Talking Ducks

If it's tough for me to come down from the Olympics high, what about the athletes? They don't have to just yet and neither do you. If you're going to the game against Colorado Wednesday, be sure to get there early. All the Ducks who played in the winter games will be honored at a pre-face-off ceremony as well as with pre-taped interviews throughout the game. And you'll get a chance to see their medals. Ducks earned all three colors and they are really beautiful, with a wavy shape and First Nations (Canadian Northwest Coast Indian) designs. Ducks fans are lucky. Tourists and Vancouverites stood in line for hours to see those medals. All you'll have to do is stroll over to the display case outside section 212.

It's hard to believe that it's all over, and even crazier that although some of our guys have proven they are among the best ice hockey players in the world, they have to get right back to work to grind out a playoff spot in the Western Conference of the NHL. Wow! Someone reminded Niedermayer of that and he just laughed it off. Other players confessed that the work they would have to do in Anaheim was always at the back of their minds. All said they couldn't wait to get back and play together again.

My list of their unforgettable accomplishments during the games:

Bobby Ryan: Came home with a silver medal for playing on Team USA, chipping two teeth in the game against Norway! He played with speed and energy every game. And he become somewhat of a media darling with his down-to-earth Jersey charm. It was great reading his fun and funny quotes in the international press.

Ryan Whitney: Getting picked to play on Team USA and winning a silver medal -- all of a sudden he's a brand name. He's not a flashy guy, just someone who always does his best and gets the job done. Fans will remember him now.

Luca Sbisa (Ducks prospect): Played for team Switzerland and although he didn't medal he got some great experience and showed incredible gutsiness playing with a fractured finger that split open during the game against the US. He wouldn't have it any other way. "I don't want to be when I'm older sitting in my chair thinking I should have played that game," he told the media.

Teemu Selanne: His Finnish teammates wanted him to win a gold since it was his last year in the Olympics, but Selanne seemed happy to play at all, wearing that goofy chin guard the whole time and looking skinny as Jesus out there -- he hasn't fully recovered from the fractured jaw injury. He didn't have as much ice time as some of the other guys, but he stepped up whenever he was out there, making plays and getting shots on goal, he holds the Olympic record for goal scoring. His bronze medal is a great finish to his Olympic career.

Saku Koivu: Captain for Finland; it's a tribute to him that his guys came out playing as a team from the very first game. Some countries never meshed or melded into a team. Koivu led by example as always, making tons of assists and setups then stepping back and letting other players have the spotlight. Oh, and he went home with a bronze medal and the knowledge that he put a giant smile on the face of his best buddy Teemu at the end of the tournament.

Scott Niedermayer: Canada's Captain, fulfilling the role like a true British Columbia native -- strong and solid as a Douglas fir. Also just as impenetrable when you're on another team trying to break into the zone. His already groaning trophy case gets one more knick-knack.

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry: The twins were instrumental in Team Canada's success, giving it the old one-two with Getzlaf feeding Perry, who always went hard to the net and found those tricky "garbage goals." These two were consistently producing when other superstar players were skating around with nothing to show for it. Getzy showed his typical make-things-happen flair, scoring two minutes into the Russia/Canada game to set the tone for a big win. They were a huge factor in Canada's gold medal run.

Jonas Hiller: No medal for our favorite goalie, but he has risen to international stardom. Everyone knew it was Hiller who kept Switzerland in the game throughout the finals and almost took them to the bronze round. Many eyes will be on him in the next few years because it's clear he hasn't even peaked yet. This Olympics will always be known as the year three phenomenal goalies simply melted down: Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist, Miikka Kipprusoff. In contrast, Jonas Hiller always kept his cool. Bravura tactics were the demise of some of these other goalies but Hiller's style of playing was precise, careful, selfless, and as consistent as a Swiss watch. It feels so good to have him in net for Anaheim.—Anne Valdespino

Had friends over to watch the game and was all set to cheer for Team Canada. After all it had the most Ducks of any team, 3. (Did anyone else notice that the teams with the most Ducks won the medals? Canada (3 players, gold medal) U.S.A. (2 players, silver medal) Finland (2 players, bronze) Switzerland (1, technically speaking since Sbisa was sent back to the minors, and no medal but they came really close.)

By 11:30 Sunday the drinks were mixed, the scones were made, and my Canadian in-laws called continually as if it were Christmas day. The atmosphere at my house started out super jolly. But as I watched the game, things began to change. All those superstars on Team Canada were sitting back on their lead. What the heck? And the Americans were working harder and harder.

In the end it was overtime. And overtime doesn't necessarily mean the best team wins, it's just the team that scores first. So there I was being a Crosby hater when he scored. The guy, who from where I'm sitting, underperformed the whole way, pulled it out in the end. We read sooo much about him in the media he had worn out his welcome the day he stepped off the plane in Vancouver. But, OK. He is enormously talented and we can't hold that against him or we'd be just like the dads who jeered him when he was in the peewee leagues  just for making their kids look so bad. Crosby got to be the hero, fine. But I was so wishing it could have been someone who had put in a ton of effort and had star turns the whole way, like Jarome Iginla or Getzy/Perry. Or maybe someone who had made a tremendous difference behind the scenes, like Scotty Niedermayer, who according to Getzy, gave calming and inspiring St. Crispin's Day style talks to the guys in the locker room.

But the poor Americanos. It was over in a heartbeat and there was Ryan Miller looking like he was going to cry and giving an interview anyway. The saddest pic of all was Getzy (Canada) hugging Ducks teammate Bobby Ryan (U.S.A.) in the handshake line. Aw! And the Americans standing there looking as if they had been humiliated, like the silver medal was a turd hanging around their necks. Oh boy. 

As much as I love the guys on Team Canada the end result will always haunt me. Not only did the U.S. almost win, Canada nearly lost! Expect to read reams  about Canada second-guessing itself. And maybe too about the genius of American GM Brian Burke, who sure knows how to pick winners before they are overhyped, overpaid, diva-ish and whiney. Yeah, Brodeur, I'm talkin' about vous!—Anne Valdespino

So it's the U.S. and Canada competing for the gold medal. We kind of expected that, but the games leading up to it weren't exactly what we anticipated. We never thought Finland would collapse this quickly. But it's a testament to the importance of goal tending. Miikka Kipprusoff, who had been impenetrable for Finland, folded against the U.S., letting in several goals early on and becoming completely rattled. It was like a replay of Lundqvist's debacle and eerily similar to Brodeur's big blunder in the Canada-U.S. game, mishandling a puck with the stick and creating a scoring chance for the other team. He never recovered. Huge job opportunity? Scandinavian goalie coach. Kipper actually pulled himself from the game. Patrick Kane said it best: "I thought it was about time I scored, but I also thought it was about time they pulled their goalie." So there went Teemu Selanne's gold medal dreams for his last appearance in the Olympics. Final score: 6-1 for the U.S.

Later that night Canada started strong against Slovakia. They were up by two when Getzy potted an insurance goal near the end of the second period, dumping in a rebound during a power play. But Slovakia came back with an answer goal and then another. Some tense moments for Canada, but eventually the clock ran out. Getzlaf, who along with Bobby Ryan has become something of a media darling, summed it up. "When you get a lead in the third period it's not easy to keep pressing in a tournament like this. The tendency is to sit back and not make a mistake rather than pushing forward. But we were able to get it done," he told the Houston Chronicle. 

Some tense moments, but that's what makes Olympic hockey exciting -- the knowledge that anything can happen. We look for Finland to win the bronze on Saturday night as they have in so many previous Olympics, but Slovakia could surprise us. I'm sure Kipper surprised the hell out of Selanne!—Anne Valdespino

My stomach was turned upsidedown last night after lunch at Il Dolce in Costa Mesa, make that "ill Dolce" because although the pizza was pretty good the salad did me in. Still, it didn't stop me from watching two great games last night, and the end of the Canada/Russia game earlier. There are some lucky Ducks walking around Olympic Village today because every team with Anaheim players except Switzerland made it to the finals.

That was extremely deflating for Jonas Hiller who performed like a champ and has made a name for himself on the international stage. Everyone is talking about him and how he kept his team in the game even when his defense was crumbling. Read his blog on the Ducks Web site and get his take on things. He may have left the ice in tears, but the world of hockey has embraced him as a big star. The Canadians especially loved him, giving him a huge ovation and rooting for Switzerland the whole way against the U.S., which shocked Bobby Ryan, "People are chanting, 'Go, Swiss, go!' and I'm like, 'What?" he told the Los Angeles Times.

That was all because America kicked Canada around the ice in their last game. Now it's all about rooting for whoever will defeat the states. Ryan had some interesting things to say in his Times blog about his experience. He said he felt bad for Hiller and hugged him at the end of the game. He also had an odd experience running into Luca Sbisa, a former Ducks teammate in the cafeteria, who also played for Switzerland. The rules say they're not supposed to eat together so they just chatted and went separate ways. Tough, for friends who played together and still hangout: Sbisa stays in Bobby Ryan's O.C. place in the summer.

But back to the lineups. Tomorrow Finland will play the U.S. and Canada will play Slovakia. Losers from those games will play a bronze medal round on Saturday night, winners will meet Sunday to play for gold and silver medals. I'm calling it for Canada unless something goes terribly wrong. I think they have a dream team with a tremendous amount of skill. When they're fired up, no one can beat them. Russian goalie Bryzgalov (a former Duck), said they came off the bench to start the game like "hungry gorillas." To which sassy color commentator Jeremy Roenick added, "Like hungry, angry, fightin' gorillas." The defense, lead by Captain Scott Niedermayer, shut down Ovechkin, and our guys scored and scored. Two for Corey Perry and one for Getzy. I will be really surprised if they don't win gold. 

For silver, it could be the U.S. with that young, gutsy team put together by our former GM Brian Burke. They have a do-or-die attitude, diving in front of the net before the puck could even get to their goalie.  Or it could be Finland. They've got skill, a great captain, our own Saku Koivu, and motivation; some commentators said that Teemu Selanne is so beloved that his teammates are playing their hearts out because they know it's his last Olympics and they want to see him with a gold medal. They also have a classy style of play. The Czechs were pretty frustrated and got kinda dirty, and those penalties drew them down. The Finns rose above it and never took the bait.

But don't count out Slovakia, they play hard, unlike the Russians who I noticed only played to the level of the opposing team--they came off as lazy and arrogant. Slovakia might surprise us all as they are getting better every game. They stuck it to Sweden, an elite team that started slow and whose goalie had an off night. Golden Boy Lundqvist lost his stick and borrowed one from a teammate so he couldn't really defend properly. A shot on his stick side went in and then he seemed discombobulated the rest of the game. Another went in and Sweden came back, scoring twice, but Slovakia didn't give up and eventually won the game with an empty netter. Lundqvist seemed close to tears. 

