Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks are the reigning NHL champions, being the first California team to win the Stanley Cup.

History
The Ducks are probably the only professional team to get their start based off a movie. Owned by Disney, the team was originally known as the Mighty Ducks, based off the Disney movie, "The Mighty Ducks." From 1995-2001, Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya would be one of the best scoring tandems in the NHL and would twice lead the Mighty Ducks to the playoffs. The Ducks made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003 before losing to the New Jersey Devils in seven games. The Ducks would fail to reach the playoffs the next year, and the following year the season was cancelled due to a players strike. In 2004, Disney sold the team to Henry Samueli, and in 2006, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed its name to the Anaheim Ducks. With the name change brought unexpected success - the Ducks won their first Stanley Cup, led by Selanne, Andy McDonald, and Scott Niedermayer.

Current Situation
The Ducks finished in second place in the Pacific Division and were favored to defend the Cup. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Stars after losing their first two games at home. The Ducks were missing two important playes, Corey Perry and Rob Niedermayer, but losing in the first round was a major disappointment. But even with the early exit, the Ducks are still the best team in L.A. and are also one of the most physical, making their games exciting to watch. George Parros is part of a dying breed of enforcers in the NHL, and Chris Pronger and Todd Bertuzzi are also two of the more physical players in the league.

Fun Fact
George Parros has the greatest moustache in the NHL, and perhaps the greatest in professional sports. He may not have the greatest hockey skills, but he is one of the busiest fighters in the league. Parros has become a fan favorite in Anaheim because of his toughness and moustache. Because of Parros' popularity, the Ducks sell fake moustaches in the Honda Center. Although he may look like a thug, Parros is actually a graduate of Princeton University. According to Hockeyfights.com Parros was involved in 23 fights, winning eight of them and drawing three. Here is one one of Parros' better fights this year.



Why People Like Them
Like the Angels, the Ducks have strong ties to Disney. If you asked any male between the ages of 20-30 who Gordon Bombay is, pretty much all of them would know he was played by Emilio Estevez in "The Mighty Ducks." Disney made sure Ducks games offered a family-friendly environment. Attendance has been very good the past two seasons, with the Honda Center repeatedly selling out 74 games in a row. In fact, this season the Ducks sold-out every single home game. The Ducks are also a better team than the Kings, so the casual L.A. hockey fan may find themselves rooting for the Ducks. The Ducks also have many likable players, including long-time fan favorite Selanne.

Why People Hate Them
The Ducks became the first California team to win the Stanley Cup and it pissed off hockey fans everywhere else. In Canada, hockey is a religion. It's hard enough for them to accept an American team winning the Stanley Cup, but when a team from Southern California wins the Cup, it's simply too much to handle. When USA basketball finished third place at the last Olympic Games, American basketball pundits and fans alike were outraged and upset. That is what the Ducks winning the Stanley Cup was like. The Ducks also have the same problem the Angels have - being located in Anaheim is a pain in the butt for fans. The Interstate 5 Freeway is absolutely brutal to drive on, and just getting to the game can cause major headaches for fans.

#1 Fan
Snoop Dogg. Seriously. Yabba dabba dizzle, fo shizzle nizzle!


Best Player
Teemu Selanne, at age 37, came out of retirement to return to the Ducks this season. In only 26 games, he had 12 goals and 11 assists. But his return may have been more important for team morale than scoring goals. Acquired at the end of January, the Ducks went on to win 10 of 13 games in February and 20 of their last 28. Selanne returned as a hero to Ducks fans and led the team to a second place finish in the division.


Venue
The Honda Center. Located within walking distance of Disneyland and Angels Stadium, the Honda Center has been home of the Ducks since their first season. The Honda Center is one located off the 5 Freeway, and as I've mentioned before, is a pretty big pain in the ass to get to from Downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Center (formerly known as Arrowhead Pond) is also the site of high school basketball championship games. The Center seats more than 17,000 for hockey games. Only 15 years old, the Center is a desirable arena to play in and has been known as having a very fan-friendly atmosphere. The only drawback about the Honda Center is that because the Ducks are pretty succesful, tickets are more expensive than Kings games, even though the Kings play in a brand-new arena.

Simers Says
They tell me they won the Stanley Cup. I'm guessing that's a big deal.

Dwyre Says
Getting old, sliding out of contention for another Stanley Cup in the next few years.

Verdict
The Ducks are the best team in Los Angeles and are definitely more exciting than the Kings. They have a good combination of toughness, skill, and flair. If you can handle the 30-minute to 2-hour commute to Anaheim, the Ducks are a good team to support. But be careful - you may get a lot of flack for supporting a hockey team. People in So Cal simply don't care enough about hockey to follow the Angels. Just ask Simers.