J.S. Giguere’s Anaheim Homecoming

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Phil Hulett

Anaheim Ducks 6-Game Homestand

Tomorrow night the Anaheim Ducks return to Anaheim in hopes that some home cooking will reverse their fortunes. The first game won’t be easy versus the Vancouver Canucks, but I’m looking forward to a fast-paced game with a lot of scoring chances. Plus, it seems like I’ve been away from the ice for a long time, so it will be great to get back to the Honda Center microphone.

Say Hello to an Old Friend Saturday

On New Year’s Eve the Ducks and Colorado Avalanche play at Honda Center.
Here’s the official press release from the Anaheim Ducks:

This Saturday, Dec. 31, goaltender J.S. Giguere will return to Honda Center for the first time since his last appearance as a Duck at home on Dec. 8, 2009…the Ducks won that game in OT over Dallas (he was traded to Toronto on Jan. 31, 2010)…Giguere spent nine seasons with the Anaheim Ducks from 2000-10…in 447 career contests with Anaheim, Giguere posted a 206-163-59 with a 2.47 GAA and .914 SV%, including 32 shutouts…he remains the all-time franchise leader (min 100 games) in wins, career GAA, shutouts, appearances and minutes played (25,646).

The Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2003 as the most valuable player of the postseason, Giguere guided the then-Mighty Ducks to their first Western Conference championship and Stanley Cup Final appearance (lost in 7 games to NJ)…in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Giguere finished the postseason with the NHL’s top GAA (1.92) and SV% (.945)…in addition, his playoff OT shutout streak of 197:52 still stands as the longest in NHL history (Apr. 10, 2003-Apr. 27, 2007)…Giguere became the first player since 1987 (Ron Hextall, PHI) and the fifth player all-time (trophy was handed out beginning in 1965) to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as a member of the defeated team in the Stanley Cup Final.

In 2007, Giguere led the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup championship, beating the Ottawa Senators in five games…in 18 appearances in the 2007 postseason, the Montreal, Quebec native posted a 13-4 record with a 1.97 GAA and .922 SV. In 52 career playoff appearances with Anaheim from 2003-09, Giguere compiled a 33-17 record with six shutouts, a 2.08 GAA and .925 SV%.

AnaheimDucks.com

Unwavering Optimism for the Anaheim Ducks

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Phil Hulett

Anaheim Ducks Get One on the Road

After going 13 road games without a win, the Anaheim Ducks pull one out in San Jose. Always the optimist, I continue to believe the boys have plenty of time to turn this ship around. They are 14 games out of the 8th spot with a lot of hockey left to play. A couple of 4 out of 5 road trips here, a 3 of 3 home stand or two there, a change of fortunes for teams ahead of the Ducks, and bingo, we’re back in the hunt.

No Loss of Enthusiasm

I refuse to give up on the team. Enthusiasm is contagious. That’s the real reason why I came up with the Twitter hashtag #AnaheimDucksGoooaaalll and fans have responded. Even on a night when I cannot stay up to watch the game, the fans lit a fire on Twitter.
I Tweeted, “Guys, if I don’t sleep now, I’ll lose @KFWB’s license in the morn. Make me proud. I’ll check the score at 1:30am. #AnaheimDucksGoooaaalll”
@whathappnd repsonded, “@philhulett No worries, we know our role. #HashtagWarriors #AnaheimDucksGoooaaalll”
And that response was typical of the support for the idea to flood the Twitterverse with Anaheim Ducks enthusiasm. I woke up to a win and I plan to chat it up big time on my radio show this morning on KFWB 980 AM in L.A. (Thanks for tuning in from 5-9am)

(For a complete game recap, click here.)

DSP Update

At the start of the game last night, the Ducks revealed the following: “Anaheim Ducks right wing Devante Smith-Pelly suffered a fractured left foot (fractured first metatarsal bone) after blocking a shot during Team Canada’s 8-1 win over Finland at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship today in Edmonton, Alberta. Smith-Pelly is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.”
Get well soon Devante.

