Anaheim Ducks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anaheim Ducks
Conference	Western
Division	Pacific
Founded	1993
History	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1993–2006 Anaheim Ducks 2006–present
Home arena	Honda Center
City	Anaheim, California
Colors	Orange, metallic gold, black, white
Media	Victory+ Sports Network KCOP (Fox 11 Plus) KTTV (Fox 11) Ducks Stream on TuneIn
Owner(s)	Henry & Susan Samueli
General manager	Pat Verbeek
Head coach	Greg Cronin
Captain	Radko Gudas
Minor league affiliates	San Diego Gulls (AHL) Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	1 (2006–07)
Conference championships	2 (2002–03, 2006–07)
Presidents' Trophies	0
Division championships	6 (2006–07, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17)

The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Ducks are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Their home games are played at Honda Center. The team is owned by Henry and Susan Samueli. The Ducks also have minor league teams, the San Diego Gulls (AHL) and the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL). They are one of two NHL teams in the Greater Los Angeles area, the other being the Los Angeles Kings.

The Ducks started as an expansion team in the 1993–94 season. They were first called the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. This name came from the 1992 Disney movie The Mighty Ducks. In 2005, Disney sold the team to the Samueli family. The team's name changed to the Anaheim Ducks before the 2006–07 season. The Ducks have won six Pacific Division championships. They have reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice. They lost to the New Jersey Devils in 2003. But they won the Stanley Cup in 2007 against the Ottawa Senators. This made them the first California team to win the Stanley Cup. Two Ducks players have won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP): Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2003 and Scott Niedermayer in 2007.

History of the Ducks

Starting the Team (1993–1996)

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were created in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company. The NHL approved the team in December 1992. The team's name was announced on March 1, 1993, at the new Anaheim Arena. The name was inspired by the Disney movie The Mighty Ducks. Tony Tavares became the team president, and Jack Ferreira became the general manager. Ron Wilson was the first head coach.

The Ducks picked players in the 1993 NHL expansion draft and the 1993 NHL entry draft. They chose goalies Guy Hebert and Glenn Healy first. They also picked Paul Kariya as the fourth overall pick. Kariya became a very important player for the team. In their first season, the Ducks won 33 games. This was a record for an expansion team. They also sold out many home games.

The lockout-shortened 1994–95 NHL season saw Paul Kariya play his first games. He scored 18 goals and 21 assists. The Ducks had another good season, winning 16 games.

The Paul Kariya Years (1996–2003)

In the 1995–96 season, Paul Kariya was chosen for the 1996 NHL All-Star Game. The Ducks made a big trade with the Winnipeg Jets. They got Teemu Selanne, who became a star player. Kariya, Selanne, and Steve Rucchin formed a powerful scoring line. Even with these great players, the Ducks missed the playoffs by a small margin.

In the 1996–97 season, Kariya became team captain. He led the Ducks to their first playoff appearance. They beat the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round. Kariya scored a big overtime goal in Game 6. But they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the second round. After this, Ron Wilson was fired.

The Ducks had a tough time in 1997–98. Kariya missed many games due to a contract dispute and a concussion. The team missed the playoffs. In 1998–99, with new coach Craig Hartsburg, they made the playoffs but were swept by Detroit.

In the 1999–2000 season, the Ducks scored many goals but missed the playoffs. In 2000–01, Kariya and Selanne's scoring went down. Selanne was traded to San Jose. The team finished last in the Western Conference. In 2001–02, with new coach Bryan Murray, the team still struggled.

Western Conference Champions (2002–2003)

The Mighty Ducks returned to the playoffs in the 2002–03 season. They had a new coach, Mike Babcock. They were the seventh seed. In the first round, they surprised everyone by sweeping the defending champion Detroit Red Wings. Steve Rucchin scored the winning goal in overtime in Game 4.