Anyway, this weekends' games will be so much fun to watch with Ducks players on the U.S., Finnish, and Canadian teams. It's like stretching out a Ducks back-to-back weekend over three days. Woo hoo! Still a lotta hockey to watch before the Olympics are over.--Anne Valdespino

With all the Olympics stuff going on it might have escaped Ducks fans that four players were recalled. Don't know if this is temporary or what because the news stories say that this is possible because technically the Olympic athletes are not part of the roster until their national teams are eliminated. But guess who topped the list? Yeah, feel-good guy Dan Sexton, along with Brendan Mikkelson, Brett Festerling and goalie Timo Pielmeier.

Of course we're thrilled Sexy is back because he added such a lift when we were struggling earlier. He scores and scores and he's such fun to watch. About Paul Kariya's height but lighter. We worry about him because big ogres from opposing teams rudely got in the habit of ragdolling him into the net and the corners.

We really want to see him make a comeback so maybe someone can put him on the Kariya workout and nutrition program? It really helped Kariya to put on some upper body bulk which strengthened his frame and his game--smaller guys are in big danger of getting concussions. Remember that hit Kariya took center ice, and how everyone held their breath watching him lie there until we saw his face mask fog up? Phew!

These smaller players have to be really careful in the rough and tumble world of hockey. That said, it would be great to have Sexton back, fans love him. Although it is kinda nutty hearing grown men refer to him as "Big Sexy" and cheer him on by screaming, "Go Sex, go!"--Anne Valdespino

The build-up to the US vs. Canada game was gargantuan and so was the disappointment. Headlines from the local papers were brutal. “O No Canada,” “We Dress Up, We Scream, We Lose,” from the Vancouver Sun and “Damn Yankees,” “Lost Weekend,” from the Province. Both papers were particularly hard on Martin Brodeur with analysis of the game referencing decades old playing techniques and stars; that’s to be expected in a nation that lives and breathes hockey. Brodeur got hammered for winging a shot out and keeping the puck in play, only to have it intercepted and returned to the net by Rafalski. He also got caught “doing the old paddy stacker like it was 1970 and he was Gump Worsley,” wrote Tony Gallagher, a reference to a creaky old technique, now dead with the advent of the butterfly style.

Even worse, Brodeur would not admit guilt, his quotes showed a man in denial, and so the press was reverential in its criticism but between the lines sports columnists have begun to whisper “has-been” about both him and Scott Niedermayer. And they’re not the only ones. Crosby was faulted for underperforming and being second-guessed as to whether he can be a star without Malkin backing him up.

 Poor Thornton--we've hated him ever since the last playoffs when he taunted Getzy at an opening face-off and got punched in return--has been dubbed “No-Show Joe.” Thanks, Joe. Because no one noticed one of our guys was having a crappy game, too. Corey Perry had a head-on collision with two of his own teammates and the Americanos' winning goal was a puck stolen from Perry on a breakaway.

Sad, sad. But what do we expect? The Olympics is a brutal contest. It’s all about who is hot at the moment and who is not. Remember a teenaged Sarah Hughes stealing the gold from So Cal sweetheart Michelle Kwan in 2002? It happens all the time, and so we’re all left wondering. Should Babcock have played Canucks star Roberto Luongo who pitched a shutout against Norway? Could be. The US stuck to basics and walked away with a win. Again it has us all thinking about the genius of Brian Burke, our former Anaheim GM, who handpicked the American team. No elder statesmen super stars were chosen, simply solid players with a median age of 26. They played as a unit and stuck to basics while Canada’s dream team passed to one other, deferred to each other and waited too late to grind out a win.

Goalie Ryan Miller performed heroically and in later interviews deflected attention from himself and back to Brodeur’s stellar record. Resumes can’t play games. It simply shows how tough the game is on older players. Hiller vs. Giguere. Brodeur vs. Luongo. For the record, Luongo said he’s not here for Roberto Luongo, he’s here for Team Canada and will live with whatever decision Babcock makes. Last night it was announced that Bobbie Lou, as they call him in Vancouver, will start.

So the frenzy continues as the authorities close liquor stores early in Vancouver, concerned there will be incidents. Meanwhile, the press smells blood in the water and continues to rachet up the drama: Team Canada will have to win all four of their next games to get a gold medal. In the meantime it’s all about the young Americans: Bobby Ryan, Rafalski, Ryan Miller and our own, Ducks player Ryan Whitney who said in a "diary" published in the Register, that it’s so special to beat the Canadians on their own soil.

Have a blast, Ryan. Because as you youngsters become veterans you'll never be picked by Burke again who will probably choose players much younger when the time comes. It’s the “Miracle on Ice” all over again. Youth, conditioning, and forming a team from scratch that peaks at just the right time seems to be his philosophy. And maybe he's right. Politics and diva turns didn’t get the job done for Team Canada on Sunday. Now they've got to play Germany today and Russia tommorrow.--Anne Valdespino

Hockey fans we talked to in a pub said they had seen Sid Crosby tooling around town, just hanging out. We were instantly jealous because we hadn't seen anyone even remotely famous. Then we went to Yaletown to pick up tix and while we were there stopped in a shop selling souvenir pins. We began chatting up a sweet, silver-haired Canadian lady. Naturally we asked where she was from. "Cranbrook," she said. "Oh," I said. "That's Scotty Neidermayer's hometown." "That's right," she said. "I'm his mother." The reporter in me started freaking out. She was so soft-spoken and low-key that for a second I thought I was hallucinating, "Excuse me -- WHAT did you just say?"

She repeated that she was indeed his mum. "And that's his wife right there." Now I was really hyperventilating. "Oh my GAWD! Lisa's here, too?" A blonde with shoulder-length hair and pretty blue eyes turned to face me and said hello before going back to shopping for pins. For the next 10 minutes I made a complete jackass of myself telling Carol, not sure if that's the right spelling of her name, things she already knew. "He's the greatest defenseman in the league, everyone in Anaheim loves him, Corey Perry says he's the only guy for  the job of captain of Team Canada, bleh, bleh, bleh. She was very polite and simply said of her son's enormous talent, "He is blessed."

We talked about her grandsons. All of them, except the youngest, play hockey. They were in the park with their dad; he got a couple of days to spend with family before he had to go back to the Olympic Village to stay with the team and focus on the game. I asked how his brother Rob liked New Jersey. She said they didn't know until the last minute he was going there because he had been making plans to play in Russia. She said she had been worried about him taking his family there, then backtracked a little saying she didn't mean to say it was unsafe. But I know what she meant: she wanted her family to stay closer to their hometown. She's a lot like her son, very diplomatic.

When Lisa was done shopping, my brother gave her a pin in the shape of Texas with a Lone Star flag symbol on it. She graciously thanked him and said her kids would like it. Nice, nice people. Needless to say, I was on a cloud all day. Almost got hit by a car on Granville Island, could barely taste my Roger's chocolates maple cream with nuts, my favorite, and only started to calm down at tea time when I had a cup of incredible malty, tippy Assam at the Granville market. We sat for an hour and a half with a British friend of my sister-in-law's and gossiped about the royal family. I finally calmed down enough to enjoy dinner and the game. But I have to say, between that and the Finnish victory I found it very hard to get to sleep last night. Scotty Niedermayer's mum. Wow!--Anne Valdespino

We got lucky again and snagged tickets for the Germany vs. Finland game. So far, my team, Finland of course, is undefeated. So I bought a flag to take to the game. A tall-as-an-oak Finn pointed to it and asked in a deep voice with what was likely one of the only English words he knew, "Why?" I said, "Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu." This guy didn't seem to speak much English but his friend did. We told them we felt awkward because we knew not one word of their mysterious language. What should we shout when we score? "Hyva Suomi," they said. That means "Go Finland!" Of course I was worried that it actually meant, "Hey, I'm an American moron who doesn't speak one word of Finnish, the most beautiful language in the world." Luckily I saw other fans carrying signs and  flags with the same words. Phew!

Another sign I saw was carried by a skinny dude in a Montreal Canadians jersey: "We miss our captain, Saku Koivu!" I yelled at him, "Well you can't have him back!" My husband Paul pushed me back into my seat before I could start an international incident. The game was about to begin and we settled in while the team roster was announced. Then I yelled again when they put Koivu and Selanne's names and numbers on the jumbotron, "Gooooooo Ducks!!!"

Germany never scored. Our goalie, Backstrom, was phenomenal. The score didn't really reflect how good the German team was. They were pretty tough, checked hard, took a bunch of penalties, but just couldn't get past Backstrom. Selanne had a special moment when they announced that he had just achieved an Olympic record for most points. Very cool.

The Finnish fans were going wild. They wore blue and white wigs, carried huge signs and painted their faces with all kinds of crazy team designs. They were chanting incomprehensible cheers. Afterwards they exited the stadium shouting, "Suo-MI!, Suo-MI!" So whenever you see Finnish fans, just start it going and they will pick it up. It was so much fun I did it the rest of the night as we tooled around looking for a pub without a huge lineup. Never found one, so we grabbed some Tim Horton's donuts for this morning's breakfast and went home to drink Okanagan wine and celebrate our victory: 5-0. Suo-MI! Suo-MI!--Anne Valdespino

Picked up my brother and his wife who flew in from San Antonio, Texas yesterday. Did some sight-seeing and went to dinner before the Neil Young tribute show--don't buy tix for that turkey if you're here. By the time we had to get downtown for dinner the Canada/Switzerland game was in full swing. Boy was I stressing in the car where I couldn't get a radio  station. We turned on the TV at home (my brother-in-law's house) where we couldn't find an English language station with the game. Oh well, hockey is an international language. We watched in what I thought was Quebecker French. Later I found out it was Metais, that's a mix of French and a First Nations (Native American) language.

Here's what I saw. The Swiss had really picked up their game. Did Hiller school them on all his teammates? According to
Agence France Press, Getzy said HIller's heroics in net confounded the Canadians. Getzy could not get by him in the shootout but Sid the Kid did, Babcock used the international rules and let Sid go twice. Final score was 3-2. We watched the shootout in the bar at Goldfish in Yaletown where we were having dinner. The crowd screamed for every shot and food and drink service stopped completely as waiters, busboys, hostess and all gathered around to see Canada win. "Sid Ends Our Fright Night with Blood, Guts, and Goal" was the headline in the Vancouver Sun, a pic of a  blonde in fan gear held a  sign, "Sidney, Can I Hold Your Stick?" Hoo boy!

My sisters-in-law were calling to make sure I knew the score. We discussed. Are we having goalie issues? Brodeur might not have been as strong as Roberto Luongo, Bobby Lou, as they call him here. We'll see who starts next time. That night after the lame-o Neil Young concert the streets were still full and Canadians were hootin, hollerin and hangin out. At the subway stop we saw a sax player blowing the national anthem with a crowd of rowdies singing at the top of their lungs.

