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Link: feartheshirt.com

Teemu Will be Back!

Teemu Selanne has informed Bob Murray that he'll be back to play next season!

1st Round Pick - 26th overall

The Ducks selected center/right wing Kyle Palmieri of Montvale, New Jersey with their second first pick (26th overall) in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old from the USA Hockey National Team Developmental Program was ranked 20th among North American skaters according to Central Scouting Service.


Source: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=431890

1st Round Pick - 15th overall

The Ducks selected center Peter Holland of Caledon, Ontario with their first selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (15th overall). The 6-2, 185-pound Holland played last season with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League, where he was second on the team with 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games. The 18-year-old also led the team with four goals in four postseason games.


Source: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=431861

Scotty Is Coming Back, Pronger is Traded to Philly

Ducks fans can now rest easy, Scott Niedermayer has made up his mind and he's coming back. Can't say I'm surprised, I never doubted he would come back. Now for the consequences of his return-- Defenseman Chris Pronger was traded to the Flyers in exchange for ex-Duck Joffrey Lupul, Lucas Sbisa, and 2 first round picks.

Source: AnaheimDucks.com

Bobby Ryan Finishes 2nd in Calder Trophy Voting

Ducks winger Bobby Ryan finished second in the voting for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's top rookie. Columbus goalie Steve Mason won the award with 1,268 points, including 121 first-place votes. Ryan finished with 829 points, with nine first-place votes. Fellow finalist Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks took third with 323 points (one first-place vote).

Ryan led all NHL rookies with 31 goals in only 64 games. He was Rookie of the Month for January when he scored 11 goals and had five asssits in 14 games. He had the first rookie hat trick in Ducks history when he scored three goals Jan. 8 at Los Angeles. The three goals were scored within 2:21, the third-fastest hat trick by a rookie in NHL history.

SOURCE: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=425996

Mason deserved to win without question, but Bobby deserved it too. I think of it like a 1A and 1B situation. Ducks fans know that too well with the goalie scenario, and now I'm applying it with the Calder Trophy scenario. I think if Bobby had been up the whole season, it would have been his. Congratulations to Mason though, he did deserve it for leading and paving the way to Columbus' first appearance in the playoffs.

Entry Draft 2009

The final order for the 2009 entry draft can be found here: Click Me, Click Me!

Gardiner Headed to U.S. National Camp

Anaheim's 2008 first round pick will try earn a spot on the U.S. squad at the 2010 World Junior Championship

Nearly a year after being taken by the Ducks with the 17th overall selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Jake Gardiner received another big call recently, one inviting the defenseman to the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp being held this summer.

One of 43 players selected to attend the camp from Aug. 7-15 in Lake Placid, NY, Gardner will try to secure a spot on the U.S. team for the 2010 World Junior Championships. The camp will feature practices, three split-squad games and four games against Russia.

Gardiner, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on July 4, is rated among the Ducks' top prospects. He recently completed his freshman season at the University of Wisconsin, where he totaled three goals, 18 assists (tied for third on the team) and 21 points in 39 games played. The Minnesota native was also the Western Collegiate Hockey Association co-Rookie of the Week for Dec. 2-7, 2008.

The 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship will be held Dec. 26, 2009-Jan. 5, 2010, in Saskatoon and Regina, Sask.

SOURCE:http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=425820&page=NewsPage&service=page
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Good luck to you Jake Gardiner! How exciting!

2008-2009 Top 40 Moments: 30 - 26

AnaheimDucks.com is back at it again with their Top 40 Moments countdown. You can read it over on their website, or get the basic information here. Your call! If your call is to head over their way here's a link I provide for you to help get you there faster: I chose them.. If you managed to stay here, here's the 3rd installment of 2008-2009 Top 40 Moments, which includes Moments 30 - 26. Enjoy --


30. March 6th, 2009 vs. Dallas Stars
After a flurry of moves on trade deadline day, the new-look Ducks came together for the first time against the Stars. Though Anaheim would lose 3-2, It would prove to be the starting point for the team's memorable two-month run together.

Another new sight on the night was Bobby Ryan's new No. 9 sewed on his jersey. While the rookie's number may have changed, he proved his penchant for scoring jaw-dropping goals was still around with this ridiculous move.

29. October 31st, 2008 vs. Vancouver Canucks
On a night already known for its nighttime adventure, the Ducks and Canucks waged battle in a 13-round shootout before costume-clad fans on Halloween at Honda Center.

The two teams combined for seven goals in the second period before Corey Perry sent the game into overtime by scoring with 57 seconds left in regulation. Anaheim ended up falling 7-6 in a shootout, on which 26 shooters gave their best moves to Jonas Hiller and Roberto Luongo.

28. March 29th, 2009 vs. Colorado Avalanche
Afforded little room for error if they wanted to see the postseason, the Ducks responded with a torrid 10-2-1 record to close out the 2008-09 regular season docket and make the playoffs.

One play that may have best displayed Anaheim's will to succeed during that time is when Jonas Hiller darted from the crease to stop the puck againstt the Avalanche before hurriedly returning to the net to make a big stop in a 4-1 home victory.

