•DucksLearn-to-SkateProgram•DucksintheCommunity•HolidayPlansAvailable

2009-10PlayerRinkTour&SpeakingSeries

JerseyNumbersDID YOU KNOW...

PLUS...

LUP-INGBACK TOTHE DUCKS

Joffrey Lupul is no stranger to the Anaheim Ducks. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native was a member of the Ducks organization from 2003-06, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in a deal that brought Chris Pronger to the Ducks. After spending one season in Edmonton, the 6”1’ winger was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he spent two seasons before being traded back to Anaheim this past summer, once again in a deal that ironically involved Pronger.

Beyond the Boards recently sat down with Lupul to talk about his youth hockey experience growing up, the Pronger trades, and being back in Anaheim.

Q:Whatwasyourfavoritepartofplayingyouthhockey?

JoffreyLupul: Just playing, being around your friends and meeting a lot of great people as you grow up.

Q:Whowasyourfavoritehockeyplayergrowingup?

JL: Joe Sakic and Mike Modano. They were always in the finals, doing well in the playoffs and scoring a lot of goals when I was growing up.

Q:WhendidyoufirstrealizethatyouhadagoodshotatplayingintheNHL?

JL: When I was 17, I was playing junior hockey and I started growing. I was a late grower. I grew four or five inches and all of a sudden people were talking about me getting drafted. It all came about pretty quick.

Q:WhatadvicedoyouhaveforyouthhockeyplayershopingtomakeittotheNHL?

JL: Have fun. It’s a lot of pressure, especially in Canada. A lot of pressure gets put on young kids to try and take their hockey to the next level when they’re young. Really at that point, the only thing that should be on kids’ minds is having fun and enjoying the game.

JOFFREY LUPUL COMES BACKHOME TO ORANGE COUNTYAND THE DUCKS

Q:WhatisyourfavoriteNHLteamtoplayagainst?

JL: New York Rangers. It’s fun there.

Q:YouwereinvolvedintwotradesforChrisPronger?Whatwasthatlike?

JL: It was a weird coincidence. It’s kind of an honor in a bit of a way to be traded for a player like that, who has had a very successful career. He will continue doing well in Philadelphia I’m sure. We’ve never really had a chance to talk about it, but it’s definitely something that doesn’t happen very often.

Q:WhatwasgoingthroughyourheadlastsummerwhenyoufoundoutyouhadbeentradedbacktoAnaheim?

JL: I was shocked at first and also very excited because of my familiarity with this area. I have a house here, a lot of friends here and I knew some of the guys on the team. It’s kind of become my home. It had been in the summer anyway. Now to live here year round is pretty cool for me because I love it down here.

Q:HowisthehockeyatmosphereinPhiladelphiadifferentfromAnaheim?

JL: It’s completely different there. Philly is hockey crazy. Everyone loves their team. They have very vocal fans too. Philly is known for that, being vocal in every sport. They will get on you and boo you. You learn to just accept it. Here the fan base is a lot better

than when I left. I’m sure the Stanley Cup has something to do with that, but also there have been a lot of players that have really blossomed here. There are definitely a lot more fans here than there was three or four years

ago. I can tell by people coming up and talking to me at restaurants. It’s good that hockey’s growing here as well.

Q:Doyouhaveanypre-gameorpost-gameritualsorsuperstitions?

JL: Not really. I’m kind of boring in that regard. A lot of guys do a lot of different things. I just try and have a nap, have a couple cups of coffee and prepare the best I can.

Q:Whatdoyouenjoydoingwhenyou’renotplayinghockey?

JL: Music is a big hobby of mine, especially playing the guitar. I try to get out as much as possible and see shows. That’s another thing I really like about Southern California; there’s a lot of diversity when it comes to music. I saw a lot of awesome bands this summer so that was fun. I like to golf. I live right down by the beach so I like going to the beach. A great thing about playing down here is there are lots of ways to get away from hockey and take your mind off things.

Q:WhatisonethingDucksfansmightnotknowaboutyou?

JL: I’m a shopaholic. I shop way too much. Is that bad?

JOFFREY LUPUL COMES BACKHOME TO ORANGE COUNTYAND THE DUCKS

Jersey NumbersAnaheim Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray is a big believer in earning your stripes. In the case of the team’s younger players, earning their stripes often comes in the form of earning their numbers.