The top ticket for the US/Canada game is out of reach and only available at auction, scalper or fan-to-fan. Last quote from a ticket broker was $1,500 a ticket for the upper tier. Wow. We did manage to get tickets for Finland/Germany tonight, $140 a ticket for lower level. Can't wait because the Finland vs. Belarus game was wonderful. Two teams, two equally incomprehensible languages but it was fantastic to see Selanne and Koivu. Saku is the team captain and he had a great game. Selanne seemed a slow starter but I think he'll be warmed up today. He's so graceful on the ice he sometimes seems to be standing still but he's reading the game and making moves all the time. It's going to be great to cheer him on again. When they read the roster and come to his name we're going to scream: "Goooooooooo Ducks!!!"--Anne Valdespino

Rushed down to Robson Square, renamed GE Plaza for the Olympics, to get our tix for tomorrow's game and on our way passed the Vogue Theater on Granville. It had been converted into a giant media room where they were charging $27 to watch hockey projected on a movie screen. What a great idea! Switzerland and Team U.S.A. had just started a game. I wanted to sit down immediately but we really needed to get those tix. A guy at the entrance gave us free passes and told us to come back; it was pretty empty so I guess he was trying to drum up business. We promised to come back later.

The line at Robson Square snaked around a couple times. This would take a while, so my husband, sensing my antsiness to get back to the game, suggested I watch the show while he waited. Folks had gathered by a makeshift ice rink to see a performance. Corny kid stuff with the Olympics mascots, a cuddly Sasquatch and an orca/sea bear creature that both look like San Rio characters. After about 20 minutes of that nonsense, the mascots were now playing a hockey game. I ran back to the Vogue to watch the real thing.

Dang! I missed Bobby Ryan's score for Team USA! But the last couple periods were interesting, Hiller looked more confident than I have ever seen him playing for Switzerland, swinging way out of goal to handle the puck and gloving everything in sight. Team USA won 3-1. We left for lunch and by then  Robson Street, which had been closed to traffic, was crowded with flag wavers, fans with painted faces, international tourists, street performers, students, cops on the beat and official Olympics volunteers offering directions and information to anyone who looked lost.

We needed lunch and ducked into an Irish pub bursting to the seams with revelers, it felt like St. Paddy's Day with a live band, complete with fiddler, downstairs. Upstairs there were waitresses carrying trays of pub grub and pints of ale. Everyone watched a Canadian win the women's snowboarding event and went wild, excited about adding to the gold medal tally.

We took a break and walked down to see the torch, or Wayne Gretzky's barbecue as we now call it. We had just enough time to get back to the Vogue for the game. What a scene. By now the theater was completely full and they were doing a great business selling cold Bud--I think the red bottle made it extra attractive. Any Canadian not wearing red this week is probably in danger of being a suspected terrorist.

At first the Norwegians looked formidable. They were pretty physical and seemed to have some great chemistry, but after the first 20 minutes the Canadian dream team started clicking. We--there are three Ducks players on Team Canada--outshot and outskated them. It makes you realize what a team sport hockey is -- when every guy  makes his best effort all players shine. Corey Perry spinning around like a figure skater to hit a shot on goal. Getzlaf stuffing in a goal by taking a blind shot behind him. Iginla's hat trick. So much was made over Sid Crosby but he wasn't the star of the game, such was the depth of talent. More than that, every player was pushing, and the speed of the game was phenomenal from start to finish. Final score was 8-0,  a well deserved shut-out for Roberto Luongo, with the hometown crowd screaming, "Lou!!" every time he made a save.

After dinner we popped into a tiny coffee bar at our subway stop and checked in on another game. A lackluster Team Russia was leading Latvia about 3-1. Totally different feel. Russia wasn't pushing because they didn't really have to and Latvia was giving up. You had to hand it to the Norwegians for showing a tremendous amount of heart. They played full out the entire game and never looked like they were folding. That's the kind of game you want to see and that's the tone Team Canada has set. With the whole town watching every game and a national push to "own the podium" I will be very surprised if there is no gold medal this year.--Anne Valdespino

Just arrived yesterday in Vancouver. We always fly into Seattle and drive across the border--saves on that Vancouver airport tax and all the time in Customs. The wait was the shortest ever, no line! We zipped across at Blaine and immediately tuned the radio to anything about the Olympics. Bob Nicholson,Hockey Canada CEO & President, was on chatting about the top news stories. "Everyone was worried about Ryan Getzlaf and that darned ankle!" he said. But Getzy was cleared to play yesterday after a great showing in the Edmonton game--two goals, two assists. It's awesome that someone who is rarely recognized in Orange County makes the national news in Canada, top of the CBC Web site with a huge picture.

The other big topic was how well the Canadian women's team was playing. They beat Slovakia 18 to 0. The talk was all about whether or not there should be a mercy rule. Nicholson said there shouldn't. That the Canadian team should play full out and show what they can do every game, Canadians expect no less. He said the crowd was cheering like crazy for Canada and that after the game they gave a huge ovation to the Slovakian team, "They were crying. It was really special!" I know he meant it to be warm and fuzzy but you'd cry too if someone had just kicked your little Eastern European butts in front of the whole world!!

Nicholson then invited everyone to come to Molson House, a place to watch on TV if you don't have tix. it's basically a tent with a huge Maple Leaf-shaped entrance and hockey videos projected on the front. You get all your food free--by Wolfgang Puck's company if you care about that kinda thing--and you can get in and out privileges. But it's $99! Yes. Tickets are scarce for that experience and the games. Warning if you're coming without tix: go online and you'll find out you must be a Canadian resident to buy them, even for the cultural events. Otherwise you have to buy fan-to-fan or by auction for the most coveted games. Those prices go from $900 to $3,000 and more for the best games. Wow!

We feel very, very lucky that our friends jumped on line and got us tickets. We're going to see the Neil Young tribute and we will see Belarus play Team Finland!! Yes. Get jealous because we're seeing Teemu Selanne in his last Olympics appearance along with the Koivu brothers: Saku and Mikko. Can't wait!--Anne Valdespino

In just a couple days we'll be in Vancouver and we've begun gearing up by watching the opening ceremonies. A great show and all—except that I would have loved a rock 'n' roll ending starring Neil Young and Bruce Cockburn—but I was plenty annoyed by the TV commentators who obviously know nothing about hockey. They kept saying that Sid Crosby would "lead" Team Canada. Uh. Wrong! That would be our own Scotty Niedermayer who will be the captain of the dream team. Pears said it best in today's Register, "He's the obvious choice," Corey Perry said. "I'm not putting anybody else down on the team. There's a lot of great leaders. He's just a step above everybody else. He's pretty special to be around." Right on! The Ducks are on the road in Canada and our Olympians (Ducks will skate for Canada, the U.S., Finland, and Switzerland)  will head to Vancouver after we play in Alberta.

GETZY WATCH: In Canada it's national news. He skated Friday and he wants to play tonight or Sunday. It's all about staying healthy and not getting cut. Same with Selanne who is looking forward to joining Team Finland and staying out of harm's way. Also from today's Register: "It's not even funny anymore," he said of his back-to-back injuries.

GRETZKY WATCH: Practically sacked from his last job, #99 is still No. 1 in hockey fans' hearts. Everyone predicted he would light the torch and we were right. He was shuttled through the streets of Vancouver in a big white SUV that might as well have been the Popemobile. Spectators were over the top excited to see him, running alongside the car, smiling and waving—in the pouring rain! Oh yeah, we can't wait to be in the world capital of ice hockey.—Anne Valdespino

That's right. We've schemed to get to Vancouver, where I have family and friends and therefore a free place to stay. But we have not a single ticket. So wish us luck, Ducks fans! I keep telling Rose that even if we don't get a ticket to see any men's hockey games--we would take one for any of the teams our guys are one so that's a lotta choice right there!--it is always fun to watch hockey in Canada. You hole up in a pub with tons of other fans who are sure to be watching hockey and not the Lakers, and there is always plenty of great beer. For sure we're gonna have fun, eh?--Anne Valdespino

A couple nights ago it was like someone had died. I  understand everyone mourning the loss of Giguere. All the sports writers on the Duck Calls radio show commented on what a gentleman he was, especially to the media. Believe it. Although I was an entertainment reporter for 15 years for the Register and the Times, and interviewed celebs from Salma Hayek and Halle Berry to Kevin Smith and a lotta has-beens, I had never talked to any athletes on ice except for Michelle Kwan. So, as a hockey writer I am pretty much a nobody. But the few times I did get to speak to Giguere he was very gracious anyway. So I know everything they said about him was true.

Still, let's not forget this is Hiller's time. He's more than earned it. Did you see the way he played against Detroit tonight? One goal he let it. One lousy goal. And at times they were peppering him. I'm so glad that pressure of 'win and you're in' has been lifted from both these guys. Did anyone notice that both Hiller and Giguere pitched shut-outs the second that was over? Good luck to both of them, and I think the fans are ready to move on judging from the incredible cheers Hiller got tonight.

The best part was seeing Hiller look so happy after the game. He was exhausted, but not too tired to remember to thank the fans. His teammates were grateful too. That famous Getzy grin, delivered with a wee sideways cock of the head said, "You're the man!" to Hiller as he made his way to the locker room. Sometimes it's the little  things that speak volumes. Getzy's gesture showed that one more piece has snapped into place for us. Now let's kick ass against the Kings tomorrow night.—Anne Valdespino

Ducks fans (including myself, big time) are mourning our loss in many different ways. We're looking to the Register  for local commentary, we're scanning tweets for...well...Web sites where we can e-cry with each other I suppose, we're sending Jiggy messages ...in short, we're acting like a family member has died.

To a certain extent, that's not far off. Our franchise goalie who took us to a Stanley Cup win--and just four short years before won the Conn Smythe despite losing our grip on hockey's Holy Grail--is packing his bags and moving 2,500 miles and a conference away. At least, as is the case when a loved one leaves, we'll always have our memories. Which include these games , and this heart-wrenching photo  from the night we won the Cup.

—Rose

Top photo by Gregory Shamus / Getty Images; bottom by Mike Blake / Reuters.

It's not fun for J.S. Giguere with the news today that Hiller has signed a 4-year, probably $18 million contract with Anaheim. But at least the grueling "win and you're in" game is over. What a relief for both guys.

Check out the story by John Manasso on Jonas Hiller at nhl.com. It gives an interesting perspective on the relationship between the two guys:

Jiggy on Hiller: "He's a great kid. People always think we're in a competition, but I don't believe in that. He's a teammate and I want him to be successful. when I play, I don't compete against him, I compete against the puck."

Hillsy on Giguere: "Even though he doesn't play and I know he's not happy with the situation...even through all of the circumstances, he's a great guy, he's not  mad at me or anything. He tries to help me and that makes it easier, and I'm definitely very thankful for his help and having him around."

Maybe now we can move forward with a little less anxiety and a lot more energy. Jiggy fans know he's not done yet with the net. It's hard to lose him, which I'm sure we will, but maybe being first in goal on another team will be the tonic he needs to be the amazing goalie he was in 2007. It will certainly be hard for our guys to face him as an opponent. When he's on, he's a force of nature: yelling encouragement to his teammates, playing way out of net to keep the puck in play, and forcefully challenging guys in one-on-one situations. Those of us who love his style wish him all the luck in the world.—Anne Valdespino

  

 He's wearing shades, and he slips into the restaurant so quickly we don't get a good look at his face. We're checking in at the hostess stand. Geez! Why is this taking so long? By the time we get our table, he's already zipped out onto the patio. Dang!

