley.

Carlyle is asked about Rockville's population.

"Maybe 35," he says.

He's then asked what taking the Stanley Cup to those two outposts meant to him.

"It allowed me to share that success with friends and family," says Carlyle.

That, at least, was the meaning this summer. As of Sept. 29, when the Ducks open their season in London freaking England, it will take on a slightly different dimension.

Read the rest here - Link

The Ducks Summer with Stanley retold by Jeff Miller at the OC Register.

He speaks French and lives in Canada, but he sang the English words of an Australian band.

Being a champion can bring a man to tears, move him to make out with a trophy and even convince him that he can rock. Sadly, though, carrying a puck and carrying a tune are wholly unrelated.

Not that Francois Beauchemin was, in the most technical sense, actually singing.

"I was just yelling," the Ducks defenseman said. "I had a couple too many that night. That always helps."

Particularly when drinking from a cup that is nearly 3 feet tall.

Anaheim's professional ice hockey team has returned to work, preparing to defend its NHL title, putting behind it a whirlwind of love, a summer during which players were celebrated, decorated and, yes, occasionally saturated.

They partied on both sides of the Atlantic, on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and on both sides of midnight. They received proclamations from cities, had their jerseys retired and, in the extreme case of Chris Pronger, had their entrances announced by bagpipers.

The Ducks pretty much covered it all, from Sean O'Donnell taking the Stanley Cup to Ottawa to meet Canada's prime minister to George Parros taking the Cup to New Jersey to have lunch at Cluck-U Chicken.

Read the rest here - Link

The Stanley Cup visits Peters Canyon Elementary School

Everyone wanted to see and touch "Stanley" when he stopped by Peter's Canyon Elementary.

That's because "Stanley," as it was nicknamed during the visit, is one of the oldest and most revered trophies in professional sports – the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup.

The family of Todd Marchant, a center for the champion Anaheim Ducks, played show-and-tell on Friday by taking the 35-pound trophy inside classrooms.

"This is a famous hockey trophy," 5-year-old Timothy Marchant told a class. "My dad won it."

Timothy, 9-year-old Lilli and 7-year-old Ashley, children of Todd and Caroline Marchant, all attend Peters Canyon. The three rolled the trophy on its case into most of the school's classrooms, including kindergarten classes.

"Wow," the kindergarteners said as the shiny silver trophy rolled in.

Mike Bolt, the keeper of the cup for the hockey hall of fame in Toronto, watched to make sure the trophy was safe. He explained to students what the trophy represents.

Read the rest here - Link

Part 3 - Friday News

So here is the rest of the news that is not related to Teemu Selanne or to last nights game.  I've got Stanley Cup coverage, training camp coverage and more.

Hockey Hall of Fame has updated their Stanley Cup Journal.

When you achieve a dream, you want to share it with those who helped you along the way and, as a result, will revel in your successes most. Sean's first stop was to visit his grandmother at St. Patrick's Home, a long-term care facility. The affection was evident, as Sean had long intended that should he win the Stanley Cup, he'd bring it to show his grandmother, who had encouraged him through many an early morning boyhood hockey game. "I've been coming here for 15 years," Sean mentioned. "My grandmother's here. She wouldn't be able to come to see the Cup anywhere else, so I thought I'd bring it to her. She was pretty excited about it!"

The Stanley Cup had actually arrived in Ottawa early, and O'Donnell had called to see if he could arrive a little early at St. Patrick's. "I'm sorry, but would you mind waiting for a little while? Thursdays are our bingo afternoons," he was told. Sean could only grin. "Fine, I'll see you a little later then," he responded.

At the Ottawa Hospital, even Senator fans were pleased to be greeted by O'Donnel and the Stanley Cup. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

The Ducks' defenceman then took the Stanley Cup over to The Ottawa Hospital, where he walked the hallways visiting youngsters who were receiving treatment. The spirit of kids is amazingly resilient, and belies bandages and tubes. You wouldn't know that any of them had a care in the world when they got to see, touch and get a picture with the Stanley Cup. There's an amazing healing quality that seems to emanate from Lord Stanley's mug.

