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Although the movies were largely mocked and derided in sa国际传媒, Disney鈥檚 Mighty Ducks film franchise gave hockey a level of attention in the U.S. it might not otherwise have received.
Not only did it lead to the original nickname and look of the Anaheim NHL franchise, but it influenced some kids in Southern California. Among them were siblings Blake and Taylor Bargar from Torrance, who say they got interested in the sport after watching the movies.
For Blake Bargar, it led to the more traditional hockey heartland of Moose Jaw, Sask., as a surprise 16-year-old rookie with the Warriors of the Western Hockey League.
Two years later, after a couple of role-playing seasons with the Warriors, he is equally as surprising so far in the Victoria Royals training camp and early pre-season.
And in more familiar environs.
鈥淚 am more used to the beach and the water than to the Prairies,鈥� said Bargar, of the little-noticed trade that brought the 18-year-old forward to Victoria in May for the bargain-basement price of a conditional eighth-round bantam draft pick.
It looks as if Moose Jaw might be able to take the conditional tag off that eighth-rounder. Bargar aims to stick with the Royals, and he just might. The five-foot-11 has two goals in three exhibition games and recorded a hat-trick in the Blue-White intrasquad game last week.
Not that the five-foot-11 depth player has been known for his goal scoring, with two goals, eight points and 73 penalty minutes in 119 WHL games over the past two seasons for the Warriors.
鈥淚 was happy to get the goals, but I owe a lot to my linemates, especially Ethan Price who set me up,鈥� Bargar said.
Citing Price is interesting because that is the player with whom Bargar is being compared. Price was a Portland Winterhawks castoff, who was picked up last pre-season by Victoria in what seemed like almost an after-thought move. Price went on to contribute to Victoria鈥檚 2015-16 WHL regular-season championship run as an energy forward who created a few chances on offence and a certain degree of havoc to the opposition鈥檚 offence by his darting presence. That is the similar role Bargar hopes to play this season, as well.
鈥淚 play a simple, straight-forward game and compete every time I am on the ice and try to make things happen,鈥� said Bargar.
Royals head coach Dave Lowry, who has built his reputation on getting the most out of the bottom of the roster, concurs.
鈥淸Bargar] brings an element we thought we were lacking . . . grit,鈥� said the Royals bench boss.
But Bargar knows he can take nothing for granted on a Royals roster that returns all but five players from last season鈥檚 WHL regular-season championship squad and which has several 16- and 17-year-old rookie forward prospects also looking for spots.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really know,鈥� said Bargar, about his roster situation. 鈥淎ll I know is I have to show up every day and compete for a spot.
鈥淣othing is a given. I can鈥檛 take days off. One has to prove himself every day in this business.鈥�
This guy just sounds like a Lowry-type player.
Lowry said despite Bargar鈥檚 goal scoring in the intra-squad and pre-season games, the Royals aren鈥檛 emphasizing points production with Bargar as much as they are the other elements he brings to the ice.
鈥淚 heard nothing but good things coming into Victoria,鈥� Bargar said.
鈥淸Lowry] is an honest guy and he tells you how it is, and he expects a lot from you.鈥�
In Bargar, he may have found another of those lower-line foot-soldiers who are willing to give what is demanded.
ICE CHIPS: Bargar鈥檚 fellow Mighty Ducks-watching older brother, sophomore defenceman Taylor Bargar, plays for Eastern Washington University of the sa国际传媒 Intercollegiate Hockey League, and will be in town Nov. 25 and Jan. 27-28 to play the University of Victoria Vikes at the Ian Stewart Complex . . . Blake Bargar and the Royals, meanwhile, play their lone home WHL pre-season game today at 2 p.m. at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Vancouver Giants.