It's a lovely brunch, though. Eggs Benedict, "cooked to the perfect tremble," as restaurant writer Gretchen Kurz promised in her review, California sparkling wine, fresh orange juice, and hot coffee. My husband and my friend chatter on. I can barely concentrate on what they're saying. All I want to do is find some excuse to stroll out to the patio and see if it's really him.

The pace of the meal seems glacial. Finally everyone's finished eating. We pay the check. I'm still in a daze and sooo not listening to what anyone is saying. All I'm thinking is: It's him. It's not him. Is it really him? We get up to leave and on the way out my ever schmoozy husband begins an extended conversation with our friendly waiter. I'm looking toward the patio. I see the guy I think is Wisniewski. Oh no! He's getting away. Now I'm in a full-blown panic, thinking, "Oh shoot! Now I'll NEVER know." I feebly pull my coat on. We get our car and say goodbye to our friend.

Hubster finally notices my extreme anxiety. "Honey, what's wrong?" I look at him and can't believe he's having a jolly time when I'm so disappointed. "You took forever talking to the waiter and it really ticked me off. Couldn't you see I was trying to get out there and find out if it was really Wizzy? Now I'll never know."

My husband gives me one of those you're-cute-when-you're-mad looks that are so marriage-endangering, then laughs. "Well of course it was him. The waiter said so. He was there with his fiance and their wedding planner."

Holy flaming guacamole! Not only did I really see him, I was there during an important moment in his life. Wow! Totally special! Except that...he doesn't even know I exist. Which is OK. I just wanted to know for sure it was Wiz. Now I can die happy.

Remember the fun we had at Ra Sushi in September when players competed to create rolls? Wisniewski's roll was chosen and remained on the menu for a month at four Ra locations in So Cal, with part of the proceeds going to Anaheim Ducks Foundation charities. Did fans bite? Oh yeah. The final tally was $1,700. Big score, Wizzy! If you ordered the roll you know it was pretty tasty and addictive. I had it myself on a return trip to Tustin and at Ra in Huntington Beach.—Anne Valdespino

Not just a loss to the Kings but a shutout, and the frustration turned Staples Center into a gladiator ring: Perry, Getzy, Brookbank. Worst of all, Bobby Ryan going postal with seven seconds left and getting called for charging. We wuz on our BADDEST BEHAVIOR!! It's like when mom sends you to your room for not doing your homework, you snap, and create your own nasty little crayola mural on the walls.

Let's recap some awful moments, now frozen in time:

1. The color commentators, who always try to make the most of the "crosstown rivalry," actually shocked and not  knowing what to say when it got real—and it was UGLY.

2. The look on Hiller's face after he got pulled and throughout the rest of the game. If you could read his thought bubble it cried, "Muti!" (Mommy!")

3. The look Scotty gave Giguere after getting hit in the shins by a puck he cleared.

4. Brookbank and that Simmonds kid going at it. What a tough customer Simmonds is. Can we please acquire him in a trade? And bring Pronger back while you're at it.

5. Corey Perry hitting the locker  room with a 10-minute misconduct that ended his evening. Dude! Stop fighting. It's not your thing and we need you on the ice, not in the shower.

6. Randy Carlyle losing it after the fourth goal was reviewed, not in our favor. You don't have to be an expert lip reader to know he had some choice words for the refs, most beginning with the letter "F."

7. Those mean musical stings, like the fat lady singing near the end and the "na-na-na" song. When they were taunting Hiller, the organist even played along. Not nice!

Yeah, Teemu's out and it's a bummer. Yeah, it's not fair that we're playing more of the games against the Kings on their home ice. But we can't continue to get all emo. Did anyone realize that Koivu left late in the second with a "lower body" injury? There are bigger things going on here and we gotta focus. That goes for fans, too. We need to be getting on the freeway and supporting our team.

Something happens when you cross the county line. You're going to the big, bad city and there's a tendency to get tougher wherever you go and whatever you do. We need to fight that feeling when it comes to playing dirty because it only works against us. Oh well. This terrible night will make the next time we beat them all the sweeter.—Anne Valdespino

Because Teemu Selanne is having surgery again, this time to repair a fractured jaw. In case you weren't watching the game last night, an unlucky bounce hit the ice and went up into his face. He lay there briefly in pain and then was helped off, bleeding. Scary, scary. Now it will be weeks before he is back. The only upside is that if there was any doubt that he came back too early after his hand injury, now that has extra time to continue healing. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and of course he's lucky to have his family by his side and his best buddy Saku Koivu. No stranger to hospitals, Koivu earned the name Captain Courageous when he battled cancer during his tenure in Montreal.

In other downer news, Eric Stephens of the Register interviewed Scotty about the possibility of a trade. The Cap'n was his usual noncommittal self. What use is it quoting him on anything? He gives nothing away. But it was kinda funny when he got into that whole bridge metaphor. Reminiscent of Gretzky's, "When you're Wayne Gretzky you gotta take the heat with the roses," mixed metaphor quote. Just what we need. Hot roses.

Stay tuned for another back-to-back tonight. We're on a roll, especially Hiller. Notice the attention he's getting from his teammates. He got that Getzy grin and a wink last night, and after the Chicago game Koivu skated up to Hiller, held his mask and spoke to him for what seemed like 15 seconds. In these tough times of injury and scratching our way up from the bottom, a goalie on a hot streak is your MVP every night. Let's go Ducks! We can beat the Kings if everybody continues to step up. Do it for Teemu.—Anne Valdespino

We won! We won! But it was a crazy game filled with rare sights and stunts: Corey Perry fighting, Scott Niedermayer serving a double penalty of four minutes, Bobby Ryan doing the jump-and-bump against the glass. There were spectacular star turns like Koivu's assist leading to a graceful shot by Bobby Ryan and Hiller's many miraculous saves.

But it was nail-biting too because the Blues were desperate to win and ready for a scrap. What's Perry thinking taking on some big guy who's only going to knock him down? Yeah you're an edgy player, Pears, but don't go Getzy on us. Getz is no Pronger, but at least he's big enough to take on Joe Thornton. Lean-and-mean Perry will just get knocked over at the first punch. Don't take the bait, Corey, we need you in front of the net. You're above it, you're a finesse guy.

I was also concerned for the Cap'n who has been looking a little stressed out lately. I wouldn't say he's off his game but he fell uncharacteristically for a guy who is always rock-solid on his skates—was it a couple times?—and getting caught for penalties means maybe he's tired and a little slower than usual or his mind is on a million other things. So let's hope he gets a few days off before he goes on the road. You gotta love the way the Cap'n looks embarrassed as a naughty school kid when he goes into the penalty box. He must be the only man in the league you can count on not to do that look-behind-him, who-me?, followed by outrage, cussin,' and snarlin' when a ref points his way.

Supporting players were fantastic, like Wizzie and Beleskey getting goals. Kinda mean of the TV commentators to ask Bellsy what happens when Selanne gets back, but, hey, that's their job. And speaking of that's his job....how about Marchant's empty netter? He really outmuscled a couple players to take that long shot and it's getting to be such a habit that we're starting to expect it. Still, it's a thrill every time it happens. Goooooo, Toddy!—Anne Valdespino

It always feels good to win but even better when we beat Detroit. Saku Koivu really set the tone with his short-handed goal and the Getzy-Perry magic was back with number 15 recovered from his injury. Hiller almost got a shut-out, making so many great stops, robbing his opponents left and right.

Will we fight our way back from the bottom to a spot in the playoffs? Who knows? But our hopes rise every time we win.—Anne Valdespino

Did you read Eric Stephens in the Register today? Are you blinking back tears? His assessment of our dismal midseason situation can't be faulted, but it's hard to read. Eric is just doing his job discussing various scenarios. As for our biggest problem—a giant hole in our defense left by the absence of Pronger and Beauchemin—he points out that our biggest bargaining chip is Scott Niedermayer.

Last time we checked, the captain, who was also named captain over all the superstars that make up Team Canada, was our greatest defender. So how will it help to send him packing? Especially after our GM said he wanted Scotty to retire here. Friends, this is the last place you should look for analysis of the game. But from where I'm sitting it's a combination of factors: injuries, losing our goalie coach, defense not clicking like it should, goalies made crazy and insecure because they have to hop in and out of the starting lineup.

Maybe it is time to do some rebuilding to get our defense where it should be. But can't we keep the part we know is working? Think about this while you watch the game tonight, which could be painful. And email me here with your ideas, thoughts and prayers.—Anne Valdespino

Four goals in eight minutes, what a gorgeous game ender! The Ducks we know and love made a huge comeback after a two-goal deficit and played their signature game: tough, skilled, relentless and utterly unpredictable. This is what we've been waiting to see all season with all the guys contributing and the big talents taking their star turns. It will be an awesome holiday gift if they win tonight, too.

Second most memorable moment: Getzy's outfit in the post-game interview. A pink ball cap, or was it a beanie? His number was monogramed on it, and he paired it with what looked like a Japanese kimono. Did he wear this before he played? Then he has to keep it in the locker room before every game from now on. Hey, whatever works! So wear it, pul-leeze, domo arigato, Getzy-san!

—AV

Walking out of the Honda Center on Sunday after a devastating shootout loss to the Senators, all I could think of was Teemu Selanne. I turned to my friend and said, “God, we could have used him in the shootout."

We got into the elevator and started backing up so that more people could join us. Who should appear but the Finnish Flash in the flesh, wearing a suede jacket that exquisitely matched his hair.

“Oh my God!” I blurted out. “It’s Teemu Selanne!”

Others took up the chant. I asked how his left hand was doing; he’d injured it in Thursday's game and will be out for at least four weeks. It was encased in a big, scary-looking white bandage. I added that he needed to get better, fast, because we could have used him in the shootout. He reassured me that he would have put the puck in the net.

By his side were two of his sons, adorable Mini Me’s who looked just like him.The younger one seemed amused by all the attention dad was getting. “Why does everyone say, ‘Teemu Selanne! Teemu Selanne’ all the time?” He sounded like a typical American kid—not a trace of his father’s accent.

I said, “It’s because everyone loves Teemu Selanne. Didn’t you hear on the radio the other night—they called him “the face of the franchise."

“French fries?” the boy asked.

“No,” his father said. “Franchise. It’s a funny word, isn’t it?”

And in a flash, the Finns were gone, leaving good will in their wake. Sure we lost. But that’s not what I’ll remember about tonight. I’ll only recall the glow of getting up close to one of the greatest players in the league. Personality is a big part of the game. I’ll talk about that in my next blog post about feel-good guys.—AV

 We meant to post exuberant ramblings about that huge three-game win streak last week, but Thanksgiving happened, Anne was gallivanting around up north, and comatose me had to be rolled around on a Costco flatbed cart after eating too much. So we dropped the puck on the last few games of November, but as always, new sh*# has come to light and I’ve got an opinion.

