Ducks trade MAB to MN for 3rd round pick

From anaheimducks.com--

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Tuesday that they have acquired a third-round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron.

Bergeron, 27 (10/13/80), played in 55 games between Anaheim and the New York Islanders during the 2007-08 regular season, collecting 9-10=19 points. Bergeron went to the Stanley Cup Final as a member of the 2006 Edmonton Oilers, playing in 75 regular season and 18 playoff games that season. In 267 career NHL contests, the 5-10, 197-pound blueliner has scored 48-80=128 points with 131 penalty minutes (PIM).

A native of Trois-Riviéres, Quebec, Bergeron was signed as a free agent by Edmonton on July 20, 2001. He played in his first full NHL season with the Oilers in 2003-04, scoring 9-17=26 points in 54 games. Following the Oilers’ run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, he was acquired by the Islanders with a third-round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Denis Grebeshkov on Feb. 18, 2007. Bergeron was acquired by Anaheim on Feb. 26, 2008 from the Islanders in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

One Year Ago...

Today really is a special day because 1 year ago the Anaheim Ducks won the franchise's very first Stanley Cup! I'm still very proud of the fact that I was able to be at that game in person and see it all happen live, and it's a memory of mine that not even Alzheimer's disease could erase (if I ever got it that is).

AnaheimDucks.com put together this for all of us Ducks fans to look back and remember how our lives as Ducks fans changed 1 year ago! Enjoy!! 1 Year Ago Today...


I think I'll put in my Champions DVD later today and watch it, along with game 5. You know.. To remember what a great day I had 1 year ago. :)

Haven't Had a Poll in a LONG time!

A New Champion Has Been Crowned.

The Detroit Red Wings are the 2007-2008 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.

Congratulations, and congratulations to all of the Red Wing fans out there, I know there are a ton of you!

Time to look forward to next season, hopefully the Ducks can win it back! Yeah?

Ducks Announce Iowa AHL Affiliation

The Ducks announced today that they have signed a multi-year affiliation agreement with Iowa of the American Hockey League (AHL).

“We are thrilled to be affiliating with the Schlegel family in a great hockey market such as Des Moines,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. “The Ducks are very excited to have an opportunity to work with an ownership and management team that’s as committed to winning as we are. We would like to thank the Portland Pirates and their fans for their tremendous support over the last three years.”

The Ducks spent three seasons affiliated with the Portland Pirates of the AHL, beginning in 2005-06. As an Anaheim affiliate, Portland posted an overall record of 135-76-13-16 for 299 points in 480 games (.623 winning percentage). The Pirates also made deep runs in the Calder Cup Playoffs, advancing to Game 7 of the AHL Eastern Conference Finals in two of the last three years. Since the start of the 2006 postseason, the Ducks and their AHL affiliate have combined to win 10 playoff rounds, more than any other NHL organization in hockey (NHL/AHL).

Over the last three years, 18 players have graduated from the Ducks’ AHL affiliate to make their NHL debuts with Anaheim. Those players include: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Kent Huskins, Ryan Carter, Bobby Ryan, Drew Miller, Petteri Wirtanen, Andrew Ebbett, Dustin Penner, Ryan Shannon, Shane O’Brien, Aaron Rome, Trevor Gillies, Curtis Glencross, Zenon Konopka, Tim Brent, Bjorn Melin and Michael Wall.

The Iowa Stars, purchased by Bob and Kirby Schlegel in October 2005, made their AHL debut as an affiliate of the Dallas Stars in 2005-06 and qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of their first two seasons. As Iowa’s lone professional hockey team, they have attracted over 550,000 fans to Wells Fargo Arena since joining the AHL.

In addition to the AHL, Des Moines is home to the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and two Midwest High School Hockey League (MHSHL) teams: the Oak Leafs and Capitals. Iowa has been active in the community since its AHL debut through team appearances, the creation of new youth hockey leagues and charitable events that have raised more than $100,000.

Iowa is scheduled to announce its team name, logo and colors in July.

SOURCE: Anaheim Ducks Website

Ducks Announce Bakersfield Affiliation.

