Friday, October 01, 1999
Ducks find depth
BY JOHN P. WISE
Enquirer contributor
The Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League are hoping the third time will be the charm in Cincinnati.
Team President Pete Robinson is eager about the squad's third season.
“We're very excited about all that happened in the off-season,” Robinson said. “We were able to get an affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings, not to mention pick up some good young players.”
The Ducks served as the Triple-A affiliate — just like baseball — for the National Hockey League Anaheim Mighty Ducks in their first two years. They will serve both Anaheim and Detroit in 1999-2000, making Cincinnati only the second AHL team to suit more than one NHL squad.
“That will give us a lot of depth this year,” said coach Moe Mantha, who in his third year will finally be able to assemble three lines.
“Our goals are pretty basic,” Robinson said. “Our job is to develop our players to get them ready for the National Hockey League. So when Anaheim or Detroit call, we've got guys who can go up there and contribute.”
Mantha's top players from last year had competed for jobs with the parent clubs this fall. Obviously, he wished them well, but their return to the Ducks didn't disappoint him too much.
“All of our key players from last year came into camp into great shape,” Mantha said.
Right wing Frank Banham will be relied on for some offensive punch, while Scott Ferguson is a defensive force.
“Frank is coming back; he'll be a good goal-scorer for us,” Mantha said. “Scotty Ferguson will be our defensive leader. And Joel Kwiatkowski is in great shape this year. He'll be strong for us too.”
Mantha said he thinks this team could make a run at the post-season this year.
“We will be a good team with a chance to be a great team,” he said. “The first 20 games we'll see some rookie mistakes, the next 20 games the young guys will grow up and the last 40 games should show what we're going to be capable of doing.”
AHL Q&A
Q: Who are the top teams this year?
A: Philadelphia has won the Mid-Atlantic Division three straight years, and could meet defending Calder Cup Champion Providence, which returns a good nucleus, in this year's Finals.
Q: Who are the top players?
A: Center Peter White (Philadelphia) has been the league's top overall scorer the last four years. Center John Madden (Albany) scored 98 points last year.
Q: Who do you want to stay away from?
A: Anybody from Hershey. Wings Frank Bialowas and Scott Parker lead the hit parade. Wing Garrett Burnett earned 186 penalty minutes in just 31 games last year for Kentucky.
Q: How have the Ducks improved their post-season chances?
A: The team has added much-needed depth. Left wing Maxim Balmochnykh (age 20) and defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski (19) are two of the top under-21 players in the world.
Hockey is back, and we're still a 2-puck town
Cyclones aim for history
Cyclones roster, schedule
Ducks find depth
Mighty Ducks roster, schedule
Sports Stories
Reds control own destiny
Vaughn likely to leave
World Series tickets on sale Saturday
Scouting report: Reds at Brewers
Braves 4, Mets 3
Astros rest, prepare to take on Dodgers
Postseason possibilities abound
Carter may be done as Bengal
Blackman needs more knee surgery