To say I was disappointed in last night’s loss is an understatement. After going through my morning routine reading blogs, news stories, and fan comments, it’s clear that I’m not the only one who’s looking to our current goalie situation as a huge—if not the biggest—issue standing between the club and a win. Even Giguere believes that in order for the Ducks to turn this season around (and again, we’re beyond the breaking in period), goaltending needs to whip into shape. Fast.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that, altogether, if the team wants to move forward, goaltending is going to have to be better,” Giguere told the Register  on Nov. 18 (two days after we fell to the Penguins 5-2 and a day before we emerged victorious from OT 4-3 vs. the Lightning). “Try to give the team a chance to win every night. We know that as a goalie tandem. We’re aware of it.”

One, or two, goalies can’t be blamed for an entire club losing … but Carlyle’s current “win and you’re in” strategy does not seem to be working. At all. Our record is inconsistent, our goalies are fairly cold when one or the other finally finds himself on the ice, and the rest of the team’s lines are changing so fast, I think everyone’s way too stressed out.

Randy, if you ever read this (as if we’re anywhere near his radar), please accept the fact that your No. 1 (ours, too!) is right under your nose. Jiggy’s back, roaring to play, and ready to lead us to the playoffs. There’s much to be said for his particular history, experience, proven track records, and loyalty to the club. So we lost against Phoenix, but at least it was in OT … and uh, from what I recall, our defense could’ve stepped it up to help him out.

Ah, the drama that is dealing with ice hockey goalies! We love our guys dearly, but only one can defend the net. And oh man, did I shiver when us fans cheered so loud we drowned out a smiling Giguere after our triumph over the Flames last week.

Even the players were feeling the magic: "It's great to see him [Giguere]," Ryan Getzlaf commented in the locker room after beating the Hawks. "Our goaltending has been outstanding here in the last little bit." Nick Boynton said simply, "It's been clicking."

Check out what others are saying about our netminder conundrum:

Sure we lost. But did anyone notice that we almost won? The only way we could do this without Wisniewski was that other guys quietly stepped up, shutting down Crosby, who never scored—although he’s a pretty good goalie—and creating opportunities for Corey Perry and Saku Koivu to get to the net. The backbone of the team, these supporting players are virtually invisible because they work in the shadow of the greatest defenseman in the league: Scott Niedermayer. (Bow head in reverence after this mention of the holy one’s name.) OK, so, let’s give credit to his helpers. A few weeks ago I introduced you to Nick Boynton, now meet Steve Eminger.

Steve Eminger 6’1”/202. Defenseman.

Number: 7

Age: 26

Birthday and place: Oct. 31  (How fun is that?), Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada

First impressions: slightly long hair and a lean, hungry look. Kinda like young Willem Dafoe without the crazy energy. I think it’s cool that he really likes Orange County, “I love the beautiful weather and the people are so laid back,” he said. “I live in Newport and I step outside my door and I’m right on the beach.”

Food and Wine: Likes everything from sushi to steak. Red wines, especially cabernet; Sycamore Lane from Napa is a favorite. (Cheap date. It’s only $8.50 a bottle!)

Music: Listens to hip-hop, techno and country singer Kenny Chesney.

—AV

Finally! Lupul has a second post on his blog, "In the Loops." Check it out for a little taste of what it's like to be him. On the plane with the rest of the team following their Halloween night OT loss to Phoenix. Watching as Teemu Selanne boards wearing a George Bush mask. He also reveals his fave cheese: gouda. I gouda use a little more detail! Smoked? Aged? Come on! Food is way too important to drop the ball on descriptions. Anyway, this may be Lupul's actual voice...I had my doubts, so we'll see how future posts turn out.

 Defenseman Luca Sbisa has been sent back to the minors. I was sad to see him go especially after speaking to him at the Meet The Team event. He might not be in the mix right now but he is a talent; teammates say his conditioning tests were off the charts. Of course hockey is a big boy’s game and these are the kinds of trials that build character. Hopefully it will only get him working harder because you know he wants to come back. He loved scoring his first goal in the NHL and he was stoked to be a Duck. “It’s unbelievable. It’s been hockey, hockey, hockey—a great month,” he said a few weeks ago. “It’s a great opportunity to learn from one of the best (Scott Niedermeyer). I’m always asking questions and getting him annoyed.”

Sbisa has a great attitude and he is an elegant young man.Teemu Selanne remains the most beautiful Euro dude on the team, with angelic Jonas Hiller coming in a close second, but Sbisa has a sleek build, dark hair, dimples and a gentlemanly charm that belies his 19 years. Born in Sardinia, his family moved to Switzerland when he was only a year old. He speaks Italian and French but German is his first language.

His English is great, too, and he seems to like life in the US; his taste in music leans toward rock bands like Coldplay and Phoenix. And his palate couldn’t be more American. “I love meat, steaks, good barbecue, filet mignon,” he said. He also likes to drink merlot. So next time you have a glass of merlot, or any red wine, think of Sbisa. Toast him, thank him for his brief contribution to the team, and wish him well, especially if you’d like to see him back at the Honda Center.

—AV

 Today we find out that Artyukhin has been suspended forthree games. From my couch that looked like a clean hit, so chalk it up to somefancy whining by those Texas crybabies. It wasn’t enough for Dallas to win theyhad to hurt us for the next three games.

OK. So last night was rough on the whole team but a uniquedeezaster for Teemu Selanne and friends. Imagine your lifelong hockey idol (Jari Kurri) comes to scout you forthe Olympics and your team loses. Not a good night for our boys from Finlandiawho have actually been a bright spot among all the losses.

Nokelainen hasn’t contributed a lot but he has stayed outtatrouble for the most part and we appreciate keeping the penalty minutes low.But the real story is the bromance between Selanne and Koivu. It has ignitedSelanne who has been scoring more than Getzlaf lately.

Watch the interviews with Teemu. Whenever he speaks aboutSaku he’s got that barely contained smile of a guy in love. Don’t get me wrong.There is nothing physical there—not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’ssimply great to see him come alive again.

It reminds me of the old days when he and Kariya firststarted clicking. Koivu and Kariya are both finesse players and not too big.They are both fantastic around the net getting Selanne all kinds of assists andthen staying out of his way so he can score. Teemu almost got that backhanderlast night, in his younger days he never would have missed it. Anyway, it’sjust amazing to see Selanne moving lightning fast again and playing a starringrole. If we make it to the playoffs you can bet he will be on fire again.

Memo to concession stands at the Ponda: How about half priceshots of Finlandia vodka every time Selanne, Koivu or Nokelainen score? Woohoo!

—AV

It’s a question people often ask of me, especially in September/October, when all I can do is talk about the club and any changes that took place in the offseason: Why do you like hockey so much? Usually, it’s accompanied by some astute observation about my gender. People are just so sharp.

Well, it’s fast-paced, you get a twofer (hockey and boxing), the dynamics of a team are unlike those in any other sport, it’s kind of a cold-weather thing (I can get behind anything that ushers in the start of fall/winter), the players are truly some of the nicest, most down-to-earth individuals in professional sports, and my god, have you been ice skating?

And yet, there’s something indescribable about being a hockey fan, a thrill that I’m sure fans of other sports experience. I try to explain it, but generally, I’m met with a blank stare, followed by something like, “It’s just a sport though. The athletes don’t care about you that much.” They want to know why I put energy into talking and writing about a bunch of guys who, I’m sure, have absolutely no idea who I am. I see their point.

All I can figure is this: Humans are a social species. We need to interact with each other, experience life together, bond. And just as we’re each attracted to a certain “type” (mine happens to be tall, light-eyed, and muscular) in the romantic sense, I think many of us also have a “type” in the athletic sense. And you just go with it, knowing that without us—the fans—the players wouldn’t be able to do what they do and that, despite what anyone says, the guys are grateful for our support.

Coach Carlyle’s hoping for some relationships to solidify right about now among the Ducks, as they begin a four-game series tonight in Minnesota, airing on Prime Ticket. “I think the road can be a bonding experience. You’ll see the groups form. You’ll see five, six guys go to dinner. And another five or six will be [somewhere else]. … But it’s all results driven. If you have success, then it’s a great thing. That’s what we’re planning on doing. Going out and having some success on the road.”

Back home, the rest of us are looking forward to it.

—Rose

The energy and excitement in my house right now is palpable. Walk through the front door and you'll taste the anticipation--even my dog knows something fabulous is happening. She's pacing around, looking at us expectantly, probably wondering what on earth could be such a big deal.

Opening night, my hockey-loving friends, opening night. In less than 24 hours, Anne, our families, and I will be at Honda Center, struggling to get a glimpse of the Ducks as they walk down the red carpet, smiling at their loyal fans, giving out autographs. We'll partake in the fun Hot Spot activities until perhaps about 6:30 or so, when we'll head into the building and down to ice level, where we'll watch our guys warm up.

Also on the ice will be our opponents: the San Jose Sharks. As pumped as we are, we're not stupid enough to dismiss the guys up the coast. They're coming off what must be a stinging 5-2 loss to the Avs, and they're probably still angry about not getting past the first round of playoffs last season, so they'll work hard. The difference between the two clubs, however, is heart.

I know, I know, we've all heard it before, but it's true: In addition to skill and defense, a team needs heart to win. And if the twinkles I saw in the guys' eyes at Meet the Team on Wednesday night are any indication, they haven't lost the passion that took them to the final seconds of that last game against the Red Wings back in May.

They're ready to go, they each said. The exhibition games are over; now is the real deal. Coach Carlyle was in a good mood, we only heard good things about new goalie coach Pete Peeters, and when asked about how great it'll feel to reach faceoff, the players broke into wide, electrified smiles.

Is it tomorrow yet?!

—Rose

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Breaking News: Scotty Niedermayer remains team captain, while Saku Koivu and Ryan Getzlaf are named alternate captains, for the 2009-10 season. Corey Perry will also serve as an alternate if necessary. “This was a difficult decision as we feel there are many leaders in our locker room,” coach Randy Carlyle says. “We expect leadership to come from many players beyond just these four.”

We continue our introduction to the new players today with Saku Koivu, former captain of the Montreal Canadiens and now a big factor on the Finnish line with his Team Finland pal Teemu Selanne, and Joffrey Lupul. He lives in Irvine with his wife and two kids: a daughter, 4, and a son, 3. Hmm … two of Selanne’s kids are already playing hockey. Could we see another Selanne-Koivu line in 20 years? We hope so, especially if they play for the Ducks.