Sean then pulled up with the Stanley Cup to 24 Sussex, the well-known address of the Prime Minister of Canada. Once he was ushered in, Sean was greeted by Stephen Harper, his wife Laureen and their children Ben and Rachel. The Prime Minister greeted O'Donnell wearing a Ducks' jersey, one that been given to him during the Stanley Cup final by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Asked why he wasn't wearing an Ottawa jersey, the Prime Minister responded, "I'm wearing the Anaheim jersey out of respect to Sean. By winning the Stanley Cup with Anaheim, we have reason to celebrate, because Sean O'Donnell, a hometown boy, has brought honour to our city."

Read the rest of it here - Link

The Cup Keepers journal has been updated as well

See the rest here - Link

The Duckcast has been resurrected.  The first one of the season features an interview with Brad May - Link

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NHL.com has a quick look at players who are ready for their best season.  Chris Kunitz is on that list.

Chris Kunitz: It's great to ride shotgun with a star. Just ask Kunitz, who put up 16 goals in 35 games - just three short of what he managed all last season. His goal-scoring has slowed, but he's been piling up assists and showing he's worthy of first-line time.

To see who else is on that list go here - Link

The Sporting News has a look at the Anaheim Ducks

With the possible retirement of Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks will rely more heavily on a potential-laden young forward line led by Ryan Getzlaf in their quest to repeat.

Even while the confetti was still fluttering in the air and the Stanley Cup was swaggering from one victory party to another, the questions had already begun.

Can the Anaheim Ducks repeat? Can they do it if two key players retire? Few NHL teams in recent years have stepped up to meet preseason expectations and hype as well as the Ducks did last season.

After adding Chris Pronger to a team that had reached the Western Conference Finals in 2006, Anaheim was a consensus Stanley Cup favorite before the first puck was dropped last October.

The Ducks responded by setting an NHL record for earning standings points in their first 16 games.

The team essentially led the Pacific Division from wire to wire and quickly advanced through the first two rounds of the playoffs. There were a couple tough moments early in the conference finals against Detroit, but Anaheim won the final three games of the series and dispensed with the Ottawa Senators in five games to win the first Stanley Cup for the state of California.

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MVN has a look at day three of training camp

It’s been a whirlwind week for the Ducks, who are on an accelerated schedule for training camp. Monday saw physicals and assessments. Tuesday and Wednesday were two heavy practice and scrimmage days. Thursday saw the first pre-season game. Friday brought another practice and scrimmage day as a prelude to three more games in three days.

As of yet, there have been no cuts made to the roster, but those are likely to come after the next three games. Therefore the team still practiced in two groups. Group A was on the NHL rink again and they went through the usual drills and sprints for an hour. Everything has a harder, faster tempo and the players are looking much sharper than they did on Tuesday.

After a brief break to resurface the ice, the two groups had another scrimmage. Group A was in black and group B was in white. The first scrimmage black came out on top. On day 2 the white team managed to put together a narrow victory. Today was another blow out, with the white team coming out on top. 24 year old right winger, Brandon Segal, who was acquired from Nashville for future considerations in June, stood out in the scrimmage with three goals (a penalty shot, banging in a rebound and a nice shot that clanged in off the post) . The final score was 8 - 2, with the black team only scoring on Todd Bertuzzi and Andy MacDonald’s penalty shots. If the black team had converted on more penalty shots (which were used instead of 2 minutes in the penalty box), the scrimmage would have been much closer.

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The Portland(Maine) Press Herald has a look at Ducks prospect Clay Harris

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Clay Wilson got a chance to add to his playing resume while spending last season with the Portland Pirates, and it's made him a unique player in the Anaheim Ducks organization.

After spending his entire career playing defense, the speedy Wilson was inserted into one of the Pirates' forward lines in the second half of the season.

That move was made when the Pirates, Anaheim's AHL affiliate, ran short of forwards.

Wilson has become a swing player, a role seldom filled in professional hockey.

"There are not a lot of those types of classification of those players who play to the highest level in the American Hockey League and the NHL," Anaheim Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. "We think it's unique for him."