27. May 7th, 2009 vs. Detroit Red Wings
Unable to extend their series lead over the Red Wings with a 6-3 loss in Game 4 in the Western Conference Semifinals, Francois Beauchemin took all the frustrations from the Ducks on the night out on Tomas Kopecky.

After he was challenged to drop the gloves by Kopecky in the third period, Beauchemin quickly made him regret it by rapidly letting his fists fly in a one-sided affair.

26. October 27th, 2008 at Columbus Blue Jackets
Starting the season off with a disappointing 1-5-0 record, the Ducks turned things around in a hurry by sweeping a four-game road trip (a feat only done one other time in franchise history).

Anaheim completed the 4-for-4 effort with a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Columbus, which came on the heels of the Ducks becoming just the third team since 1992-93 to defeat each of the NHL's three Eastern Canada teams in consecutive games.


Check back later for more of the Top 40 Moments! Have a great day/evening/night.

Congrats are in order here...

Congratulations, first and foremost, to the entire Pittsburgh Penguins team and organization for being this years Stanley Cup Champions!

A specific Congrats to former Ducks players: Chris Kunitz, Petr Sykora, and Dan Bylsma.

I admit, I didn't think they could do it after going down 2-0 in the series. I thought I would have to live with the Red Wings (by the way, I'm proudly wearing my "Rather be dead than Red" shirt to bed tonight!) being the Champions YET again *eye roll* but the Penguins proved me wrong (and I happily admit, I was wrong). So Congrats you eastern birds. The western birds known as the Ducks might have to steal it from you next season, but for now, enjoy it!

François Allaire Joins Leafs

TORONTO -- The Toronto Maples Leafs hired Francois Allaire as the team's newest goaltending consultant, the club announced Wednesday.

Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke plucked Allaire from his former club the Anaheim Ducks, where Allaire worked the past 13 seasons as goaltending consultant, which included the 2007 Stanley Cup championship team.

"We consider Francois to be one of the best in the world at his craft," said Burke in a statement. "He brings a tremendous amount of experience and I know that he will make an immediate impact with our goalies."

Allaire, 57, spent 12 years with the Canadiens prior to joining the Ducks as Montreal's goaltending coach. He was instrumental in two Stanley Cup titles (1986 and 1993), working with Hall of Famer Patrick Roy from 1984 to 1996.

SOURCE: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/06/10/leafs_allaire/

2008-2009 Top 40 Moments: 35 - 31

Back again with the 2nd installment of the 2008-2009 top 40 moments of the season, brought to you by AnaheimDucks.com (Link:2nd Installment)

35. January 11th, 2009 vs. New Jersey Devils
Rebounding from two straight 4-3 defeats, the Ducks come out on the winning side of a 4-3 affair in a close victory over the Devils (appearing in Anaheim for the first time since 2006.

While former Duck Chris Kunitz has two goals in the third period to seal the win, it's rookie Bobby Ryan's spectacular tally (one of many on the season) while falling to the ice in the first period that kept fans buzzing for days.

34. October 17th, 2008 vs. San Jose Sharks
Desperate for a win after starting the season with an 0-4 record, the Ducks finally come through for their first victory with a 4-0 blanking of the previously undefeated Sharks. Months later, Anaheim would also give their rivals to the north their final loss of the year.

By stopping all 38 shots from San Jose, Jean-Sebastien Giguere posted his 30th career shutout on the night while four different Ducks provided the team with plenty of offense.

33. December 19th, 2008 at Edmonton Oilers
On his first shift of the game, Teemu Selanne lacerated his left quad muscle with his own skate while falling to the ice. But the Ducks stepped up for their injured teammate (who would go on to miss 17 games) to defeat the Oilers 3-2 in a shootout at Rexall Place.

The unquestioned star of the night was Jonas Hiller, who tied a franchise regular season record with 51 saves and stopped each of Edmonton's three attempts in the shootout.

32. February 4th, 2009
In the second of two trades by Ducks Executive VP and GM Bob Murray on the day (the other getting Sheldon Brookbank), Anaheim acquires Mike Brown from Vancouver for Nathan McIver.

Known to drop the gloves (which continued with the Ducks), the right wing also displayed a motor that seemingly never died and instantly became a hit with the team and the fans.

31. November 3rd, 2008
Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne are collectively named the First Star of the Week by the NHL. It was the first time in league history that a combination of teemmates shared the title.

The trio earned the honor by combining for 28 points over four games. Perry and Getzlaf each enjoyed career-high five-point games during the stretch while Selanne registered a hat trick.

Ducks Sign Brown to Two-Year Extension

The Ducks announced today that they have signed right wing Mike Brown to a two-year contract extension. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

Brown, 23 (6/24/85), appeared in 28 games for the Ducks in 2008-09, scoring 2-1=3 points with 60 penalty minutes (PIM). A native of Northbrook, IL, Brown made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in 2009, collecting 0-2=2 points with 25 PIM in 13 games against San Jose and Detroit. Acquired from Vancouver in exchange for defenseman Nathan McIver on Feb. 4, 2009, Brown earned 2-2=4 points with 145 PIM in 48 games overall with the Ducks and Canucks in 2008-09.