“They know there is a goal,” says Murray. “Everything is about goals. They know what to work towards and when they get a lower jersey number they’re there. Then they have to stay there.”

When new players are brought up through the Ducks organization, they are given higher numbers than the veteran players at training camp. “That’s what happens,” says Murray. “The numbers are way up in the 40s, 50s or 60s depending on who is in camp and how high of a draft pick you were.”

If the player secures a spot on the final roster at the end of training camp, the same number stays on their back until they have proven themselves. “You keep that number until you earn the right to be an everyday player in the NHL and then you find a lower number,” says Murray of his philosophy on jersey numbers that has been in place since he joined the Ducks organization five years ago. “Usually the guys are given a choice of 3 or 4 numbers to pick from to wear. We try to accommodate the best we can.”

There is also some consideration given to the history of a number in terms of who has worn it on the Ducks in the past. “We try not to put a player in a number that would create too much pressure for the player,” says Murray. “You don’t always want them wearing a number that a guy has worn before. You have to be careful with what you do there.”

Bobby Ryan, the Ducks first round draft pick (second overall) in 2005, started the 2008-09 season, his first full one with the Ducks, with 54 on his back. Not being allowed to wear his desired No. 9, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native was assigned 54. Whether it was on done on purpose or merely a coincidence, this combination of numbers, when added together, equaled nine. More than halfway through last season, Ryan was finally given No. 9. He had earned his stripes.

However, there was some concern about giving Ryan No. 9, a number that Mighty Ducks great, Paul Kariya, once wore. “It was a tough decision that was thought about long and hard,” says Murray.“That just wasn’t an easy decision. Bobby wanted it badly. It was no offense to Paul. That was a tough one. Time will tell if we made the right decision.”

With Bobby Ryan finishing the 2008-09 season as a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist for outstanding play in his first full NHL season where he led all rookies in points and goals, it looks like he is living up to the legacy of No. 9, at least for now.

OperatiOn HOmefrOnt nigHtThe Saturday, November 7 Anaheim Ducks home game against the Phoenix Coyotes is Operation Homefront Night at Honda Center. The game will honor local military and their family members as well as help raise awareness for the Operation Homefront nonprofit organization. The Anaheim Ducks will host 200 Operation Homefront family members and present one service member

with the special recognition of the Community Hero

award prior to the game. Operation Homefront provides emergency and morale assistance for our troops, the families they leave behind and wounded warriors when they return home. The organization has more than 4,500 volunteers in 30 chapters nationwide and has met more than 105,000 needs of military families.

Ducks players will be wearing one-of-a-kind Anaheim Ducks Camouflage Practice Jerseys which they will individually autograph and will be auctioned off during the game and online, with all proceeds benefiting Operation Homefront programs.

Don’t miss the November 7 game to help recognize local service members and their families as well help support their cause by bidding on exclusive Ducks memorabilia.

To learn more about Operation Homefront visit www.operationhomefront.net.

La Casa garCia's We give tHanksHonda Center and the Anaheim Ducks will celebrate their fifth Thanksgiving holiday with local nonprofit partner We Give Thanks, Inc. and La Casa Garcia restaurant for the traditional We Give Thanks Thanksgiving dinner. The We Give Thanks event is a complimentary Thanksgiving dinner for local residents that might go without a meal during the holiday. For 21 years, We Give Thanks has been serving meals to those

in need, with more than 200,000 free meals provided to the community.

More than 15,000 local residents fill the parking lot of Honda Center to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebrate the holiday by enjoying music provided by various local bands and singers who entertain throughout the day.

Ducks players, coaches and front office staff attend each year with their families to serve meals, spend time with those in attendance and give thanks on this special Thanksgiving holiday.

For more information, please visit www.wegivethanksfoundation.org.

anaheim Ducks toy DriveThe Anaheim Ducks are getting in the holiday spirit and helping to spread cheer in Orange County this holiday season by collecting toys as part of the annual Anaheim Ducks Toy Drive at all home games prior

to the Christmas holiday. The Lady Ducks- wives and significant others- will be collecting new, unwrapped toys, books and games to benefit the 16th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive with the Anaheim Fire Department and ABC 7. Each person with a donation to the Toy Drive will receive an Anaheim Ducks gift (limit one per person). Don’t miss your chance to help make this holiday season special for so many children and families in your local community.