In the second round, the Ducks faced the Dallas Stars. Game 1 was one of the longest games in NHL history. Petr Sykora scored in the fifth overtime. The Ducks won the series in six games. In their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, they swept the Minnesota Wild. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere had three shutouts in a row.

The 2003 Stanley Cup Finals were against the New Jersey Devils. Ducks player Rob Niedermayer played against his brother Scott. The home team won the first five games. In Game 6, Kariya was hit hard but returned to score a goal. The Ducks won 5–2, forcing a Game 7. However, they lost Game 7 by a score of 3–0. Giguere won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. He was only the fifth player to win it from the losing team.

New Owners and Stanley Cup Win (2003–2007)

After the 2003 season, Paul Kariya left the Ducks to join the Colorado Avalanche. The 2003–04 season was not good for the Ducks. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere did not play as well. The team finished in 12th place.

In 2005, Broadcom Corporation co-founder Henry Samueli and his wife Susan bought the Mighty Ducks from Disney. They promised to keep the team in Anaheim. Brian Burke became the new general manager.

Scott Niedermayer battles for the puck with San Jose Sharks' Scott Hannan in a game during the 2005–06 season; signed in the 2005 off-season, he was later named as team captain

On August 1, 2005, Randy Carlyle was hired as the new head coach. On August 4, 2005, defenseman Scott Niedermayer joined the Mighty Ducks to play with his brother Rob. Scott Niedermayer was quickly named team captain. On August 22, Teemu Selanne returned to Anaheim. He led the team in scoring with 90 points.

Teemu Selanne playing for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim against San Jose Sharks in 2006

The 2005–06 season saw new young players like Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Chris Kunitz. The Ducks finished with 98 points and were the sixth seed. They beat the Calgary Flames in seven games. Then they swept the Colorado Avalanche in four games. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov played very well. In the Western Conference Finals, they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games.

In January 2006, the Samueli family announced the team would be renamed the "Anaheim Ducks" for the next season.

Stanley Cup Champions (2006–2007)

Before the 2006–07 season, the Ducks changed their look. Their new colors were black, gold, and orange. The old duck mask logo was replaced with a new "Ducks" wordmark that had a webbed foot for the "D".

Chris Pronger during the 2006–07 season. The Ducks acquired Pronger during the 2006 off-season, in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers

The Ducks traded for star defenseman Chris Pronger. With strong scoring lines, a great defense, and good goaltending, the Ducks were expected to be a top team. They started the season with a record of 12 wins, 0 losses, and 4 overtime losses. This was an NHL record for not losing in regulation for the first 16 games. On April 7, the Ducks won their first division title. They finished the season with 110 points, their first time getting over 100 points.

The Ducks beat the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks in five games each in the playoffs. They then faced the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals. The Ducks won the series in six games, reaching their second Stanley Cup Finals.

U.S. President George W. Bush is presented with a Ducks jersey during a White House ceremony in honor of the team's championship season

In the Finals, the Ducks played against the Ottawa Senators. They won the first two games at home. On June 6, the Ducks defeated the Senators 6–2 at Honda Center. They won their first Stanley Cup in team history! Scott Niedermayer won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. The Ducks became the first California team to win the Stanley Cup.

After the Stanley Cup (2007–2010)

The Ducks started the 2007–08 season without Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, who were thinking about retiring. Both players eventually returned. The team finished with a good record but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Dallas Stars.

Saku Koivu of the Ducks, and Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks, face-off during a game in the 2009–10 season. The Ducks signed Koivu during the 2009 off-season

In November 2008, Brian Burke left his role as general manager. Bob Murray took over. The team struggled at first but made the playoffs as the eighth seed. They upset the top-seeded San Jose Sharks in the first round. But they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the next round. Before the 2009–10 season, the Ducks traded Chris Pronger. Scott Niedermayer announced his retirement in 2010.

The Getzlaf and Perry Era (2010–2018)

Ryan Getzlaf was drafted by the Ducks in 2003, and served as team captain from 2010 to 2022.