Selected by Vancouver in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Brown has appeared in 67 career NHL games with Anaheim and Vancouver, collecting 3-2=5 points with 200 PIM. Prior to making his NHL debut, Brown spent three seasons with the Manitoba Moose, Vancouver’s affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring 20-11=31 points with 534 PIM in 189 games. Brown also played two seasons for the University of Michigan in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) from 2003-05, advancing to the Quarterfinals in the NCAA Tournament with the Wolverines in back-to-back seasons.

SOURCE: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=425082

2008-2009 Top 40 Moments: 40 - 36

AnaheimDucks.com has compiled a list of the Top 40 moments from the 2008-2009 season. They are posting them in installments that will count them down. Here is the 1st installment with moments 36 - 40. (Link to 1st installment: Click Here)

40. January 20th, 2009 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The Ducks and Flyers put on a thrilling show in front of 17,597 at Honda Center, particularly in the second period where they trade three goals apiece including Andrew Ebbett's first career goal (on his 26th birthday).

Enforcers George Parros and Riley Cote also gave fans a treat by dropping the gloves and letting their hair fly. Anaheim would end up falling 5-4 in a shootout, but the first game at the arena in 2009 provided plenty of entertainment.

39. December 14th, 2008 vs. Minnesota Wild
While the Ducks had their ups and downs at Honda Center in 2008-09, they were at their best during a season-high five-game home winning streak that ended with a 4-2 win over the Wild.

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry put the Ducks up early with goals in the first 6:43 of action. After Minnesota came back to tie it in the second period, Anaheim would respond with two more goals past Josh Harding including one from Bobby Ryan on a nice feed from George Parros.

38. November 19th, 2008 vs. Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals came to town for the first time since January 2006. The league's top goal-scorer would tally four points to help defeat the Ducks 6-4, but Bobby Ryan and Chris Pronger provided big bright spots for Anaheim on the night.

Called up to the Ducks just four days prior, Ryan notched the first two goals of his stellar rookie campaign during the game. Pronger delivered arguably the hit of the year to Mike Green.

37. November 21st, 2008 at St. Louis Blues
Just when it looked like Anaheim was certainly headed for a regulation loss, Scott Niedermayer made fans at Scottrade Center collectively gasp by scoring with 0.9 seconds left.

Taking advantage of a power play, the Ducks captain slipped the puck into the net amid a scrum in front of Manny Legace. Anaheim would fall in overtime, but the heroics of No. 27 helped secure one point that looked like it was surely lost in the Gateway City.

36. November 4th, 2008 at Los Angeles Kings
After 60 minutes of play at Staples Center, America had elected Barack Obama as president, but the Ducks and Kings had still not scored a goal. Enter Chris Pronger.

Just as an Anaheim power play was expiring, the d-man fired a one-timer from the slot that beat Erik Ersberg 40 seconds into overtime to give the Ducks a 1-0 win. J.S. Giguere stopped all 35 shots the Kings threw his way for his 31st career shutout.

DiPenta Lasagna Dinner/Fundraiser!

Ex-Duck Joe Dipenta will be cooking up his family recipe Lasagna Dinner for a fundraising event at The White House in Anaheim. Joining DiPenta will be current Duck-- Bobby Ryan! I attended this event last year and have to say the lasagna was delicious and the outdoor setting was great and the money raised went to a great charity. Here is the story from anaheimducks.com with more details:

Former Ducks defenseman Joe DiPenta will be joined by current Ducks winger Bobby Ryan at the second annual Joe DiPenta Lasagna Dinner & Fundraiser on June 4 at the Anaheim White House restaurant.

The event, which runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be held in the al fresco setting of the acclaimed restaurant's front lawn area, with Joe and his wife Jessica prearing a family recipe of Dipenta lasagna. Price is $55 per person with proceeds to benefit Caterina’s Club, a subdivision of the Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim.

Caterina's Club was founded by the Anaheim White House's owner Bruno Serato, who has been friends with DiPenta for several years. Each night, 100 hot meals are prepared at the restaurant, picked up by a van purchased by Serato and distributed to the area’s “Motel Kids,” youngsters of Orange County’s working poor who reside in low-cost motels. The program was named in honor of Serato’s mother, Caterina Lunardi. Thanks to this program, thousands of the region’s most impoverished youngsters do not go to bed hungry at night.

Last year's inaugural event raised more than $17,000 for the cause. "It was a big success," DiPenta said. "We couldn't have asked for a better turnout from the fans and the people that wanted to support the event."

Last year Serato described DiPenta's lasagna as "second to none. Probably the most tantalizing Old World version of the classic dish that I've ever tasted."

Advance payment for this year's event is required due to limited quantities. Call the Anaheim White House for reservations at (714) 772-1381. Open seating is available and dress is casual.