Anaheim Ducks Assign Player to Syracuse

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Phil Hulett

I like this kid, Macenauer.
Read the press release the Anaheim Ducks sent out this morning:

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has assigned center Maxime Macenauer to the Syracuse Crunch, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Macenauer, 22 (1/4/89), appeared in 29 contests for Anaheim this season, collecting 1-3=4 points with 18 penalty minutes (PIM). He scored his first career NHL goal (Greiss), the game-winner on Oct. 14 vs. San Jose (1-0). The 6-0, 202-pound center made his NHL debut on Oct. 7 at Buffalo in Helsinki, Finland as part of the 2011 Compuware NHL Premiere, collecting an assist in 10:35 time-on-ice.

Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Change

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Phil Hulett

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled center Nick Bonino from the Syracuse Crunch, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The club has also reassigned center Brandon McMillan to Syracuse.

Bonino

Bonino, 23 (4/20/88), has appeared in two games with Anaheim this season, making his 2011-12 debut on Nov. 1 at Washington. Originally recalled from Syracuse on Oct. 31, Bonino scored 6-16=22 points with an even plus/minus rating in 19 games with the Crunch this season. The 6-0, 192-pound center was tied for the team lead in assists and ranked third in scoring at the time of his recall. He had points in three straight games (1-3=4) and eight of his last nine AHL contests (4-7=11).

Selected by San Jose in the sixth round (173rd overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Bonino was acquired by Anaheim with Timo Pielmeier in exchange for Kent Huskins and Travis Moen on Mar. 4, 2009. He has appeared in 37 career NHL games with the Ducks, scoring 1-1=2 points with 10 PIM. In addition, the Hartford, CT native has scored 18-49=67 points with a +10 rating in 69 career AHL games.

McMillan

McMillan, 21 (3/22/90), has appeared in 25 contests with Anaheim this season, collecting four assists (0-4=4) with 20 PIM. The 5-10, 190-pound center was originally assigned to Syracuse on Nov. 28 and played five AHL games prior to his Dec. 9 recall, recording 3-0=3 points with a +1 rating and four PIM.

Selected by Anaheim in the third round (85th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McMillan has scored 11-14=25 points with 38 PIM in 85 career regular season NHL contests. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 21, 2010 vs. Edmonton and scored his first career goal in his third NHL game on Nov. 27, 2010, a 6-4 Anaheim win at Phoenix. McMillan ranked tied for third among NHL rookies in short-handed goals (2) during the 2010-11 season.

Clippers Mania! What?

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Phil Hulett

Chris Paul and the Clippers

You have no doubt heard that the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers traded with the New Orleans Hornets for 4-time all-star, Chris Paul. Who the traded away will fade in the memories of Clippers fans soon enough, so I won’t go into the details – you can look those up (click on Paul’s picture). What matters is, the Clippers matter. When was the last time anyone said that?

The Home of Your Los Angeles Clippers

As you know, I host the morning show, “LA’s Morning News” at KFWB 980 in Los Angeles. I cannot be more thrilled with the anticipation of a great, if not championship season from the Clippers because all of their games air on KFWB! More listeners during the games means some of those people will tune in to my show! OK, I am being selfish – but not entirely. Each morning we’ll have recaps of the game and descriptions of what Blake Griffin called yesterday, “Lob City,” when Paul dishes to the human highlight reel. It’s going to be fun. Don’t worry, I promise to force our sports guy, Bret Lewis, to pay the proper amount of attention to my Anaheim Ducks!

Tune in!

Again, LA’s Morning News with me and Penny Griego, along with Rhonda Kramer on Traffic, Bret Lewis on Sports, Steve Potisk with Money News, Paul Lowe on special reports, and a host of other contributors, airs every weekday morning from 5-9 pacific time, on KFWB 980 AM. If you are outside the LA Market, you can stream at http://bit.ly/KFWB980. Thanks for listening!