13th Annual Fedorin Cup

Today marked the "unofficial start" of hockey season with the 13th Annual Fedorin Cup. Training camp is only weeks away, followed shortly by the preseason. By the looks of the impressive showing at Anaheim Ice this afternoon, I think I can safely say that Ducks fans are ready!


Waiting at will call

Established originally in 1998 in memory of Eric Fedorin, a Californian hockey player whose life was cut short by brain cancer, the Fedorin Cup game raises money for cancer charities. Hockey pros of the past and present play a friendly game of puck, prizes are auctioned and raffled off, and hockey fans gather in the spirit of giving and preseason excitement.

Let's check out the pictures!


Standing room only at Anaheim Ice, tickets were completely sold out


Team USA, captained by Todd Marchant, consisted of notables like Bobby Ryan, Jason Blake, Mike V., and Luca Sbisa


Team Canada, captained by Ryan Getzlaf, consisted of notables like Joe DiPenta, Sean Pronger, and Dustin Penner

Bobby, Getzy, and Todd Marchant are repeat players, always good to see them again. As well as Phil Hulett, who lent his PA prowess as Master of Ceremonies once again. New to the game were Jason Blake and Joe DiPenta, kudos to them for lending their time to such a good cause. Teemu Selanne had been verified for the roster as well, but I understand he's still in Finland. Apparently, he RSVPs every year in anticipation that he might be in the country in time for the event.


Luca Sbisa, who may end up shouldering many of the defensive responsibilities for the Ducks this season


Ryan Getzlaf, captain of Team Canada


The starting forward line for Team USA: Marchant, Bobby, and Blake


The ceremonial puck drop between Marchant and Getzlaf


Ex-cup winning Duck, Joe DiPenta, who recently signed a contract with AHL team the Syracuse Crunch


Getzlaf skating with the puck


Marchant engaging in some friendly trash talk


Silver vs Gold... I mean, Bobby vs Getzy at the faceoff




Phil and Wild Wing auctioning off a hockey stick signed by Ryan Getzlaf


Getzlaf sneaks one by Team USA Goalie, Adam Lawrence


Blake taking the puck up ice

There was some impressive skating and stick handling during the game, but nothing too physical. All in all, a very good-natured game. I was particularly impressed by the skills of sisters Annie and Alison Pankowsi, both playing in their first Fedorin Cup. Always good to see the girls rock the boys on the ice! Team USA fell behind in the first half, only to bounce back in the second and tie things up before the final horn sounded. Oh boy, a shootout! (surprise surprise!) A quick wrister by Getzy would settle the game with a Team Canada win.


The ceremonial handshake




A smashing success, the Fedorin event raised $10,000 for Hockey Fights Cancer


After the game, the event would transition into a dinner and casino night for the players and VIP attendees

But not before fans got a chance to get pictures and autographs!


Marchant tackles a sea of hockey fans wanting autographs


Blake joins the fray


Getzlaf posing for a fan picture


DiPenta signing autographs

Great job, guys! Can't wait to catch you at training camp!

New direction

The hockey preseason is less than a month away (YAY!) and I still do not have any Bobby Ryan contract news to share. C'mon Bobby, you're making us nervous here! There was a quick message passed to me from Bobby a few weeks ago in which he didn't talk about contracts, but he did sound very confident that he'd be in Anaheim once the season started.

All we can do is keep our fingers crossed!

One thing is for certain, the Finnish Flash will be back for another season with the Ducks. I was feeling rather confident that he would, given 1) Saku Koivu is returning, 2) it wouldn't be Teemu's style to end a career without a postseason, and 3) in games he was able to play in, he was still playing good quality hockey. But you'll never hear me say I told you so.

Mini-plan in hand, I'm ready for some hockey. Fans will get a taste tomorrow with the 13th Annual Fedorin Cup Charity Hockey Game and Casino Night. Todd Marchant, Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu, and Bobby are all scheduled to be there, along with many other NHL players. I believe tickets are still available. Click here for more information.

I attended the event last year and it was a lot of fun. Hoping this year will be the same. I'll have Baby Rebel in hand for plenty of pics and story to share with everyone tomorrow!

Go hockey!!

Free agency... frenzy?

The NHL teams that will hit the ice for the beginning of the 2010-11 season are going to look considerably different from the teams that left it a few weeks ago.

Our Anaheim Ducks are no exception.

What with captain Scott Niedermayer retiring, Ducks have some big holes to fill.

Typically, this time of the year is buzzing with trade news and signings. This summer seems a little quiet... or maybe that's because the Ducks haven't been dealing any big names. Yours truly actually started writing this post weeks ago. Then I decided to wait for more Ducks news before publishing.

I'm still waiting.

To date, we have the following changes to the Ducks roster:

- Left winger Logan MacMillan was traded to the Calgary Flames for left wing/center Jason Jaffray

- Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman was signed to a three-year contract

- Center Saku Koivu was re-signed to a two-year contract (Personally, this news made my day!)

