Anaheim Ducks

It was after midnight at Muldoon's Irish Pub, but the crowd had no intention of hitting the road. As Friday night turned to Saturday morning, customers packed the Newport Beach restaurant and bar in the hopes of seeing one man — and one tall, glistening silver trophy. The anticipation ended when Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger arrived with the Stanley Cup, having gained possession of his team's trophy for 24 hours. Muldoon's staff members placed the 3-foot cup on top of one of the tables and roped it off, while Ducks fans peered in for a look at the oldest championship prize in professional sports.

Members and managers of the Anaheim Ducks hockey team gathered Tuesday night at the Cannery restaurant in Newport Beach to give fans a chance to meet their favorite players and contribute to Ducks Care, an organization that supports charities focused on education, health and well-being. Guests nibbled at stations with different food and wine pairings prepared by executive chef Felix Salcedo, listening to a pianist and bassist playing softly while players and donors mingled around them.

Organizers called it "Center Ice White Out," as the mighty Anaheim Ducks held their annual casino night raising needed funds for the Orangewood Children's Foundation and for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County, better known as CASA. The handsome athletes proudly known as the Ducks took their calling seriously and showed up dressed in all white with an occasional splash of orange at their home turf, the Honda Center. The gentlemen mingled with the crowd of some 650 donors surrounding a sea of gaming tables, ultimately raising $100,000 for the two charities dedicated to serving foster children in Orange County.

Henry Samueli is known as a shrewd businessman. His Broadcom semiconductor empire is a prime example of his ability to take something from nothing and make billions of dollars. And when the Newport Beach businessman purchased the Mighty Ducks NHL hockey franchise from the Disney Co. in 2005, many local observers felt it was just a matter of time before that Samueli Midas touch extended to the icy confines of the Honda Center, which he also owns. Sure enough it did, and the Anaheim Ducks are Stanley Cup champions — the first time in the modern era that a NHL team from the West was able to claim that trophy.

The Child Abuse Prevention Center in Orange was the big winner of a recent event as the Wives of Professional Athletes raised more than $55,000 for the center at its annual ?Athletes and Aces? Casino Night benefit at the Island Hotel?s Palm Garden in Newport Beach. On hand for the event were baseball players including Darin Erstad, Chuck Finley and Mickey Hatcher; football player Jim Everett; and Anaheim Ducks hockey players Chris Pronger and Sammy Pahlsson. The event was chaired by San Francisco Giants?

An upscale loft decorated by Newport resident and Anaheim Ducks 2003 Stanley Cup MVP J.S. ?Jiggy? Giguere is up for grabs in Anaheim. The one-bedroom loft features leather furnishings and original artwork hand-picked by Giguere, including a painting of Giguere in a victory pose following the final game of the 2007 Stanley Cup. Giguere also selected a home entertainment system that includes an LG 50-inch high-definition plasma television, Integra...

A portion of ticket proceeds from the March 15 battle between the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues at the Honda Center in Anaheim will benefit the Costa Mesa charity Share Our Selves. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday. The game begins at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $35. Share Our Selves is one of largest volunteer-based nonprofit organizations that serves the poor in Orange County. Founded in 1970, the organization offers free services such as medical and dental care, counseling, case management, food, clothing, financial assistance, legal and holiday programs.

This summer, with the Anaheim Ducks atop the world of hockey, the Stanley Cup made its rounds of Newport-Mesa. The trophy, which traditionally gets passed to each player on the championship team, logged appearances at Muldoon’s, Fashion Island and the Orange County Performing Artscenter. That last location was an especially fitting one. Newport Beach businessman Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan, who recently had a theater named after them at the Artscenter, are the owners of the Ducks and helped guide them to their first title.

Ramzee Robinson, the NFL's final draft pick and Mr. Irrelevant XXXII, will make his first appearance in Newport Beach on Monday at the Arrival Party at the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. At the party will be a press conference, but Robinson, a cornerback who was drafted by the Detroit Lions, has already been practicing. Robinson's take on the Anaheim Ducks? "I think it is a great thing to receive the ultimate goal of a team," said Robinson, who's also known as Bino.

