Anaheim Ducks Fan Stories: Ducks and I Have Grown Together

Whether you read Pucks of a Feather daily or are finding us for the first time welcome. I am a little late to the party in basically getting my intro out as I have been back writing since June but here it is. My name is Chris Bushell and I am Co-Editor here at PoaF. I am a 26-year-old Bostonian who literally and figuratively has grown with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, now Anaheim Ducks franchise. I watched the Mighty Ducks movies as a kid growing up. I had the Wildwing stuffed animal and I have been watching Ducks games for as long as I can remember. I chose to be a part of PoaF because it let fans tell the stories they want and the team we have in place here is one of the best in the business.

With all that said I’m sure the piece that caught your attention is my location. Yes, I live in the heart of Bruins country, and while I am a Bruins fan if push came to shove its the Ducks. I go to the Ducks-Bruins game at TD Garden every year with my Ryan Getzlaf jersey on. I stay up until 1 a.m. on Ducks game nights because of the time difference and wake my whole house up during playoff games. Because the Ducks and certain players have helped shape how I have played the game and my overall love of the game. The Ducks are a huge part of my identity. As Jimmy Fallon in Fever Pitch says; “Sometimes I like to be 11 years old, I like being part of something bigger than me, its good for your soul to invest in something you can’t control”. (Don’t be surprised the kid from Boston likes a movie about the Red Sox)

Kariya Was the Start

I have been playing hockey since the age of 3. Hockey is a huge part of my family and from the second I stepped on the ice I fell in love with the game. And as a kid, you look up to these larger than life NHL players. But the one player that resonated with me growing up was Paul Kariya. Kariya was an out of this world talent. He was fast, had an unbelievable scoring touch, was short (like me), and through all the awards and praise he never relished it. If there is one thing I can’t stand its someone who buys into their own press. And Kariya never did. He went out played his heart out, virtually was responsible for putting a franchise on the map, was a game away from claiming hockey’s greatest prize, is a Hall of Famer and still doesn’t believe he deserves to have his number retired.

That was how I wanted to carry myself, give it all out for your team, enjoy every second and strive for the best. And Kariya showed me how to do that. On top of how to succeed in a game when you weren’t the tallest or biggest guy ever on the ice. Kariya and then Teemu Selanne had me hooked and ever since then, I have been a Die Hard Duck even as I reside on the complete opposite coast.

To Anaheim One Day

I have been with this team for every big moment. Kid me watching the Ducks go on the Cinderella run in 2003. High School me watching the Ducks claim a Cup in 2007, Perry’s 50 goal season, Selanne’s retirement, and the come back on Katella. Through thick and thin I’m with this team. And even now when it’s painfully obvious what the Ducks need to do to turn around from this mini-slide. I will stick by them. Because sports are the escape we need from the problems in the world. To invest in something you have no control over. To have butterflies in your stomach as you pace in the basement as the clock ticks down on a playoff game. It’s needed and something that no matter how crazy I will never lose.

More from Pucks of a Feather

• Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
• Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
• Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
• Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
• How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?

I hope to one day make it to Anaheim, to get a picture with the Wildwing statue, see the banners of my idols and the championship banners hanging in the rafters. To see a game where I am with the majority in my Getzlaf jersey and have the arena erupt when the Ducks score a goal. But for the time being, I will be holding down the fort east of the Mississipi. With this team through thick and thin and writing with the great team, we have here at PoaF. Thank you to all the fans who make this blog a pleasure to write for and the team has so many more great ideas coming down the pike. We hope 2018-19′ turns into a great season and thank you all again!

Had to add the video for good measure. And while it is Ducks > Bruins, when it comes to baseball its Red Sox every day.