In addition, the Ducks and Honda Center have teamed up with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and ABC7 to support the Spark of Love toy drive by stuffing an OCTA bus with toys. This annual event will take place on December 18 in the Honda Center parking lot and ABC7 news will be on hand to collect new, unwrapped toys and sporting equipment donated by the public to distribute to children in the local community.

For more information on the Anaheim Ducks Toy Drive, please call 1-877-WILDWING.

Want to learn how to skate for free? The Ducks Learn-to-Skate Program offers first time

hockey players the chance to get on the

ice in full hockey equipment and learn

basic skating skills. Equipment sizes recommended for players under nine years of age. Sessions are four weeks long and run on Sundays.

The Rinks-Westminster ICE: Session starts Sunday, November 22nd

(runs 11/22, 11/29, 12/6 and 12/13)

Times –TBAContact : Rick Hutchinson1.714.518.3211rhutchinson@the-rinks.com

More sessions to come after the Holidays.

Keep checking Beyond the Boards and

www.anaheimducks.com for more information.

Weekend Ducks games at Honda Center are more fun than ever, with plenty to engage fans before, during and after every Saturday and Sunday game.

Come out to The Hockey Spot for pregame activities in Lot 3 on the North side of Honda Center before all Saturday and Sunday home games. The Hockey Spot is open two hours prior to the start of the game and welcomes fans of all ages. Gather at The Hockey Spot to participate in interactive hockey games and other family activities.

Attractions at The Hockey Spot include:• Anaheim Ducks Street Team • Street Hockey • Interactive Hockey Skills • Hardest Shot • Accuracy • Rapid Fire • Bounce House • Power Players • Kids Club Booth • The Duck Truck • Music • Refreshments • And more…

Hang with the Street Team at The Hockey Spot before the game and don’t forget about our postgame radio show in the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club (open to all fans).

2009-10 Anaheim Ducks Player Rink Tour & Speaking SeriesAs part of the Anaheim Ducks Future Ducks Rink

Program, the Ducks will be visiting several rinks in

the Southern California area this season. Players

will visit seven of the program’s rinks, where they will

interact with a youth hockey team by visiting their

locker room or actually lacing up their skates with the

team during their practice. Not only do youth hockey

players get the chance to meet their favorite Ducks

players, but they have the opportunity to get some

advice or learn from them on the ice as well.

New to the Player Rink Tour this year will be a

speaking series (including Q&A sessions) with

Ducks players at some locations. Be sure to come

on out to ask your favorite Ducks a few questions

and hear what they have to say.

Make sure to continue checking AnaheimDucks.

com/youthhockey and Beyond the Boards

for more updates.

This season’s rink visits include the following*:

Weekend Ducks games at Honda Center are more fun than ever, with plenty to engage fans before, during and after every Saturday and Sunday game.

Come out to The Hockey Spot for pregame activities in Lot 3 on the North side of Honda Center before all Saturday and Sunday home games. The Hockey Spot is open two hours prior to the start of the game and welcomes fans of all ages. Gather at The Hockey Spot to participate in interactive hockey games and other family activities.

Attractions at The Hockey Spot include:• Anaheim Ducks Street Team • Street Hockey • Interactive Hockey Skills • Hardest Shot • Accuracy • Rapid Fire • Bounce House • Power Players • Kids Club Booth • The Duck Truck • Music • Refreshments • And more…

Hang with the Street Team at The Hockey Spot before the game and don’t forget about our postgame radio show in the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club (open to all fans).

Wednesday, November 4 @ 7 p.m.

Orange County Ice Palace

Tuesday, November 24 @ 7 p.m.

Speaking Series #2Goalie vs. Shooter (An Inside Look)

949 Roller Hockey Center

Monday, December 14 @ 7 p.m.

Speaking Series #3 Learning from a Vet

Corona Inline

Wednesday, January 6 @ 6:30 p.m.

Speaking Series #4Playing in the Olympics

EastWest Ice Palace

Monday, January 18 @ 6:30 p.m.

Riverside Ice Town

Thursday, February 25 @ 6:30 p.m.

Ontario Ice Skating Center

*Times subject to change.

LISTEN LIVE ON