Last week news came out that there is a Mighty Ducks TV series in the very early stages of creation.

Will it pick up 20 years later with the same characters now living their post-Gordon Bombay life, or will it be a total reboot back to the beginning of another bunch of loveable losers?

This article isn’t about trying to figure out the truth to that question – on a recent Puck Yeah Podcast episode that was fleshed out in depth – but to promote the notion that the Mighty Ducks films are the greatest & most important sports movies/franchise in sports movies history.

So how does this ridiculous hot take explain itself in a climate that includes sports films such as ‘Tin Cup’, ‘The Karate Kid’, ‘Remember The Titans’, ‘Bull Durham’, ‘Caddyshack’, the ‘Rocky’ films and even ‘Slap Shot’ for god’s sake?

Here are the reasons:

1. Introducing future hockey players and fans into the sport
There are a countless number of Kiwis who grew up in the late 80s and early 90s (this writer included) who were introduced to the great sport of hockey by watching ‘Champions’, then ‘D2: The Mighty Ducks’ and then ‘D3’. Some of the top NZ Ice Blacks have admitted their love for the film growing up, calling it their favourite hockey film and couldn’t recall how many times they would have watched the movies as kids with their brothers, sisters and mates.

It also introduced Margot Robbie to hockey turning her into a hockey player in Australia, where she was a goalie!

2. Joshua Jackson
Before he was blowing up on TV in that punishing show ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and the actually pretty good ‘Fringe’ he was Charlie Conway with the hot mum who had the skills but never had the coaching/father figure to fulfil his talents.

3. The Anaheim Ducks nee The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Disney bought an NHL franchise in the early 90s and before the inaugural season in 1993 they wanted to make sure the team launched into the market with the biggest splash possible. How do you do that in Hollywood? Create a movie first and then launch your professional sports team.

Hasbro did a similar thing for the launch of their Transformers toys, releasing the epic 1986 feature-length animated film – you know the one where Optimus Prime dies – before unleashing their toys to take over the world. So Disney already had a fan base for the team from people who had watched the films and now wanted to follow the hockey team.

4. How to figure out the difference between Iceland & Greenland
In the second film the hot Iceland Assistant Coach that Gordan Bombay goes out to eat ice cream with explained the perfect rule to remember the difference between the two… “Greenland is full of ice and Iceland is really nice!”

5. The Flying V
Is there a play in any other sports film that gets referenced by more real teams than ‘The Flying V’ does? It’s fair to say the play isn’t actually very advantageous and possibly illegal in terms of interference rules, but the amount of times someone has yelled out “Flying V!” at some hockey game is crazy.

So there you go, the most detailed and perfectly argued reason why The Mighty Ducks films are the most important/greatest sports films ever! 

via NHL / MSG Network

He’s got the look of a hockey player too!

More hockey on ‘Saturday Night Live’ please!

What a beauty!

Except, these previews are going to be slightly different.

For the Eastern Conference, I will preview each team by way of Taking Back Sunday songs. Surely you’ve heard a Taking Back Sunday song before…. Well, by the time you finish reading this and our ‘Brand New’ Western Conference Season Preview you’ll know much more about the East Coast post-hardcore scene, but probably much less about hockey…

Boston Bruins – You’re So Last Summer
“Don’t let it go to your head. Boys like you are a dime a dozen,  Boys like you are a dime a dozen ”

Finally, the Bruins did the right thing and held onto one of their young high skilled high scoring kids. After trading away Phil Kessell, Tyler Seguin and even Dougie Hamilton in past Summers, the Bruins learnt from their previous mistakes and resigned David Pastrnak to a long-term contract.

Buffalo Sabres – New American Classic
“If chasing our dreams is just a distraction, I want to remember when I know that I can’t go back”

It’s all about the American saviour for Buffalo. Jack Eichel fresh off signing an 8 year $80Million contract will decide the fate of the Sabres and with another American hero just up the road in Toronto, the Sabres/Leafs rivalry will be fun to watch for a long time.

Carolina Hurricanes – Great Romances Of The 20th Century
“September never stays this cold where I come from. And you know I’m not one (I’m not one) for complaining”

No team in the Eastern Conference has analytics folks fawning over them more than the Carolina Hurricanes. A new goalie and one of the best young defense cores in the league, but can the ‘Canes live up to all the attention?

Columbus Blue Jackets – This Is All Now
“I am owed this now. I am owed this now. I am owed this now”

The time has come for the Columbus Blue Jackets. This will be the year they will win the Division and go deep into the playoffs. That is if Sergei Bobrovsky stays healthy…

Detroit Redwings – A Decade Under The Influence 
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I’ve got a bad feeling about this”

The Detroit Redwings missed the Playoffs last season for the first time in what seemed like about 40 years and sadly for the once mighty franchise things will only get worse this year. At least they have a nice new building….

Florida Panthers – Miami
“You have to, you just have to trust me. Whoever I was then, I can’t ever be again”

After “repositioning” Dale Tallon and going all in on analytics, Dale Tallon is back and in charge and already moving out most of the players acquired during the analytical movement. Will Dale go full “old school” or incorporate the new thinking as the blueprint in South Florida?