The move was made during the offensive-minded Wilson's first full professional season.

"About halfway through the season, we were kind of short up front," Wilson said.

"I had a little bit of success and got the hang of it toward the end of the year."

Last season, Wilson, 24, was the Pirates' third-leading scorer with nine goals and 34 assists in 79 games.

Before he went home for the summer, he was told by the Ducks' management he would continue to play a dual role.

"I don't mind at all," he said. "Anything that will give me a chance to spend more time with Anaheim is a positive thing."

He's listed as a left wing on the Ducks' training camp positional roster.

However, he spent the first three days of practice playing defense.

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Wednesday News

Today was a news filled day. Not only was training camp going on, but a lot of "Official Ducks News" was released today.  So on to the news!

Ducks show their new home uniform.  Not much of a change is it?  Here is the official announcement

The Club Joins the League-Wide Initiative in Unveiling a More Modern and Sleek Look for the Upcoming Season

The Anaheim Ducks announced that the club will debut the new Rbk EDGE Uniform System on Thursday, Sept. 13 vs. Los Angeles in the Ducks’ preseason opener. The updated look is a result of the NHL’s partnership with Reebok in developing a uniform to meet the performance demands of today’s professional athlete. This change adds an exciting twist on the new uniforms that the Ducks unveiled prior to the 2006-07 season. 

“This is an exciting new technological advancement made by the NHL,” said Anaheim Arena Management and Anaheim Ducks Senior Vice President/CMO Bob Wagner. “We think both the fans and players will appreciate the new, sleek look.”

The Rbk EDGE Uniform System is being implemented after more than two years of research and testing. The system features technologically advanced materials and fabrics that are more breathable, more water-resistant, more comfortable and more compatible with equipment. It will be worn by all 30 NHL teams in their respective colors and designs. The introduction of this system for the 2007-08 season marks the first time in the history of North American professional sports that a uniform innovation has been implemented League-wide.

On June 22, 2006, a new era began for the franchise as the team became officially known as the Anaheim Ducks.  In addition, a new logo and color scheme was unveiled. In shaping the new logo design, the focus was sharpened to create an overall image that expressed excitement, speed and a competitive edge. A classic color palette of black and metallic gold was developed, with an accent of orange as a metaphorical link to the team’s Orange County home. The new look proved successful as the Ducks made history, winning their first-ever Pacific Division en route to becoming the first West Coast team to win the Stanley Cup since the 1925 Victoria Cougars.

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Ducks extend their contract with AM830 - via the official website

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the club has extended its radio broadcast agreement with AM 830, the flagship home of the Anaheim Ducks. The multi-year deal includes pre-, regular and post-season coverage on the 50,000-watt station.

“We are very pleased to be able to extend our agreement with AM 830,” said Anaheim Ducks Director of Broadcasting Aaron Teats. “The powerful signal the station provides is a great benefit to our fans.” 

The flagship home of the 2007 Stanley Cup Champions, Ducks fans will continue to enjoy pre- and post-game shows along with other hockey-related programs as part of the station’s regular lineup. Radio coverage of the Ducks’ 2007-2008 campaign begins with all eight preseason contests, starting Sept. 13 vs. Los Angeles at Honda Center (7:05 p.m.).

Steve Carroll returns for his ninth season as Anaheim Ducks radio play-by-play voice in 2007-08. Joining Carroll in the broadcast booth is Brent Severyn, who begins his third season with the club as radio color analyst. 

AM 830 is owned by a partnership led by Arte Moreno, who also owns Angels Baseball. In addition to exciting Ducks play-by-play action, AM 830 carries Monday Night NFL Football, Sunday NFL Football, and is the flagship home of the 2008 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. As well as running marquis sporting events, the New AM 830 is the home of independent talk personalities such as Glenn Beck, Jerry Dole, Rusty Humphries, Michael Savage and many others. 

Ducks resign Brent Severyn to a multiyear contract extension... as a radio analyst - via the official website

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that radio analyst Brent Severyn has been signed to a multi-year contract extension with the club. Severyn begins his third season with Steve Carroll in the Ducks radio booth for all pre-, regular and post-season games in 2007-08, led by flagship station AM 830.