Corona del Mar resident Henry Samueli, the owner of the Anaheim Ducks who pleaded guilty Monday to lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission about his involvement in a stock option scandal, has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the length of the suspension will be determined after Samueli is sentenced Aug. 18. During his suspension, Samueli can have no involvement in the team’s activities or...

Organizers called it "Center Ice White Out," as the mighty Anaheim Ducks held their annual casino night raising needed funds for the Orangewood Children's Foundation and for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County, better known as CASA. The handsome athletes proudly known as the Ducks took their calling seriously and showed up dressed in all white with an occasional splash of orange at their home turf, the Honda Center. The gentlemen mingled with the crowd of some 650 donors surrounding a sea of gaming tables, ultimately raising $100,000 for the two charities dedicated to serving foster children in Orange County.

While cold rain pelted the windowpanes, inside the Souplantation in Costa Mesa warm smiles and laughter filled the room. The restaurant’s staff was busily refilling the soup vats Monday as a group of American and Australian teenagers, who were dining together, returned to dip ladle after ladle into their bowls. “This place is amazing,” said senior Sarah Mangan, 16, surveying the room around her. She is one of seven students from Wyndham, Australia, taking part in the Australian Education Exchange Program with Costa Mesa’s Estancia High School.

  The Anaheim Ducks Street Team and their official mascot Wild Wing will be at HomeAid Orange County’s 18th Annual Project Playhouse®  on Sunday, Aug. 30 from noon to 6 p.m. in Giant Wheel Court at Irvine Spectrum Center®. Wild Wing and the Ducks Street Team are inviting Anaheim Ducks and Project Playhouse fans to enjoy their inflatable slap shot cage and Ducks Prize Wheel.                In addition, the Project Playhouse Village will be open for tours.

Corona del Mar resident Henry Samueli, the owner of the Anaheim Ducks who pleaded guilty Monday to lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission about his involvement in a stock option scandal, has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the length of the suspension will be determined after Samueli is sentenced Aug. 18. During his suspension, Samueli can have no involvement in the team’s activities or...

A portion of ticket proceeds from the March 15 battle between the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues at the Honda Center in Anaheim will benefit the Costa Mesa charity Share Our Selves. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday. The game begins at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $35. Share Our Selves is one of largest volunteer-based nonprofit organizations that serves the poor in Orange County. Founded in 1970, the organization offers free services such as medical and dental care, counseling, case management, food, clothing, financial assistance, legal and holiday programs.

The Child Abuse Prevention Center in Orange was the big winner of a recent event as the Wives of Professional Athletes raised more than $55,000 for the center at its annual ?Athletes and Aces? Casino Night benefit at the Island Hotel?s Palm Garden in Newport Beach. On hand for the event were baseball players including Darin Erstad, Chuck Finley and Mickey Hatcher; football player Jim Everett; and Anaheim Ducks hockey players Chris Pronger and Sammy Pahlsson. The event was chaired by San Francisco Giants?

An upscale loft decorated by Newport resident and Anaheim Ducks 2003 Stanley Cup MVP J.S. ?Jiggy? Giguere is up for grabs in Anaheim. The one-bedroom loft features leather furnishings and original artwork hand-picked by Giguere, including a painting of Giguere in a victory pose following the final game of the 2007 Stanley Cup. Giguere also selected a home entertainment system that includes an LG 50-inch high-definition plasma television, Integra...

This summer, with the Anaheim Ducks atop the world of hockey, the Stanley Cup made its rounds of Newport-Mesa. The trophy, which traditionally gets passed to each player on the championship team, logged appearances at Muldoon’s, Fashion Island and the Orange County Performing Artscenter. That last location was an especially fitting one. Newport Beach businessman Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan, who recently had a theater named after them at the Artscenter, are the owners of the Ducks and helped guide them to their first title.

. CORRECTION: The man holding the photo of Doug Harrington was his son, not his grandson.. The Stanley Cup made a brief appearance Monday at Costa Mesa nonprofit clinic Share Our Selves before heading back to its permanent home at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in a few days. The storied trophy traveled around the world and back with champions the Anaheim Ducks last summer, but made one of it s last appearances in Southern California this year in Costa Mesa as clinic volunteers, donors and staff gathered to take pictures.