Montreal Canadiens – Call Come Running
“Hey, you can call on me. If you called on me, I’d come running”

Here comes the saviour in Montreal. Jonathan Drouin a French-Canadian kid coming home to “La belle province” to save the day. But, can he play centre? We’ll find out… This team will go as far as Carey Price will take them though…

New Jersey Devils – The Timberwolves At New Jersey 
“This is you trying hard to make sure that you’re seen with a girl on your arm and your heart on your sleeve ”

The Devils won the Draft Lottery and walked away with the belle of the ball Nico Hischier. New Jersey has looked pretty good in the preseason and Taylor Hall will be doing everything he can to get into the playoffs for the first time in his career. Unfortunately for him, it won’t be this year…

New York Islanders – MakeDamnSure
“I’m gonna make damn sure that you can’t ever leave. No, you won’t ever get too far from me”

It’s all about doing everything you can to keep John Tavares happy for the Islanders. They brought in Jordan Eberle to play on his wing and now they just need to sort out the elephant in the corner of the arena and get out of Brooklyn!

New York Rangers – Cute Withouth The “E” (Cut From The Team)
“Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens”

If King Hendrik gets injured this season the Rangers hopes could be over. In the past, they’ve had Cam Talbot or Antti Raanta to fill in when Hank was injured or struggling but now it’s Ondřej Pavelec…

Ottawa Senators – This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)
“It will all catch up eventually well, it caught up and honestly the weight of my decisions
were impossible to hold”

The Senators made an improbable/miracle run to within one goal of the Stanley Cup Finals last year and the likely hood of that happening again isn’t great. Erik “D’Artagnan” Karlsson will miss the start of the season which won’t help.

Philadelphia Flyers – What It Feels Like To Be A Ghost
“So what’s it feel like to be a ghost? Are you up for, are you up for this?” 

Can the Flyers get back into the playoffs? If they can it will be off the back of their young defense group led by the Ghost Bear keeping every shot from getting through to Brian Elliot…

Pittsburgh Penguins – You Know How I Do
“So obviously desperate, so desperately obvious.”

The most terrifying thing for fans of other NHL teams is that Sidney Crosby isn’t happy with winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, he wants the three-peat…

Tampa Bay Lightning – One-Eighty By Summer
“Go on just say it, you need me like a bad habit, one that leaves you defenseless, dependent, and alone.”

No team has a better chance of going from out of the playoffs to Stanley Cup Champion than the Tampa Bay Lightning. If they can stay healthy… Even EA Sports predicted in their season simulation that it would be Steven Stamkos lifting the Cup in June.

Toronto Maple Leafs – My Blue Heaven
“We swing and we sway as this tiny voice in my head starts to sing you’re safe, child, you are safe.”

The Kids are alright! Welcome to the new blue future of the NHL. Between the Oilers and the Leafs, it’s possible the Stanley Cup winner will exclusively be from the great white north for the foreseeable future.

Except, these previews are going to be slightly different.

For the Western Conference, I will preview each team by way of Brand New songs. Don’t know who Brand New is? Well, I feel bad for you – but the good news is that by the end of reading this article you’ll have enough of a taste of Jesse Lacey and the boys from Long Island that you can pretend to be an expert at your next post-hardcore emo get together!

Anaheim Ducks – Seventy Times7
“Everyone’s caught onto everything you do, everyone’s caught onto…”

The Ducks have won five straight division titles but this is the end of that run. No Lindholm, Vatanen and Kesler to begin the season means the Ducks might as well hand over the Pacific crown to McJesus and the boys north of the wall.

Arizona Coyotes – Jude Law And A Semester Aboard
“So tell all the English boys you meet, about the American boy back in the states. The American boy you used to date. Who would do anything you say.”

John Chayka became the youngest General Manager in NHL history when he was named boss of the Coyotes at just age 26. Many of his classmates from college were probably still in their first job after graduating, still paying off their student loans and wondering why their first love, Jenni never returned from her OE…

Calgary Flames – Gasoline
“You tried to put the fire out but you used gasoline!”

The Flames have one of the best defensive cores in the NHL, only Nashville or possibly Anaheim could debate that. Johnny Hockey and Boring Sean Monahan are both studs and they have one of the best shutdown lines in hockey. However, their plan to fix last season’s goaltender woes was to trade for Mike Smith – “Hey Brian Burke, here’s a fresh barrel of petrol to pour over the fire!”

Chicago Blackhawks – Okay, I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don’t
“Keeping quiet is hard, cause you can’t keep secret if it never was a secret to start. At least pretend you didn’t wanna get caught.”

The ‘Hawks are so hard up against the cap ceiling the paint is starting to come off on the cheeks! Oh but wait, what’s this? Marian Hossa who’s 42-year contract which is now paying him only $1M a year in real cash now, can’t play because of a mysterious skin irritation and goodbye goes his $5.275M cap hit.