“Brent has been a very important member of our broadcast crew for the past two seasons,” said Anaheim Ducks Director of Broadcasting Aaron Teats. “His passion for hard-nosed, physical hockey has made him a fan favorite and entertaining listen on our broadcast.” 

In addition to his in-game duties with AM 830, Severyn also serves as co-host for the Ducks’ Post-Game Radio Show immediately following every home game in front a live audience, giving fans a chance to interact with the hosts and various players. Before coming to Anaheim, the former Duck logged five years of hockey broadcasting experience in both radio and television. He worked as an analyst with FSN Southwest in Dallas, and with the Stars’ post-game radio coverage on 1310 AM, The Ticket.

A seven-year NHL veteran drafted by Winnipeg in the fifth round (99th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Severyn played 328 games between Quebec, Florida, the New York Islanders, Colorado, Anaheim and Dallas. In 1999, he was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning Dallas Stars. 

A native of Vegreville, Alberta, Severyn was a member of the 1997-98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He is actively involved in the community and has been the recipient of the community service award for both the Ducks and the Dallas Stars. Severyn works extensively with athletes from all competition levels and has started his own community program called Sevy’s Bikes for Kids and Assistance.

Brian Burke was on a conference call with the GM from the other Socal team

Ducks Executive Vice-President/General Manager Brian Burke and L.A. Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi sat down for a media conference call Tuesday. Here is a transcript:

Q. How do you like your team's chances to defend this first championship regardless of whether or not some players come back into your fold?

BRIAN BURKE: Well, I think it's tough to defend. It's always been tough to defend, and I think in a cap system it's even harder to defend because if you look at teams that defended in the old system, often there was a payroll disparity that prevented them from doing that. So we think we play in the toughest division in the National Hockey League. I think a lot of our success last year was because of the playoff pairings that we got by winning our division, and it's going to be tough. It's always tough.

Q. Brian, who do you see as the teams to beat other than yourself, the teams you know will be hard to beat?

BRIAN BURKE: Well, I'll leave that to you guys. We broke a record that was 50 years old I think at the start of the season for the best start in the history of the NHL with points in our first 16 games, and that broke a record I think 40 or 50 years old, and it still went down to the last weekend of the season. When we went on the ice for our last game in Columbus, we were still watching the San Jose and Vancouver game. Vancouver won in overtime and that's how we won our division. That's how tough our division is. We have a very healthy respect for all the teams in our division. In the west we've got you guys. I think the west is a terror for a general manager.

Q. Brian, first of all, welcome back. I guess this is the way you want it, a nice short off season. I guess that means you did well, correct?

BRIAN BURKE: Correct.

Q. Talk about how this trip to London might take both clubs out of their routine? And that's pretty much what athletes are into, is a routine.

BRIAN BURKE: Well, we were honored. The LA Kings, AEG Entertainment operates the building where we're going to play these games, and I'm told it's a beautiful venue. When the league asked us to go, we were honored to go. First off, we have a very healthy rivalry with the Kings. We think that to take regular season games to Europe is a milestone for our league, so we were honored to be asked. Is it ideal from a preparation standpoint, no and I'm pretty sure Dean would agree so. But I think when the league asks you to go, you go. I think, like I said, we were flattered. We were honored. We told our players this is the schedule. We have three road games when we come back that are all going to be tough, and it's going to be a tough five-game start to the season, but we have to deal with that.

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Here is a very nice article on Todd Marchant by Randy Youngman of the OC Register

ANAHEIM -- Who's that little guy?

Ever since he laced up his first pair of skates as a youngster in suburban Buffalo, Todd Marchant has stood out on the ice.

He was always the smallest kid at the rink — and usually the fastest.

"My dad has some video of me when I was 6 or 7 years old," Marchant said Tuesday at Anaheim Ice after the Ducks' first official practice as the defending Stanley Cup champions. "I looked like a little waterbug flying around the ice."

