If the Anaheim Ducks Were Characters from a Christmas Movie
Christmas movies are a big part of the Christmas season. In the light-hearted spirit of Christmas, I’ve decided to have a little fun. If the Anaheim Ducks were characters from a Christmas movie, who would they be?
Who doesn’t love Christmas movies? The characters, the music, and the narrative are all so wonderful. I feel a similar joy watching classic Christmas movies that I do when I watch the Anaheim Ducks play hockey.
When I was younger, one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season was curling up next to the fire and watching the Christmas classics. I, myself, am partial to the brilliant stop-motion holiday specials created by Rankin/Bass, such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and, my personal favorite, Santa Clause is Coming to Town. Who doesn’t love Fred Astaire?
In sticking with the light-hearted spirit of Christmas, I decided to have a little fun. Again, much like “What Can the Anaheim Ducks Expect Under Their Christmas Tree?” this article is mainly meant for entertainment purposes only.
Today I am answering a very “important” question. If the Anaheim Ducks were characters from a Christmas movie, who would they be?
The Anaheim Duck’s Honorable Mentions
Although I’d love to go more in-depth for every player on the team, there is only so much I can say about each one of them. Nevertheless, for kicks and giggles, they’re still worth mentioning.
Hermey the Elf — Hampus Lindholm: Hampus Lindholm may not want to leave the NHL to pursue dentistry, but if you dressed him up as an elf, he’d bear a strong resemblance to the blonde haired, wide-eyed, dreamer.
He is also really good at making the opposition less of a threat, similar to how Hermey did in Rudolph when he removed all the teeth from the Abominable Snowman.
Frosty the Snowman — Patrick Eaves: After everything Patrick Eaves been through these past few seasons, it’s always exciting when he’s back on the ice. Unfortunately, it’s rare to see him on the ice these days, just like a snowman coming to life because of a magic top hat. Then, he’s gone just as quickly, with the promise to return as soon as he can.
Gizmo — John Gibson: There aren’t a lot of people who consider the 1984 motion picture, the Gremlins, a Christmas classic. In fact, some might call it a horror film. Nevertheless, like Gizmo, John Gibson is always the person who saves the day.
The Abominable Snowman — Nick Ritchie: Last season, it was slightly terrifying to watch Nick Ritchie play hockey. We always felt like something bad would happen when he stepped foot on the ice (mainly taking penalties.) However, he has come back this season and it seems as though he’s learned the error of his ways. He is now using his skills for a better purpose.
King Moonracer — Bob Murray: Bob Murray is the King of the Island of Misfit Toys. I don’t think I need to explain this one too much.
Kevin McCallister — Ondrej Kase: Much like Kevin from Home Alone, Ondrej Kase is always outsmarting those who are trying to rob his team of a win! I also considered Kase for Buddy the Elf, since he’s always smiling. However, I found this option suited him a little better.
The Little Drummer Boy — Corey Perry: Corey Perry is the player people either love or they hate. Much like the classic movie, The Litte Drummer boy. Perry is also known to march to the beat of his own drum.
Hero Boy — Kiefer Sherwood: Even though it seemed like the opportunity to play in the NHL may have passed him by, Kiefer Sherwood’s belief was restored when he signed with the Anaheim Ducks.
Now, we’re three months into the season, and he’s one of the only rookies who has consistently stayed in the lineup. So, it is true. As it is said in the Polar Express, “the bell still rings for those who believe.”
Clarice — Cam Fowler: Cam Fowler is known for his optimism, much like Clarice was in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Although some might find it odd that I am comparing Cam Fowler to a female character in a Christmas movie, I feel like his personality resonates with the bold, yet innocent, doe that became a voice of reason for her friend in his time of uncertainty.
The Ghost of Christmas Past — Randy Carlyle
A Christmas Carol was a novella written by English author and social critic, Charles Dickens. Throughout the years, we’ve seen several on-screen adaptations of his inspiring tale, making it one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time.
The story follows a man by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge; a cold-hearted man who despises Christmas. He finds redemption with the help of three ghosts: Past, Present, and Yet-to-come. His journey melts the cold heart in his chest and fills him with the Christmas Spirit.
“Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on the globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyways, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.” -Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Randy Carlyle reminds me much of the Ghost of Christmas Past. Over the 2018-19 season, the Anaheim Ducks coach has transported us to the past.
When the Anaheim Ducks are on the ice, although their jerseys may be different, we see the familiar style of dump and chase that is reminiscent of Randy Carlyle’s first tenure with the team. The slow, yet slightly physical, style of hockey that his coaching style brings to the table doesn’t exactly inspire Christmas cheer.
The Anaheim Ducks have been winning games, yes. However, they have also been losing games they should be winning, such as the most recent games against the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres.
His choice to keep players like Brian Gibbons in the lineup, although maybe not purely his decision alone, is very reminiscent of his refusal to utilize younger players in the past. He has done a better job of it this season, but that was a big reason he fell out of favor with the fans last year.
Randy Carlyle is a reminder that despite our efforts to forget, sometimes the past comes back to haunt you. I have tremendous respect for Randy Carlyle. I mean, how can you not have respect for the coach that led the Anaheim Ducks to California’s first Stanley Cup?
Nevertheless, his coaching style is, as many describe the ghost of Christmas past, of indeterminate age. In fewer words, it is old. I think all of us can agree that there are some games the Anaheim Ducks play were we are, like Scrooge, angered by the things that the Ghost of Christmas Past has shown us.