The 2010–11 season started slowly for the Ducks. But they improved and finished strong, making the playoffs. Corey Perry had an amazing season, scoring 50 goals and 98 points. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (most goals) and the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP). This made him the first Duck to win the Hart Trophy. However, the Ducks lost in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.

The 2011–12 season began with the team playing games in Europe. After a tough start, the Ducks hired Bruce Boudreau as their new head coach. The team could not recover and missed the playoffs.

Bruce Boudreau was the head coach of the Ducks from 2011 to 2016. He coached the team to four consecutive division titles.

The 2012–13 season was shorter due to a lockout. The Ducks played very well and won their second Pacific Division title. They lost to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the playoffs.

The 2013–14 season was the team's 20th anniversary. Teemu Selanne announced it would be his last season. The Ducks had a fantastic season, winning a franchise-record ten games in a row. They finished with their best record ever (116 points) and won their second straight Pacific Division title. They beat the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs. But they lost to their rivals, the Los Angeles Kings, in seven games in the second round.

In 2014, the Ducks acquired Ryan Kesler. In the 2015 playoffs, they won their third straight Pacific Division title. They swept the Winnipeg Jets and beat the Calgary Flames. But they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final in seven games. This was the third year in a row they lost a Game 7 at home after leading the series.

John Gibson in net for the Ducks, April 2016

The 2015–16 NHL season started slowly for the Ducks. But they improved, thanks to goalie John Gibson. They set a franchise record with an 11-game winning streak. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Nashville Predators. This led to coach Bruce Boudreau being fired. Randy Carlyle was re-hired as head coach.

The Ducks won the Pacific Division again in 2017. They swept the Calgary Flames in the first round. They finally won a Game 7, beating the Edmonton Oilers to reach the Western Conference finals. But they lost to the Nashville Predators. In the next season, they made the playoffs but were swept by the San Jose Sharks.

Rebuilding the Team (2018–present)

In 2019, the Ducks fired Randy Carlyle. Bob Murray became the interim head coach. The team missed the playoffs. On June 17, 2019, Dallas Eakins was named the new head coach.

In November 2021, Bob Murray resigned as general manager. Pat Verbeek was named general manager in February 2022. In 2023, Dallas Eakins left as head coach. The team finished last in the league in his final year.

The Ducks hired Greg Cronin as their new head coach on June 5, 2023. In the 2023 NHL entry draft, the team picked Leo Carlsson second overall.

Team Information

Name Changes

The team was founded in 1993 as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. This name came directly from The Mighty Ducks movies. When The Walt Disney Company sold the team in 2005, the name was shortened to Anaheim Ducks.

Uniforms and Logos

Old Uniforms (1993–2006)

The original Mighty Ducks of Anaheim white jersey from 1993 to 2006.

The original Mighty Ducks jerseys were eggplant (purple) and jade (green). They had diagonal stripes. The team also had special "Wild Wing" jerseys in 1995. These jerseys showed the mascot breaking out of ice. The team later used black pants and helmets. In 2003, a black alternate jersey with the full team name was introduced.

New Look (2006–2014)

The duck foot logo has been in use as either a primary or secondary logo since 2006.

After becoming the Anaheim Ducks, the uniforms changed to black and white with metallic gold and orange stripes. The main logo was the team name. In 2010, a black alternate jersey with the "webbed D" logo was added. For a special game in 2014, the Ducks wore an orange jersey with a chromed Ducks logo.

Recent Uniforms (2014–present)

In 2014, the "webbed D" logo became the main logo on the jerseys. An orange third jersey with a modified Mighty Ducks crest was introduced in 2015. For their 25th anniversary in 2018–19, the Ducks wore a special jersey with the original Mighty Ducks logo and colors.

