Anaheim, CA – The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, celebrating their 10th season in the National Hockey League this year, received an assist from the Disney (NYSE:DIS) synergy business unit in securing Hollywood Stars and sports broadcasters for congratulatory messages to the club.
The messages have been playing during Mighty Ducks home games at the Arrowhead Pond throughout the 2002-03 regular season and currently during the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoff games. There are nearly 30 messages in all, which include 29 personalities who appear in Disney-owned movies, television shows and sporting events.
“It’s great when our stars of film and television are able to support our stars on skates,” said Chris Curtin, vice president of Synergy for The Walt Disney Company. “One of the great strengths of The Walt Disney Company is that it is a remarkably interwoven company and these messages underscore this unique aspect of this unique company.”
The list of participants who sent well wishes to the Mighty Ducks and the organization include George Lopez (George Lopez), Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!), Queen Latifah and Eugene Levy (Bringing Down the House), Alicia Leigh Willis (General Hospital), Peggy Fleming (ABC Sports) and Gary Thorne and Bill Clement (ESPN Hockey).
“We could not have successfully executed this program without the help of the many people throughout the company who helped make this happen,” said Charles Harris, director of publicity, community development and synergy for the Mighty Ducks. “My favorite spot is Jim Belushi who not only sports his own Mighty Ducks Jersey, but also offers to become our official ‘rally monkey’ and proceeds to hop around on camera with his own Rally Time! sign.”
Other participants in the year-long program include former Los Angeles Laker and now KCAL sports reporter James Worthy, congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Los Angeles based radio personality Rick Dees, Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle and current Anaheim Angel players Troy Percival, Adam Kennedy and Aaron Sele.
About the Mighty Ducks:
The Mighty Ducks, celebrating their 10th year in the NHL in 2002-03, completed the regular season with a 40-27-9-6 record, good for second place in the Pacific Division and seventh in the Western Conference. The team set club records for wins (40), and points (95). The Mighty Ducks swept the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs and defeated the Dallas Stars 4-3 in five overtimes Thursday night (April 24th) in the opening game of the second round to take a 1-0 lead in games. For more information about the Mighty Ducks, please visit the team’s web site at www.mightyducks.com.
** Note to Media: a VHS tape is available upon request for viewing purposes only. A complete list of people participating in this program is attached to the release.