Although I do believe that Randy Carlyle’s system has worked far better for the Ducks than whatever Bob Murray was trying to cook up, after this season, it may be time to move on from “the past.” I think Carlyle’s services would be better utilized in the front office than behind the bench.
The Grinch — Ryan Kesler
I mean no offense to Ryan Kesler when I compare him to the Grinch. In fact, the Grinch is one of my favorite animated Christmas movies of all time. Every hockey team needs “a Grinch” and Kesler fits the persona perfectly.
The Grinch is most famously known for trying to steal Christmas from his neighbors down in Whoville.
“Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums! And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, very nimbly, stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimbley!” -How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss
For some reason or another, Christmas rubbed the Grinch the wrong way. So, he hatched a plan to steal their joy by taking every single last toy. Okay, I’m no good at poetry, but you get what I’m saying.
When Ryan Kesler is on the ice, his job is to steal the other team’s joy, or at least the puck. Alongside Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano, he is the center of the shutdown line. I don’t just mean that’s the position he plays, but the line works best when he’s at 100%. It is his job to make sure that the other team doesn’t score a goal.
Kesler is also known as an Instigator. Although we haven’t seen him drop the gloves in a while, most likely due to his ailing hip, that doesn’t mean he still can’t get under the skin of other players. Sounds pretty Grinch-like to me!
“Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!” -How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss
Despite RK17’s rough exterior, he still has a big heart. He may not be the biggest fan of the opposing teams, but he encourages his teammates and is a source of inspiration to all of his fans.
Although his decline is most unfortunate, I, for one, am glad that this “Grinch” plays for the Anaheim Ducks.
Buddy the Elf — Brandon Montour
Although Elf is not technically classified as a Christmas classic, I feel like it would be wrong not to mention it. It’s the Christmas movie that everyone loves to quote. Besides, who doesn’t love a nonsensical Christmas comedy with the king of nonsense himself, Will Ferrell?
There are many quotes throughout the movie that have become popular in their own right. However, one of my personal favorites from the movie is, “I just like to smile; smiling’s my favorite.”
For someone who loves to smile just as much as Buddy the Elf, Brandon Montour fits the bill. The Anaheim Ducks young defenseman is seldom seen without a smile on his face. No matter what he’s doing, he’s always got a grin from ear to ear.
Luckily for us, his performance so far this season has put a smile on our faces as well. Although his season, like the rest of the team, started off rough, he’s bounced back and proven to us why he should be a top 4 d-man.
Although he’s not the best defenseman in the league and still has a few things to learn, he’s leading the entire defensive core in points. Not to mention, he’s fifth on the team in points as well. He’s stepped up in a big way these past two seasons and earned his spot.
I am of the opinion that smiling is contagious, and with a player like Brandon Montour out on the ice, you can’t help but smile too when he flashes his toothy grin.
Rudolph — Pontus Aberg
Everyone knows the classic story of Rudolph, and who better to be compared to the loveable Red-Nosed Reindeer than Pontus Aberg himself? As much as I’d love to say I’m comparing Aberg to Rudolph because he was caught wearing Reindeer antlers during the Anaheim Ducks visit to CHOC earlier this month, that is not the case.
Much like the sub-arctic caribou in the classic Christmas story, Pontus Aberg didn’t exactly fit in with the Anaheim Ducks when Bob Murray picked him up off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. It makes sense, seeing as how the 25-year-old had only 18 career points before he was acquired by the Ducks.
What looked to be like another promising budget friendly acquisition, became a laughing stock to all of us. A lot of us were ashamed of the way he played and wondered what good could come from a hockey player who had scored less than 20 points in 100 games.
Although his sample size was small, it wasn’t long before he was asked to pack his bags and was sent down the 5 to join the Anaheim Ducks prospects and the rest of Bob Murray’s “misfit toys.”
His time with the Gulls was short-lived, and it wasn’t long before he was back in Anaheim. Before we knew it, Aberg was up front and center with Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell, leading the team.
He has now accomplished in 32 games what he wasn’t able to accomplish in 100. He is leading the team in goals, an impressive feat for a player some of us didn’t think would work out. Although Pontus Aberg may not have a red nose, the Swedish forward has quickly gone from misfit to hero.
Kris Kringle — Ryan Getzlaf
Santa Clause is a popular character in most Christmas movies. However, as I mentioned before, Santa Clause is Coming to Town has to be one of my all time favorites.
It is Ryan Getzlaf who reminds me of Kris Kringle the most. We don’t call him Captain dad for just any reason, so I figured Father Christmas was an appropriate comparison.
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Kris Kringle, more commonly known as Santa Clause, is the granter of wishes. He brings joy and childlike wonder to the hearts of many people. Kringle is a leader, someone who takes charge. Yet, he is compassionate.
Ryan Getzlaf is much the same. As the Anaheim Ducks captain, he is a leader. He takes charge of his team and exudes integrity. He is also compassionate, not just with his teammates, but with members of other teams as well, not to mention, his fans.
Watching him play hockey brings all of us the same joy and childlike wonder that Santa Clause brings to a child on Christmas morning. He is creative and awe-inspiring. If his team is sleeping on the job, he is most likely the one to lead them out of the slump and inspire them to put their feet on the gas.
Lastly, he is the granter of wishes. If Ducks Nation wants a goal, Ryan Getzlaf is likely the one to make sure it happens. He may not always be the player who puts it in the net, but he’s involved in one way or another.
Although Ryan Getzlaf may not be leaving gifts in our stockings or presents under the tree come Christmas morning, he has given one of the best gifts to the Anaheim Ducks; himself.
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