For the 2020–21 season, the Ducks had a "Reverse Retro" jersey that was a white version of their old Wild Wing design. In 2022–23, another "Reverse Retro" jersey was released, using the old white uniform design but with the current orange, black, and gold colors. For their 30th anniversary in 2023–24, they brought back purple and jade colors with a new "Wild Wing" mask logo.

Starting in 2024, the Ducks unveiled new jerseys. The home jersey is orange with black, gold, and white stripes. The away jersey is white with orange shoulders and similar stripes. Both jerseys have a new version of the duck foot logo on the shoulders.

Colors and Logos

The team's original colors were eggplant and jade. After 2006, they changed to orange, black, and gold. Orange is used because Anaheim is in Orange County.

The first Mighty Ducks logo showed a goalie mask shaped like a duck bill. It had hockey sticks and a triangle behind it. The current main logo is similar to the original mask, but with updated colors and details. The "webbed D" logo, which looks like a duck's foot forming a "D", is now a secondary logo.

Mascot

The official mascot of the Anaheim Ducks is an anthropomorphic (human-like) duck named Wild Wing. He has been the mascot since the team started in 1993. His name was chosen by fans. He wears a Ducks jersey with the number 93, for the year the team began.

Wild Wing with members of the California National Guard prior to the ceremonial first puck

Wild Wing often comes down from the arena rafters during games. Once, his equipment had a problem, and he was stuck high above the ice. Another time, in 1995, he accidentally tripped into a "wall of fire" and his costume caught fire!

A bronze statue of Wild Wing used to be outside Honda Center. It was moved for construction but returned in 2017. Wild Wing also inspired a character in the Mighty Ducks cartoon. Fans successfully protested when the team thought about changing the mascot.

Rivalries

The Ducks have two main rivalries. Their rivalry with the Los Angeles Kings is called the Freeway Face-Off. This is because both teams are in the greater Los Angeles area. Their arenas are also close to Interstate 5 in California.

The Ducks also have a rivalry with the San Jose Sharks. Even though their cities are far apart, they have had intense playoff series. The Ducks won their playoff series in 2009, but the Sharks won in 2018.

Season-by-season record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Ducks. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Anaheim Ducks seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and Personnel

Team Captains

Coaches

General Managers

First-Round Draft Picks

Team Awards and Honors

NHL Awards and Trophies

Retired Numbers

Anaheim Ducks retired numbers hanging inside Honda Center in 2021

The Anaheim Ducks have retired three jersey numbers. Teemu Selanne's No. 8 was retired on January 11, 2015. Paul Kariya's No. 9 was retired on October 21, 2018. Scott Niedermayer's No. 27 was retired on February 17, 2019.

The NHL also retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams in 2000.

Hockey Hall of Fame

Several players connected to the Anaheim Ducks are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. These include:

• Sergei Fedorov
• Paul Kariya
• Jari Kurri
• Scott Niedermayer
• Adam Oates
• Chris Pronger
• Teemu Selanne

Franchise Scoring Leaders

These are the top players in team history for points, goals, and assists.

•  *  – current Ducks player

Teemu Selanne is the franchise's all-time leading goalscorer with 457 goals. Selanne is also second in franchise all-time points and assists.

Franchise Playoff Scoring Leaders

These are the top players in team playoff history for points, goals, and assists.

• = current Ducks player

Franchise Single-Season Records

All-Time Franchise Records

Regular Season

Playoffs

Broadcasters

The Ducks' games are broadcast on TV and radio.

• John Ahlers is the TV play-by-play announcer.
• Brian Hayward is the TV color analyst.
• Steve Carroll is the Radio play-by-play announcer.
• Emerson Etem is the Radio color analyst.

Games are streamed for free on Victory+. Many games are also shown on KCOP-TV or KTTV. Radio broadcasts are on Ducks Stream, an online station on TuneIn.

See Also

In Spanish: Anaheim Ducks para niños

• List of Anaheim Ducks draft picks
• List of Anaheim Ducks players