Click to play the Duck’s Goal Scoring Song  if you have Rhapsody Player ~ Bro Hymn by Pennywise

For those with other players you can still get into the spirit of things and listen to the Goal Scoring Song directly on the Anaheim Ducks Fanzone.

If you were at Honda Center last night and were fortunate enough to be there in person to see the Anaheim Ducks capture the highly-coveted Stanley Cup, I’ve got to admit that I’m positively green with envy. There is nothing like watching a championship game - especially when it’s your home team; the one you’ve been rooting for year, after year, after year. And when there’s a distinct, even probable, chance that your team’s going to actually pull off the win…it just doesn’t get any better.

Early in the day on Wednesday I heard a Canadian reporter being interviewed by an LA Network reporter and she basically said that Anaheim fans were lifeless. She said she was disappointed that Anaheim was so quiet, uneventful and surprised at the lack of local enthusiasm. It really irked me. But there’s an element of truth to what she said.

The majority of Southern Californians do not follow hockey as religiously as they follow other sports. In fact I don’t even remember watching a single hockey game as a kid. And we certainly never played it. Unless college broom-hockey counts. The point is that most of us who were raised in Southern California just haven’t had the exposure and therefore haven’t developed the passion. But all that changes when you see your first hockey game up close and personal.

The game itself is action, action, action. It’s got a faster pace than football and it has more crowd-energizing music. Players jump on and off the ice at seemingly random intervals making it nearly impossible, especially to those new to hockey, to keep track of who’s on and who’s off the ice. Much different than football, basketball and baseball. When you’re watching hockey you’ve got to really stay alert.

One thing that differentiates hockey from most other popular sports is that you can enjoy watching it without having any clue about the rules. You’ll fit right in. Most Southern California fans have a very limited understanding of the rules. I know this because over the past several years I’ve asked dozens of questions every time I attend a game. And the most common responses that I get are, “I don’t know,” or “that’s a good question.” Oh thanks! That’s helpful! And so I remain largely ignorant.

But that’s all right. It’s really quite simple. You just cheer loudly when one of your team members checks an opposing player (perfectly legal and applaud-able); boo when one of your players is sent to the (penalty) box; and go totally bananas when one of your players hits the puck into the net and scores. Do yourself a favor and don’t blow any brain cells trying to figure out the offsides and icing calls. Leave that to the linesmen and you’ll be much happier.

Rancho Santa Margarita’s existing hockey-fan base is fairly small. But being that the Stanley Cup was up for grabs and there was the distinct possibility that Game 5 might be of historic importance to all Californians and Ducks fans, a huge crowd showed up at Daily’s Sports Grill. Daily’s, located in Empresa Plaza, is Rancho Santa Margarita’s premier sports bar and grill and a favorite to local sports enthusiasts. The grill, established in 1993, has an average variety of sports-pub fare at reasonable prices and the place is packed with t.v.’s. It’s definitely the place to be on game day when you’re caught without a ticket.

Daily’s was packed and it’s Patron’s went wild at every shot. It was every bit as charged as any Bowl Game. But the roof really came off as we counted down the final minute to the long-awaited Duck’s victory. And it finally happened. The Stanley is ours! A first for the Anaheim Ducks and a first for California. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Samueli! Sign me up for next year’s season tickets!

This magnificent win will bring a renewed local interest to hockey and to the Anaheim Ducks. It will generate more sponsorship for the Honda Center as well as increased revenue from season ticket sales. Aliso Viejo Ice Palace will be swarmed by young skaters, all chomping at the bit to get onto a hockey team. These things are cyclical and Orange County’s going to reap the blessings.

Living in Orange County is amazing and now we can honestly say so is our hockey team. CONGRATULATIONS ANAHEIM DUCKS! YOU ROCK!

Photo: IMG_2942 By: pwarnock

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