The Ducks announced today that they have signed an affiliation agreement with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL. As part of the agreement, the Ducks will send prospects to Bakersfield beginning with the 2008-09 ECHL regular season.

“We are very excited to be entering into a formal affiliation agreement with an organization that is held in such high regard in professional hockey,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. “The Bakersfield Condors have a track record of success both on and off the ice and this agreement will only help further the growth of hockey in California.”

The Bakersfield Condors joined the ECHL in 2003 after playing the previous five seasons in the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL). During their 10-year history in the ECHL and the WCHL, the Condors have attracted over two million fans to Rabobank Arena, including 200,000-plus in each of the last four seasons. Bakersfield posted a 26-37-2-7 record during the 2007-08 regular season and ranked fifth among ECHL teams in average attendance (5,628). The Condors, who will begin their first official affiliation with an NHL club in 2008-09, have enjoyed four consecutive trips to the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

“This is an exciting moment in the history of this organization,” said Condors President Matthew Riley. “Not only to be able to secure an affiliation, but secure one with a first-class franchise like the Ducks, fellow Californians and an organization that shares the same philosophies that we have. It’s a banner day in Condorstown.”
The Condors have graduated four players to the NHL since the 2003-04 season, including goaltenders Danny Taylor (Kings) and Yutaka Fukufuji (Kings), and right wings Garret Stroheim (Capitals) and Connor James (Kings, Penguins).

Bakersfield’s hockey history dates back almost 68 years and has seen teams compete in professional and semi-pro leagues such as the California Ice Hockey Association (Bakersfield Oilers), Southern California Hockey League (Bakersfield Kernels), Pacific Southwest Hockey League (Oilers), WCHL (Bakersfield Fog; Condors) and ECHL (Condors). The Condors have been heavily involved in the local community since their inception, having donated nearly $3 million to various area charities.

The Condors begin the 2008-09 ECHL regular season on Saturday, October 18 when they host the Ontario Reign at Rabobank Arena.


SOURCE: Anaheim Ducks Website

Birthdays!

Happy Birthday Corey Perry!

Happy Birthday J.S. Giguere!

Yes, it's true

Getzlaf did get a speeding ticket a while back, a CHP officer failed to file it, maybe due to his being a Ducks fan and all, and just now they figure out that that CHP officer failed to file it and somehow it becomes a huge news story... fact of the matter is, I don't see why this is news. So this is the post you'll be getting from me about it. :)

On the other hand:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GETZLAF... All 23 Years of you!!

Congrats Rob Niedermayer!

Rob Niedermayer welcomed a baby girl into his family on Saturday. The baby is a girl, named Brooke! Congrats Rob and wife!

Selanne will play in World Championships for Finland

Ducks forward Teemu Selanne announced he will play for home country Finland in the upcoming IIHF World Hockey Championship, to be held May 2-18 in Quebec City and Halifax, Canada. Selanne skated with the team Wednesday in Halifax, just a day after agreeing to a request from general manager Jari Kurri to join the squad.

It's the first time in five years Selanne has competed in the event, though the 37-year-old Helsinki native has represented his country 11 times previously. He has played in four Olympics (winning a silver medal in 2006), two World Cups, a Canada Cup and four previous World Championships.
"It's funny," Selanne said. "I have won Olympic silver, World Cup silver and world championship silver but not gold so obviously there is (room for) some improvement."

Selanne played 32 games for the Ducks this past season after considering retirement for several months and joining the team in early February. He still has not indicated whether he wants to come back next season in the days following Anaheim's first-round playoff elimination at the hands of the Dallas Stars.

"I only played 32 games this season and I felt like I could continue and play way more games in the playoffs," Selanne said. "That break I had was so good. I am really happy to come back to the Worlds."

In addition to Selanne, the Finnish team has eight NHL players, three AHL players and others from leagues around Europe. Finland took the silver medal in the 2007 World Championship, falling to Canada in the final, 4-2.

The Ducks will also be represented by forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Kunitz on Team Canada and goalie Jonas Hiller on the Swiss team.

SOURCE: AnaheimDucks.com