Traveling for NHL games is always a fun time. There's plenty to do before the game and it takes your mind off life's various nuances and troubles. For many, traveling is the perfect therapy needed to decompress, especially for Vegas Golden Knights fans. The fanbase knows how to travel well, taking over various cities such as Tempe and Los Angeles.
However, there's one particular trip Golden Knights fans must make in their trip next season. The trip is also in Southern California, except it has a more 'magical' feel to it. It offers the California suburbs a team they can call theirs without driving into the city. Of course, that city happens to be Anaheim.
Orange County is home to numerous teams and famous figures, ranging from the "Los Angeles Angels" (seriously, they need to adopt the 'Anaheim' moniker in their name again) to Gwen Stefani and No Doubt. However, the Ducks have also etched their name in the region's annals, even establishing themselves in hockey history.
For one, they're the first NHL team from California to win the Stanley Cup. They defeated the Ottawa Senators, 4-1, in 2007 to bring home the most coveted trophy in sports. The Ducks have also housed numerous big-name players, including Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya. Hockey in California doesn't take off without winning Lord Stanley, after all.
With that, I did some traveling and went undercover for a game. The experience itself was fantastic, with a good game to boot. For any Vegas hockey fans looking to bite into some oranges next season, here's the complete guide on what to do in Orange County's sportiest city.
What makes the Anaheim Ducks unique?
Some NHL teams are named after a resident animal in the state or region (i.e. the Florida Panthers). Some are named after a significant historical piece within the region or state (i.e. the Columbus Blue Jackets). But for the Anaheim Ducks, they were named based on a movie: The Mighty Ducks.
The Disney classic featuring Emilio Estevez was about a ragtag group of hockey players. They're coached by a Minneapolis defense attorney (Estevez) who's forced into doing community service from a night of heavy drinking and driving. Eventually, the team wins the state championship, overcoming improbable odds.
Of course, Walt Disney Company founded the team in 1993, naming it... the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. They owned it until 2005 when it was sold to Henry and Susan Samueli. They made it to their second Stanley Cup Finals in 2007 (the first being in 2003, where they lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven games), becoming Stanley Cup champions that season. Oddly enough, they changed their name to the Anaheim Ducks before that year started, making for a simpler moniker.