- Center Trevor Smith, formerly of the New York Islanders, was signed to a one-year contract

- Left wingers Aaron Voros and Ryan Hillier of the New York Rangers were acquired for defenseman Steve Eminger

- Left winger Josh Green inked a one-year contract

- Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson continues on as a Duck with a one-year contract

- Left winger Matt McCue (along with his sharp right hook) was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for left winger Tomas Zaborsky

- Defenseman Danny Syvret, formerly with the Philadelphia Flyers, was inked to a one-year contract

- Defenseman Cam Fowler, the Ducks first overall pick at this year's draft, signed a three-year entry-level contract

- Defenseman James Wisniewski agreed to a one-year contract with the Ducks, only to be traded to the New York Islanders for a third round 2011 draft pick later that same day

I'm not sure what Bob Murray is up to, but he better not be finished yet. Somebody better be helping Lubomir Visnovsky with that blue line, and serious ink needs to be spilled as far as Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne are concerned!

Prospect Camp

Yours truly hasn't gotten too heavily involved with our Anaheim Ducks prospects and draft picks in seasons past, but being hockey deprived since the season's end drove myself and many other Ducks fans to Anaheim Ice this past week to watch our new Ducklings participate in prospect camp.

Scrimmages were open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings.

Just a few casual observations:

- Dan Sexton, having not attended a prospect camp, showed off his speed and puck handling skills.

- 2010 draft pick Kevin Lind looked good holding up the blue line.

- Ex-assistant coach Newell Brown's son, Adam, showed us some of his netminding skills.

- Kyle Palmieri is a name I want to see come up from the minors this season. The kid has speed, smooth hands, and a shooting patience reminiscent of Corey Perry.

- 2010 draft pick Devante Smith-Pelly plays a gritty style and boasts a frame that will only fill out in the upcoming years.

- We were also excited to see Ducks' 2010 first round draft picks Cam Fowler and Emerson Etem show us why they went 12th and 29th overall, respectively.

And a few pictures:

Big crowds at Anaheim Ice




Timo Pielmeier between the pipes




Cam Fowler on a one-on-one rush


Defensemen Scott Valentine and Mat Clark defend against right winger Justin Vaive


Marco Cousineau and Nick Bonino




Cam Fowler helping Marco Cousineau defend the goal




Kyle Palmieri and Adam Brown at the bench


Devante Smith-Pelly skates to a halt after the whistle


The guys stretch after 60 minutes of play

2010 NHL Entry Draft

The NHL Entry Draft isn't something that comes to town every year, especially not to us Southern Californian markets. So, despite an 8-hour work shift at the job that actually pays the bills, yours truly made the 1.5-hour drive (including traffic) up to the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Outside the front entrance to the Staples Center, local radio stations, local minor leagues, and the LA Kings media had set up stands to welcome hockey fans and curious passersby to the festivities.


LA Live, decked out in hockey decor

Once inside the arena, vendors dotted the outer concourse. All of the NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup, were on display. As is always the case at Staples, lots of Kings-clad fans walked the grounds; but also in attendance, a fair share of Anaheim Ducks fans and a modest showing of fans representing the other 28 franchises.

Yours truly was excited just to see so much hockey in one place! (Yes, it's going to be a long summer)


NHL hardware


Lord Stanley, we meet again!


The view from the 300 level


The main stage, where new draftees received hats, jerseys, and handshakes from their new franchises


TV coverage for everyone watching at home



I will admit, the only reason I found the Ducks table was by spotting the one and only Scott Niedermayer sitting at the upper right corner. Scotty would hand the Ducks' 12th and 29th picks their new Ducks jerseys.


Scotty watching the jumbotron



Surprised that he was still available by the time the 12th pick came around, the Ducks took 6'1" 190lb defenseman Cam Fowler. He's a left-shooting defenseman from the Windsor Spitfires, said to be a good puck-handler and puck-possessor who sees the ice well and controls the tempo of the game. He's compared to Tomas Kaberle and Jack Johnson.


Ducks take defenseman Cam Fowler for their 1st pick, 12th overall


For their 2nd pick in the first round, Ducks take Emerson Etem, 29th overall

A speedy right winger who shoots left, Emerson Etem is a local hockey boy from Long Beach, CA with lots of promise. He mirrors himself after Marian Gaborik and has been likened to Glenn Anderson and Joffrey Lupul.

The second day of the draft saw far fewer fans in attendance. Six more rounds landed the Ducks six more draft picks: right winger Devante Smith-Pelly, right winger Chris Wagner (Toronto's 122nd pick in exchange for Mike Brown), defenseman Tim Heed, center Andreas Dahlstrom, defenseman Kevin Lind, and right winger Brett Perlini.


Ex-Ducks GM Brian Burke, possibly discussing his trade involving Ducks forward Mike Brown

Overall, I think the Ducks did well with their draft picks. I will be very sorry to see Mike Brown go; he consistently played with heart and determination, always bringing 110% to the ice. Hopefully he'll see a lot more ice time with the Leafs.

The next items of business for GM Bob Murray should be securing Saku Koivu and Bobby Ryan.