Saku Koivu  5’10”/182. Center.
Number: 11
Age: 34
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
First Impressions: His picture on the Ducks Web site does not do him justice. Koivu has rugged good looks and deep blue eyes. If you go for Daniel Craig, he could be your type. He sparkles in person, giving off a real nice-guy vibe, and he’s a class act: He will not say a bad word about the way he was treated in Montreal. (If you’ve ever been a tourist there, you know what we’re talking about. The natives do not dig outsiders and blogosphere sez Koivu was given a hard time for not being a Francophone.) He simply says that people here in O.C. are “so friendly” and that, “I’m more excited about coming here than I have been about anything in a long, long time.” He also said he would “do anything for the team.” We like the attitude. Best friend so far is Teemu Selanne, of course. But we predict that with his upbeat style he will make a lot more buddies quickly.
Food and Wine: He likes reds, Italian wine (especially Tuscan Tignanellos), and Napa cabs. “If I had to pick a favorite it would probably be Caymus Special Select,” he said. Caymus makes one of the most elegant cabernets you can drink, soft and approachable, and it starts at $100 a bottle, depending on the vintage. So he’s got expensive tastes but it only goes so far--he said he won’t shell out for cult wines like Screaming Eagle or Harlan. He had a favorite wine purveyor in Montreal and is looking for a new one. We suggest Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa or Rolf’s Wine in Newport. Eclectic tastes in food. Of course he likes steak, which would pair with that Caymus, but Finns love fish as he told us at the Ra Sushi event on Monday. He also enjoys Indian and Thai food--“I like spicy but not too strong.”
Music: Soft rock, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Finnish rock.

The team captain, the newly acquired superstar from Montreal, and two one-year veterans stood side-by-side, all suited up and ready to compete—not on the ice but behind the sushi bar. Could we trust these guys—most from landlocked cities—with raw fish, knives, and hot sauce? Rose and I were there to find out on Monday night when Scott Niedermayer, Saku Koivu, James Wisniewski, and Mike Brown donned chef’s jackets at Ra Sushi at the District in Tustin for a culinary face-off. Each created his own recipe, with the help of the restaurant’s sushi chefs, while adoring fans stood in line to sample their wares. The event included a raffle to benefit the Ducks Foundation. 

I asked each of the guys what made his sushi special and got a chance to see their rolling techniques up close.

My report:

Right Winger Mike Brown cooked with confidence. He says he loves sushi and makes it at home. His roll, dubbed “Lucky 13,” had albacore, crab mix, shrimp, asparagus, and cucumber and was topped with mango salsa and roasted pine nuts. “Getting it tight is the hardest part,” he said. He seemed to have no trouble, but watching the chefs was helpful. “They put less ingredients in theirs and it rolls tighter.” He’s already got a sushi set at home but after rolling with the pros he said he’d like to get, “a real sharp knife and a rice cooker.”
First bite: A nice, light roll with a sweet topping, maybe too sweet.

Center Saku Koivu might not have the best rolling technique but he seemed like he was having the most fun. Wouldn’t you? (Knowing you wouldn’t have to face the Montreal winter again, which probably started in August.) His creation was called “When You’re Finnish, You’ll Want More Saku.” The combination of spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, and avocado was topped with sliced yellowfin tuna, salmon and spinach tempura flakes, and drizzled with eel sauce. Too much fish? Not for this Finn. “Sushi is getting more and more popular in Finland,” he said. “We eat a lot of fish—salmon and a lot more. If I knew the names of all of them I could tell you.” His favorite sushi joint in Orange County? He doesn’t have one yet: “I’ve only been here three weeks,” he explained. In Montreal he eats at Kaizen Sushi Bar.
First bite: This was the most flamboyant looking roll with a crunchy tempura shrimp tale sticking straight out of the top. It didn’t make a big impression; we were wading through so much crunch it was hard to get a handle on the flavors.

Defenseman James Wisniewski not only had the best-looking roll, it had the best name: “The Big Wisniewski.” Apparently he’s a natural. The Canton, Mich. native had never made sushi before but his spicy yellowtail, crab mix, jalapeño, cilantro dish was gorgeous, crowned with sliced yellowtail and slices of avocado. The toppings were all neatly aligned and he covered each roll carefully in plastic wrap before cutting perfect slices. He could even multitask, chatting and flashing a great smile while he rolled. His ingredients inspired him: “Wild, raw yellowtail— I love it,” he said. There aren’t any memorable sushi joints in his hometown so he goes to Japonais in Chicago.
First bite: Big bold Mexican flavors of jalapeño and cilantro made a huge impression and the creamy mouth-feel of the yellowtail and avocado wound around them created a synergy that carried all the way through a long finish.

Wisniewski’s technique seemed to fascinate Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, who stared as his teammate cut those textbook slices. We love the Cap’n, a genius on the ice, but in the kitchen it’s another story. There he was rolling a big fatty of soft shell crab, avocado, carrot, and cucumber, trying desperately to hold it together as he sliced. The whole thing began to pancake while he sawed away, bits of sticky rice dotting the backs of his big, hairy hands. There’s plenty of salmon in British Columbia but no sushi restaurants to speak of in his hometown of Cranbrook. Still, he might have had an advantage for other reasons. So we had to ask—they do roll a heck of a lot of loco weed in BC, don’t they? “Oh, I don’t know anything about that,” he said.

First bite: Lots of classy ingredients, but overall a bit bland. Just like most of the captain’s quotes to the media.

The winner? The Big Wisniewski walked away with the Fan’s Choice Award and the Judge’s prize. Scott Niedermayer just walked away with big grains of white rice still clinging to his brown shoes.

—AV

Aww shucks! Imagine our delight to find our blog mentioned on Kevin Roderick's LAObserved, a Web site that's catnip to writers and media watchers throughout the Southland. Check it out and find links to more blogs about the greatest sport in the world.

—AV

It would be fabulous if radio emerged from this cesspool of economic excrement better and more exciting than ever. Believe me, I want the medium to succeed—the company that owns Orange Coast pulls in 90 percent of its overall cash flow from the stations it owns in L.A., New York, Chicago, Texas, even Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. Radio must live!

But this is 2009, more than 80 years since the first television broadcast, and I was unable to watch the Ducks lose to Vancouver last night, thanks to poorly planned scheduling by the geographically challenged minds at Cox and everyone else that decides which teams will appear on TV.

If I were a Boston or Toronto fan, I could’ve watched their preseason game on Wednesday night. If I cared about game 4 of the Pittsburgh/Carolina playoffs, I could’ve absorbed that last night. However, I’m not and I don’t. Since the Ducks’ first preseason match-up (also Wednesday evening) and their second game (yesterday) both occurred on home ice, both should have been broadcast at least to local subscribers.

Be prepared to listen to—not watch—these preseason games.

Perhaps this is yet another example of the shaft that expansion teams experience. I don’t know. Whatever it is, it’s ridiculous. Radio broadcasts are perfectly fine and wonderful, in fact, when you can’t get out of having to be in the car during a game, but in the (very expensive) 21st century in which many of us pay for higher cable tiers in order to get the sports channels, we should have choices.

—Rose

First things first—our wonderful, amazing, tough-as-nails Ducks beat the Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout last night! Woo hoo! Exciting stinkin’ game, that was. Some thoughts: Bobby scored two goals and one in the shootout … he’s amazing. And Hiller displayed much of what we loved about him last season … that goalie spot is going to be a tough one between him and Giguere …

In case you haven’t picked up on this yet, Anne and I take our hockey very seriously, and pre-season quenches our thirst for the game while allowing us some opportunity to breathe (come Oct. 3, Rose will cease to inhale/exhale during games and Anne will walk around the office blurting out what’s wrong with opposing teams).

We’re so serious about it that we discuss, in great detail, Bobby Ryan’s form, Scotty Niedermayer’s still-graceful glide around the ice, and of course, Teemu Selanne’s bronzed hue. Anne and I have already dissected Lupul, Koivu, and Sbisa’s records, guesstimated the length of George Parros’ hair, and decided which weekday games are most important to attend. Very calculated. Very serious stuff.

So yesterday, when I got home to a Ducks mailer waiting for me, I was beside myself with excitement (clearly, the period between playoffs and pre-season is a long, grueling one). I ripped it open, totally excited to see the huge Ducks logo on the front and gasping at the lovely celebratory photo of Getzy, Ryan, and Perry on the inside. But my joy plummeted when I saw the ticket prices and remembered that I knew what they’d be—a few months ago, the club announced that pricing would remain the same as last season, but, well, not much has improved for a lot of people … suffice it to say, when I can make it to a game, I’ll be interested to see how full the house is. And maybe this year, when we enter the playoffs, game-day prices will go down if the Ponda’s not sold out. Better some money than none, am I right?

—Rose

P.S. Check out our Facebook fan page for updates on new blog posts. And let’s get some commenting started!

BLOGGERS' NOTE: The Anaheim Ducks face off against the Vancouver Canucks at 7:05 Thursday (Sept. 17) in a preseason game. We can't freaking wait!!!

When Rose and I found out the team was sending Jonas Hiller’s mask to the magazine for a photo shoot, we were downright giddy. Breathless. And the day it was to arrive I ran to her office without even putting down my briefcase. “Is it here?” “It’s in the studio.” “OH MY GAWWWWWD!!!”

It came in a black zipper case about the size of a bowling ball bag. And it was the real deal. Not a new mask but last season’s. The one he wore when all eyes in the league were on him, and all Ducks fans were praying he would pull us through a rough patch with Giguere and into the playoffs. Miraculously, he did, starting with a shutout debut, the first NHL player to do so since 2004.

This was it. I started to unzip the bag and my first thought was its possible aroma. “Does it smell?” I asked Justin, our assistant art director and the photographer assigned to shoot the sacred object. “Yeah. Smells like hockey equipment.”

I’ve never been in a locker room but I have 6 brothers. With the bag completely unzipped, I recognized the scent as dirty football equipment. Sports gear was always left lying around our house when I was growing up; my brothers came home exhausted from practice and dropped their stuff wherever before plopping on the couch. I never thought of it as a particularly bad smell, just a guy smell. Rose insisted it stank and I found myself defending the alleged stench. “Hey, when men work hard, they sweat. OK?” 

She said nothing. Just gave me that blank stare. But I could hear her thoughts, which were simultaneously saying, “Gross.” And “You’re ridiculous.”

Of course she was right. She’s always right. That’s why she’s the managing editor (the boss of me) and I’m the features editor (cat herder to a bunch of freelance writers). But I’m not listening. I’m carefully removing that mighty mask, terrified I’ll drop it.

I’m looking at it from all angles and to me it’s exquisite. It’s smaller than you might think. It reminds me of the few helmets I’ve seen in museums, those of conquistadors, medieval knights; they all seem so little and yet they housed the crania of some of the most fearsome warriors of all time. This one is no different. It’s full of symbols, not unlike heraldry marks: team emblems, a delicate Alpine flower, a Swiss flag.

It’s painted in yellow and orange, but there are white dings in it. I think back to the time Hiller took a puck in the face and there’s a feeling of awe remembering how he merely shook it off. Pucks fly at 100 miles an hour and this one must have really rung his chimes to chip that helmet.