Colorado Avalanche – The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot
“Call me a safe bet, I’m betting I’m not…”

The title says it all really. The once mighty franchise which was the envy of all around the NHL now can’t even get out of its own way. Surely they can’t have as bad a season as the historically bad one they had last year, right?

Dallas Stars – You Won’t Know
“You won’t know… You won’t know… Yeah, You won’t know…”

New Year, new coach, new goalie, new result…right? Who knows! Ken Hitchcock is back, Ben Bishop is the saviour in goal and Marc Methot and his nine fingers are here to help on defense.  Surely that means a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Stars?

Edmonton Oilers – Soco Amaretto Lime
“While we walk around this town like we own the streets. And stay awake through summer like we own the heat…”

No team in the West has a brighter future than the Oilers and it won’t be long before Conor McDavid is hoisting the cup above his head while everyone else looks on and wishes it was them – “You’re just jealous cause we’re young and in love!”

Los Angeles Kings – Same Logic/Teeth
“This is the same logic that got us into trouble the first time.”

Things haven’t been too good for the former Kings of the NHL lately. Bad contracts, underperforming stars and injuries forced the Kings to fire their Coach and GM in the Summer and replace them with fresh blood. Well not really, more like the Assistant Coach and Assistant GM.

Minnesota Wild – The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
“Were neither clear nor descript, we kept it safe and slow, the quiet things that no one ever knows.”

One of the more unexciting teams in the NHL. Not because the brand of hockey they play isn’t exciting; Bruce Boudreau loves high scoring teams, but for a team in the hockey capital of the United States, is there anyone other than Wild fans watching their games? The Wild could make or miss the Playoffs and not many people would know.

Nashville Predators – Mix Tape
“This is the first song for your mixtape. It’s short just like your temper, but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool…”

The darlings of the NHL last season will now become that best mate who is now getting attention from all the cool kids and never wants to hang out anymore.

San Jose – Jaws Theme Swimming
“And we learn as we age. Wait for nothing. And my body still aches.”

Could there be any other song for the team from the bay with a shark for a mascot? Patrick Marleau left and Joe Thornton remains, but how much does Jumbo Joe have left in the (shark) tank?

St. Louis Blues – Not The Sun
“Just pretend that you want me. To be my babe, To be my babe…” 

Is this the year that the Blues and their ‘on again/off again’ situation with goalie Jake Allen finally ends and they change their status from ‘It’s complicated’ to ‘In a relationship’? Jake certainly hopes so.

Vancouver Canucks – Failure By Design
“This is a lesson in procrastination. I kill myself because I’m so frustrated. And every single second that I put it off, means another lonely night I got to race the clock.”

Nobody really knows what the Canucks are doing. “Let’s bottom out and get draft picks. Let’s sign Loui Eriksson and Sam Gagner!” Enjoy just missing the playoffs while not being bad enough to draft a franchise changer…

Vegas Golden Knights – At The Bottom
“There’s a lake and at the bottom you’ll find all my friends”

It probably won’t be a great first year for the Vegas Golden Knights. However, they might have a pretty good home record as teams may stray and fall victim to the all that Sin City has to offer!

Winnipeg Jets – Secondary
“Stop these looks and letters. This isn’t for the better. You put me down…  It’s for the worse, you’re not my girl.”

There’s only one other team in the West that has a future anywhere close to the bright lights of the Oilers. Laine, Elhers, Trouba, Scheifele, Hellebuyck, Connors and so many more. Fans of other teams will look over at the Winnipeg Jets longingly and wondering why that can’t be mine and thinking bad thoughts.

Give the team at Sportsnet a little round of applause for this brilliant tease for the upcoming season.

If they were to do an actual NHL x Game Of Thrones mash-up, Gary Bettman would be a perfect Tyrion…

If you’re lucky enough to have met Cam you’ll agree with these two things about him.
He really, really, really loves hockey and any idea he has, no matter how “blue sky” it is, the next time you hear from Cam that idea is a reality.

When he and Langer had the idea of starting their own league, it wasn’t long after the can was empty and the dart was out that the BHL was born.

The name of the league sums it up perfectly; BHL – Backyard Hockey League – Buddies Hockey Life.

Four summers after the first parking lot chat, the BHL has expanded from four to six teams, held a draft at Eden Park, added FHL (Frontyard Hockey League) affiliate teams for each BHL team, which allowed more than another 70 players join the league and create a community that is the envy of all hockey associations in New Zealand.

Cups have been lifted, highlights have been featured on TSN, teeth have been lost, beers have been crushed and friendships have been made.

So what did the brain trust of the BHL have in store for the fifth season?

The Reset.

Teams would only be left with a “Core Four” of players from their previous season rosters and everyone else went back into the Free Agent pool to be picked in the draft.

29 rounds and over 150 picks.

The draft results will be announced this Friday at a prestigious black-tie event where everyone will learn their fate, which sweater they will be pulling on this summer and which teammates they will be chirping with before the game.

Spoiler alert: The first overall pick has already been announced…