When he was playing "mite" and "squirt" hockey, it was cute to be so small and so talented.

But as he got older and the competition got better, Marchant's size became a perpetual obstacle he had to overcome, at least in the eyes of those who judge talent.

"I was always the smallest guy on my team, at every level," he said. "And the people involved in the sport would always say, 'Good player, but he won't excel at the next level because he's too small.'

"I didn't hear it all the time, but my parents heard it. And you know what? It was motivation for me, to go out and prove people wrong. ... I'm still probably one of the smallest guys on the team — and in the league, for that matter. So I have to go out and prove myself every single day."

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A little brief on Schneider and Bertuzzi's quiet debut at training camp via the OC Register

ANAHEIM -- Most anywhere else, in most any other season, the addition of marquee free agents Mathieu Schneider and Todd Bertuzzi would be the focal point of an NHL team's training camp.

Schneider and Bertuzzi, who left the Detroit Red Wings to join the Ducks in early July, have remained mostly under the radar because of a preoccupation with the potential retirement of team captain Scott Niedermayer and unrestricted free-agent right wing Teemu Selanne.

While neither Niedermayer nor Selanne was present Tuesday when the Ducks opened camp at Anaheim Ice, Schneider and Bertuzzi were there — noticeable for sure but still minus the hoopla that might have greeted their arrival otherwise.

"I think Todd and I both enjoy that," Schneider said. "It takes a lot of pressure off us."

Given the huge roles played by Niedermayer and Selanne when the Ducks captured their first Stanley Cup championship last season, their absence will create more than enough pressure to go around. Schneider, 38, certainly doesn't lack for experience, having won a Stanley Cup ring with Montreal in 1993.

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Burke's take on the London road trip via the CanWest News service

For Brian Burke, having the Stanley Cup-champion Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings open the NHL's regular season in England is as much about salesmanship as it is about being a good corporate citizen.

"We've got to look at extending our brand outside North America whenever we can," Burke, the Ducks GM, said yesterday. "The league's been, I think, very successfully taking the NHL overseas.

"If the league asks you to go, you go."

The Kings and Ducks will play on Sept. 29 and 30 at O2 Arena in London - the first regular-season games ever played in Europe.

Ducks suspend Niedermayer: Star defenceman Scott Niedermayer, who is still trying to decide whether he'll return to the Ducks for the 2007-08 NHL season or retire, was officially suspended yesterday by the Stanley Cup champions, Burke said.

The move, which was expected by the player and the team, means the $6.75 million Niedermayer was to earn this season won't count against the league's $50.3-million salary cap.

The original article is here - Link

The New England Hockey Journal has a great interview with Brian Burke

Two of the Anaheim Ducks general manager’s would-be returning stars – Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne – are currently in roster limbo and still deciding whether they want to return to active duty.

And then there was that matter of Edmonton luring young forward Dustin Penner away from the defending Stanley Cup champions with a lucrative Group 2 offer sheet.

But three months removed from watching his team skate away with the most coveted trophy in hockey, Burke can still relish what the Ducks accomplished – even as he’s looking forward at a difficult defense of the title.

“Well, if anyone on this call hears me complain about anything, they should throw something heavy at me,” Burke said with a laugh during a conference call Tuesday. “It's what we aspire to, to wake up in the morning dreaming of winning that trophy, and you go to bed at night dreaming of ways to win it. No complaints here.

“I would say it was a rather unique set of circumstances when two, I believe, locks for the Hall of Fame tell you they're not sure if they're coming back, so it's required us to take some steps maybe we wouldn't have otherwise. I assured the local media on July 1 that we would not be active, and we ended up signing two guys. From my perspective, no complaints. We like the character of our group, and it's our intent to defend.”

The two additions Burke made after free agency opened were defenseman Mathieu Schneider (Mt. St. Charles, R.I.) and forward Todd Bertuzzi, who were both teammates in Detroit last season – on a team that lost to the Ducks in the Western Conference finals.

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AndyMacAttack from the official Ducks board has posted a couple of pictures from his visit with the cup and....... Sammy Pahlsson!

See the originals here - Link