The awe is followed by an overwhelming urge to wear the thing. To look through the face guard, see what he sees, feel what he feels. Suddenly I’m overcome by my own unworthiness to be in the same room with the thing. I carefully put it back in the bag and slink back to my desk.

But all day it’s in the back of my mind. And that night it’s the big topic of conversation at dinner. My husband wants to know all about it: whether it’s still at the office, and if he can drop by and see it. “No!” I say in a loud voice startling us both. I’m still protecting and defending the thing. Again I hear Rose’s voice, “Ridiculous.”

I am ridiculous, or at least obsessed because the next day there I am in the studio again, talking to Justin about putting the thing on. I don’t dare I say because of my hair. I’ve got this wild, wooly dark hair and I shed like a husky. If only I had my swim cap, I say. He says he’s still got one from the last month’s swimsuit fashion shoot.

In a nanosecond I’m stretching out an ugly rubber cap that grandma never would have worn. Ugh. These caps can pull your hair in a million painful directions. I don’t care. All I can think about is squeezing into that helmet even if I have to don a head condom first.

I’ve got it on. And I’m amazed. I don’t secure the strap at the back and still it’s snug. If it fits me it must really be tight on him. At first it feels like a cage. Then you settle into it and look ahead. Through the gold bars. Your vision is hardly obstructed. You see everything and your peripheral vision is pretty good too.

I imagine what it feels like to skate out in this thing. It’s a feeling of power, protected all the way around and still it’s merely an eggshell, your skull is delicately gimbaled, like an astronaut ready for a rocket launch to the moon. Justin wants to take pictures. Bring it!

He asks me to look mean and it’s easy to do. Soon he’s asking me not to show my teeth. This helmet makes you feel like The Hulk. I love it. But in about five minutes my moment of glory is over. I see the pictures and I do look fierce. I don’t even look like me from the neck up. I look like my brother Greg who, in his high school football days, was built like Arnie Schwarzenegger.

I am not built like the governator. When I see full body shots later I’m disgusted. Cleavage and a goalie mask? My husband says he found that strangely arousing, as only a Canadian could. I hate the head-to-toe shots of me and I’m not surprised because I typically hate all pictures of myself.

But I am surprised with the whole exhilarating experience of wearing the helmet. I think of my friend Dave, a gun nut who takes all his dates to the firing range. Put a pistol in their hands and girls love it, he says. Now I understand. It’s totally empowering and not in a phoney “Helen Reddy hear me roar” kinda way.

Five minutes in that helmet and you have a grasp on the most dangerous job in hockey. A goalie is clad in armor and still remains completely vulnerable. It’s an enormous responsibility and I’m really glad it’s not mine. Ridiculous that I was drawn to that helmet like a moth to a flame? Maybe. Weird and crazy that I have a world of respect for any guy who wears it? No way.

—AV

Read Rose's Deconstruction piece on Jonas Hiller's 2008-09 helmet on Pg. 26 of Orange Coast's October issue.

Gretzky, that is.

One recent Saturday morning, my family and I woke up extra early to catch a 9 a.m. whale watching tour off the coast of Newport (I’m told the sea creatures are most active in the mornings and evenings, and I wanted to make sure I saw one!). Very quickly after getting out to the—foggy, slightly rainy, and very chilly—open ocean, our guide spotted a pair of blue whales about half a mile directly in front of our boat. The captain headed for the beautiful 300-or-so-foot-long animals, following their billowing spray. Everyone on board was leaning over the side of the vessel, snapping photos and filming the incredible site (blue whales are the largest animal ever to live, and remain on the endangered species list), when one of our guides calmly said, “Oh hey, that’s Wayne Gretzky’s yacht.”

My head snapped around. There, off our port side, was an impressive (to me, anyway) yacht named “White Night.”

“Are you being serious?” I demanded of the guide, totally expecting him to cop to a joke.

“Definitely,” he said. “We see it around.”

Oh. My. Gretzky? I looked at my husband, whose eyes were transfixed on the “Night.”

You have to understand—he’s revered in the world of ice hockey. His wedding to Janet Jones at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton back in ’88 was broadcast across Canada. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame just seven months after retiring (normally there’s a three-year waiting period). No one is ever—ever!—allowed to wear #99, because NHL commissioner Gary Bettman retired the number during a ceremony preceding the 50th All-Star game. He’s known as The Great One. The Great One, for heaven’s sake! We’re talking hockey royalty, people! And his yacht, according to our guide, was mere feet away. So of course I shot a few photos, while my husband strained to try to recognize people milling about aboard the boat—there had to be at least 10 between those on the top deck and the others at the bow, watching the same pair of whales we were.

So I guess they were actually bumming off our tour, now that I think of it. Whatever. Though there’s a chance it wasn’t even The Great One's yacht, you can bet this is one of those tales I’ll tell for years to come...despite the fact that he now coaches the horrific Phoenix Coyotes, who we'll meet on Halloween night at Jobing.com Arena, btw.

—Rose

Getzy, Bobby, Scotty, Jiggy. What’s with all the silly nicknames? Let’s face it, they sound like baby names—exactly what mum cooed to stop him from banging his chubby arms on the highchair tray long enough to spoon porridge into his cute lil kisser.

But it’s time to grow up. Are these proper monikers for some of the biggest, roughest professional athletes ever? It’s probably just a habit from schoolyard days. Boys tend to give each other these names because it’s a lot easier than stumbling over multi-syllabic first names and surnames when you’re shouting for someone to shoot you the puck. And that makes sense because hockey is an international sport where something as simple as François goes to “Frankie” (Sayonara Beauchemin!) faster than you can say, “Five minutes for fighting!”

Those shortcut tags are convenient when fans are cheering, and that’s fine. Although it was weird yelling, “Go Koonie!,” whenever Chris Kunitz (Sayonara, again.) had possession. But seriously, all our best players deserve bitchin’ nicknames like “The Finnish Flash,” aka Teemu Selanne. Besides being a phenomenal player, I think it was, again, partly a result of the language barrier: It’s impossible to add that sweet little “ie” sound to his first name without creating a whole new dialect.

“The Flash” is a perfect description of one of the most graceful athletes since “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio. Almost a danseur on the ice, there is no wasted motion in anything Selanne does. At times it seems he’s hardly moving—opponents don’t notice him until he’s flying past. Was it not an extreme pleasure to watch him break away from Grandpa Chelios in the playoffs? Chelios became so enraged he could do no more than annoy Selanne, whacking him with his stick as The Flash slipped away at lighting speed to bury one deep in Detroit’s net.

These kinds of nicknames, dreamed up by sports writers and editors, aren’t handed out like candy, they’re earned. From hard-nosed reporters with a pack mentality, they’re as tough to come by as Stanley Cup Rings. Recall last year’s fun story in the O.C. Register by Al Balderas. It listed a truckload of cool goalie nicknames: The Wizard of Oz (Chris Osgood), CuJo (Curtis Joseph), The Dominator (Dominik Hasek), then it called for a nickname for Hiller (that's him in the photo) without suggesting one. Cop out!

C’mon! After the way he played last season he deserves a fancy title. Killer Hiller. Or how about Holy Hiller for his miraculous saves and the way he smothers the puck, kneeling over it and bowing his head like a penitent facing Mecca? While we’re at it let’s update Jiggy’s name, too. Jiggernaut? PQ? (Not “Parti Québécois” but “Puckstopping Quebecker.” You kinda hafta be Canadian to get this one.) 

Think of all those formidable nicknames in the hall of fame: The Rocket (Maurice Richard), Mr. Hockey (Gordie Howe), The Magnificent One (Mario Lemieux), and of course The Great One (Wayne Gretzky). Creating a larger-than-life image for standout players not only intimidates opponents, it immortalizes our heroes. And that’s how it should be. Remember, the Greek definition of hero is half god, half man. So for those amazing creatures who can shoot pucks, defend the net, throw off the gloves and fight or take a punch when necessary—all while skating backward or forward at 90 miles an hour—they’ve earned it.

The hockey world is atwitter with the news that Jeremy Roenick (San Jose—I know, I know, hang with me) will announce his retirement tomorrow at a news conference in the Shark Tank.

So yes, he’s a Shark (and former Blackhawk, Coyote, Flyer, and King), but man, the stuff that comes out of his mouth has been entertaining. And often, sincere. Despite the intense rivalry between those guys up the coast and the Ducks, I found myself actually pleased with one of Roenick’s more recent quotes. He uttered the following at Game 4 of last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs:

“That [Scott] Niedermayer makes it look easy. He skates so well, it looks like he’s not even trying. And he never gets tired.” Then, he smiled, and said, “He’s a great player. I hate him.”

Thank god Scotty’s coming back, because we all know how right Roenick is. #27 is quite possibly one of the greatest players ever … but I digress. Gushing about how amazing he is will be left for a future post by Anne. Back to Roenick. He’s expected to retire, which leaves the rest of the league without that big mouth and hard shot to fight, and hockey fans without any more quotes to bitch and moan over.

And yet, something tells me Roenick won’t be silent in the afterlife. Neither will the sports writers who have loved interviewing him throughout his career. My prediction for mouths to watch: Alex Ovechkin. Urrgh, he really irritates me sometimes. Anyone see his ridiculous too-hot-to-touch antics after scoring his 50th goal of the 08-09 season? Coach Boudreau wasn’t too happy …

—Rose

photo by Harry How / Getty Images

Heaven help me, but I’ve participated in an Adam Brady project. (For those of you who don’t know, he’s the Ducks’ official blogger and director of publications and new media.) Anyway, his current post takes a look at the not-so-esteemed history of the hockey sweater, including a few mishaps from our own beloved Ducks.

Brady writes that while the jersey is expected to remain unchanged this season, there may be plans to switch things up a bit in 2010-11. And in the interest of engaging fans, he’s issued a challenge to come up with your own design for Anaheim, using the nifty custom jersey builder at The Sporting Store’s site and the Ducks logo provided in his post. Participate at your own risk; he’ll be showcasing the best and worst—with commentary, I imagine—of the bunch sometime this week.

Here’s my oh-so-stylish creation, though I must point out some frustrating aspects of the builder that I couldn’t work around: 1) you can’t have text on two lines; 2) kiss font options good-bye; 3) no dice on increasing text size; and 4) my custom neck choice didn’t take! So there you go. Comment away. I can take it.

—Rose

Spent the Fourth of July in Canada, as I often do, and it’s always a pilgrimage to hockeyland wherever I go. One night at a tony restaurant on Vancouver’s False Creek, we stopped for dinner, which in the Great White North always starts with drinks and joviality. We settled in on the patio, oh, scuze me, verAHNda, and hubster asks the waitress if it’s OK to wear his Ducks ball cap. “No,” she says. We all chuckle. She doesn’t. Suddenly this is beyond awkward. Are you starting to get the picture?

That cold shoulder wasn’t just because we made it farther into the playoffs than they did. It’s way deeper than that. In a country where an overdressed nut like Don Cherry is a revered national figure, they take their hockey as seriously as their health care. I’ve only attended one game in Vancouver—Ducks vs. Canucks—and it was a doozie. Just before the singing of both national anthems we overheard a father and daughter behind us. “Daddy, are the Ducks a good team?” came a small voice. “No,” was the stern answer. “They’re not a very good team at all.” I start to turn around and get the spousal signal to freeze, a huge pinch near my elbow.

The game starts and it’s fantastic. We score. The urge to scream is overwhelming but here comes that elbow pinch again. The Canucks have no answer goal. We score again. Jiggy continues to shut them down and we triumph 6 to zed (that’s Canadian for zero). We run to our rental car, roll up the windows and scream for 10 minutes, “Woo hoo! We rule. Take that, ya stupid Canucks!!!” Which is way better than telling that little girl that her dad’s an idiot, because by the end of the first period she figured it out for herself.

Vancouver ain’t exactly Montreal, but hockey is still a religious experience. And the devotion to all things hockey is just as fierce in the Fraser Valley—Chilliwack to be exact, which is kind of O.C. to Vancouver’s LA. Settled by Dutch farmers, it’s the epicenter of gouda cheese, chocolate, corn as high as an elephant’s eye, and plenty of Christians. But it was also home of the Chilliwack Chiefs Junior “A” team (before they relocated to Langley), so don’t get the idea these folks are Amish peaceniks or anything. Saw one of the Chiefs games once and there was more action and fighting than at many lackluster “big league” contests. The Chiefs kicked ass as their fans yelled for blood.

In “The Wack,” as they call it, everyone shops at Safeway, where you can buy better bread, tea and jam than at Bristol Farms in Newport Beach—Canadians have their priorities. You’ll also see a huge display of Gatorade with a larger than life-size cutout of Calgary Flames superstar Jarome Iginla. “Buy Gatorade and support team Canada,” is the come-on. Across the way is another display with a semi life-size cutout of Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. For $13.99 Canadian you can buy a growth chart for your kids with his picture on it. Big sellers, apparently, as there were only a couple left. And from the looks of the adult shoppers, those Dutch kiddies will grow bigger’n Chris Pronger overnight.

Don’t forget to pick up the papers. As you might expect, the National Post and The Vancouver Sun cover hockey like a blanket. But so does the local tab, the Province. That day—in July, mind you—there was a full-page cover photo of the Sedin twins teasing to the sports section scoop about how the Canucks’ GM flew to Sweden to seal the deal, keeping them in Vancouver . That was only one story in about four full tab pages of hockey news, which included frequent mentions of Scott Niedermayer, tagged each time with “Cranbrook native.” That’s the town in British Columbia that he practically owns now.

That’s what it’s like in the land where hockey stars can buy small cities and the national coffee and donut chain has retained the name Tim Horton’s, even though it was owned for years by Wendy’s. The original owner was a loveable Hall of Famer who died after crashing his sports car en route from a game in Toronto back to Buffalo where he played for the Sabres. He’s been dead for four decades but Canadians remain loyal to him, patronizing Tim’s over Starbucks whenever they can. (Don’t miss having coffee there if you ever get a chance. It’s served with a homey menu of killer sour cream donuts, butter tarts and hot soup. We dare you to walk away without a box of Timbits donut holes.)

Needless to say, Canadians are pigheadedly patriotic when it comes to their national sport. Every year during Stanley Cup playoffs we have to hear how “wrong” it is for any American team to win. “Keep the Cup in Canada,” they say, clinking their pints. Never mind that most of the players are Canadian so—DUH!—it does stay in Canada 99.9 percent of the time, you Canuckleheads, at least during its off-season travels.

Just imagine what hockey fever will be like during the Olympics. If anyone reading this is lucky enough to have playoff tix, check this spot in February for tips on what every Ducks fan needs to know while traveling in Canada and what to look for when watching games in hockey heaven. Maybe that’s why they call it “God’s country,” eh?

—AV

The Ducks may not be an Original Six, but it’s fair to say that almost all hockey players love getting the call that sends them to Anaheim. What’s not to love? Suddenly, they’re trading umbrellas and down jackets for flip flops and board shorts, and though the Ducks have a loyal following, we’re not exactly Montreal. Players can actually walk the Newport boardwalk or stroll through South Coast Plaza without being mobbed for autographs. They can dine in local restaurants with their wives and kids without getting interrupted by know-it-all fans dishing out advice. We know this, because in almost every interview after getting the call, the guys say so. Check it out:

           

“There’s great fans here, but I go a lot of places and nobody knows I’m a player. That’s part of it.” —Joffrey Lupul , on how happy he is to be back

“Teemu and his family love the sun too much and love California and Anaheim too much for me to get him to come to Montreal. He said there was no way.” —Saku Koivu , on his failed attempts at luring the eternally tanned Teemu Selanne (could he be the George Hamilton of hockey?) away to the Montreal Canadiens

“He’s also going to like coming here, where the media attention isn’t as great. In Montreal, there are 50 media waiting for you after practice, and sometimes they try to find the negative things.” —Teemu Selanne , on why Saku Koivu will like O.C.

“It’s awesome out here. It’s so beautiful in the mornings. I’ve got a really nice house in a nice area and [my family is] getting to know the area out here. Waking up with the sun shining is just beautiful.” —ex-Duck Doug Weight, in February 2008

“I’m very excited to be staying with the Ducks. Orange County has been a great place for my family over the last six years, and we are grateful to the entire organization for the opportunity to stay here.” —J.S. Giguere, when he re-signed back in June 2007

—Rose

Raise your hand if you miss Chris Pronger already. Wow, look at all those paws! Yeah, that’s awesome! But it’s not like he can see them up there in the stratosphere, as he towers above us mortals, a hockey humanoid at 6’6”off his skates. (I went out with a couple guys that tall. Unless it’s bedtime it’s like you’re dating a belt buckle.) Lauren and Chris Pronger, as they appeared in Orange Coast magazine's 2008 OC Look supplement. Photo by Jason Wallis
 
But back to Pronger and his big, bad menacing presence. Fans with tickets on ice level swear he would scream at opponents, “I’M GONNA HURT YOU!!!” We don’t doubt it. We all seriously loved his gigando-ness. Why did he have to leave just when we were getting ready to make a poster to take to the next game? An enormous green dinosaur with a Pronger mug, carrying a hockey stick and wearing a crown: Go Prongasaurus Rex!
 
Alas, it’s too late. He’s playing for the Flyers, where he’ll surely be a standout and a superstar. In the meantime, what should we do with that oversized autographed hockey stick we bought at a charity auction in Santa Ana? Let us know if you’ve got some ideas.
 
Now you’re saying, “Charity event? Pronger?” That’s the side of him most fans never knew. Once, at a big party that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Orangewood Children’s Home, he was asked to speak. Those who expected a voice to match his size were floored. No James Earl Jones sonic boom. Just a few halting, low-key, mumbly but sincere words. It was like straining to hear an 8-year-old deliver the “Happy Birthday” wishes at Grandma’s party. Sweet, though a little painful to sit through.
 
More painful still will be watching him tear down the ice for Philly. And what we’ll miss most is that horrifying left-handed slap shot—often fired from the blue line—flying like a wild cannonball straight into the back of the net. We wish you well P-Rex but please, fight fair. Or we’ll boo you every time you touch the puck.
 
—AV

Each year, the NHL powers-that-be reassess the official rules of the game, and all too often, the question of “to fight, or not to fight?” comes up. Our take on it?

FIIIIIIGHT! 

My god. Banning fights would be like banning goals—you can’t play a game without them. Although a couple playoff fights surprised and impressed me (Scott Niedermayer vs Pavel Datsyuk, and Ryan Getzlaf vs Joe Thornton), the tough guy I depend on when I want a really good brawl? George Parros , of course.

Last season, this 6’5” 231-pound 29-year-old enforcer recorded 23 glorious fights. Glorious! The crowd was thunderous on Oct. 14, 2008 when my favorite player took on the Kings’ Raitis Ivanans (hey, we’d been waiting all summer to see Parros back in action, even if it was only against a King). And though www.hockeyfights.com  voted Ivanans the winner (Anne and I dispute the ruling), the guy with the ’stache just kept fighting.

But one of the most memorable dances took place on April 21, between Parros and the Sharks’ Doug Murray. Though it proved to be his only post-season fight, it was electrifying. As soon as the gloves came off and the players were circling each other with fists raised, fans were on their feet, roaring encouragement. And those on the bench? Just take a look at Bobby Ryan (#9). His face is all the reason the NHL needs to keep fighting off the chopping block. (Btw, that's a blurry Teemu Selanne about to jump up and add his voice to the fray.)

Hockey is about the team. Camaraderie. Solidarity.* Enforcers do their part when they protect their teammates from being stapled to the boards or sent sliding down the ice into other players, but they also do their job when they break out in fisticuffs. Bobby’s expression, as he leans out over the ice, probably shouting, “Kick his ass!” (or maybe worse), represents the passion that fuels every player on his road to the Cup, and that every fan feels as we cheer him on.

What the NHL needs to keep in mind, is that hockey’s also a gentleman’s sport. What other pro league becomes insulted when players fail to stick around after post-season games to shake hands and honor the effort from both sides? And for the most part, these guys don’t pick fights without good reason. Just read “Code of Honor” on Page 131 of NHL official Lloyd Freeberg’s “In the Bin .”

So anyway, point is, we CAN’T WAIT for the season to start! Parros, Mike Brown , we’ll be waiting for those gloves to drop to pump the guys up starting Oct. 3 . Hope you’re hitting the gym.

—Rose

*That’s precisely why hockey fans continue to mock Marian Hossa , and even news stories made a mention of his long-ago Penguins-to-Red Wings decision .

We can just imagine what all those true blue hockey dudes out there are thinking: “A coupla chicks? Makes no sense.” That’s fine, we deal with that all the time. Anne’s father-in-law—he played in the minors in Canada and nearly went pro—constantly declares that “girls don’t know anything about hockey!” (Nevermind that he once thoroughly enjoyed watching an Olympic hockey game until he realized, it was the women’s division!)

OK. So we’re not here to pore over the stats and make Jimmy the Greek style predictions in September about who will win Lord Stan in June. We’ll leave that to the capable sports writers at our two daily newspapers. But the fact is, we are crazy nutty for ice hockey—its speed, culture, adrenaline, and of course, the FIGHTS! We can’t be the only ladies who follow every match, idolize our fave players, host draft-watching parties, and scream Ducks scores across the hall to each other from our offices.

Yes, our team is the Ducks. Through the ups and downs, for better or worse, we’re die hard in our loyalty to a team that many believed wouldn’t make it when launched by Disney just 16 years ago. Guess that Stanley Cup win in ’07 proved ’em wrong, eh?

So check this blog often for our take on all things hockey—with a close eye on the Ducks. And don’t be shy about posting comments. We love hearing from other fans, and gladly accept the opportunity to convert new ones anytime.