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It’s Knuckle Puck Time

Photo: Anaheim Ducks

By Julius Choi

Twenty-six years after the release of “The Mighty Ducks”, the true potential and power of the knucklepuck wasn’t realized until Thursday when the team posted a video on Twitter to promote the events that will occur during Silver Celebration Week.

More specifically at giving a stick tap to the identity of the NHL franchise and original premise that it was built around: A Walt Disney motion picture featuring a hockey team with a ragtag bunch of individuals that battle adversity.

On Feb. 12, there will be a screening of “The Mighty Ducks” at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana where fans will be able to interact with the cast of the popular movie series via a Q&A session.

The involvement of the cast does not end there. They will also be a part of the ceremonial puck drop before the Anaheim Ducks game versus the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 13.

Adorning the green, yellow and purple sweaters made recognizable from films – Russ Taylor, portrayed by now-adult actor Kenan Thompson, draws viewers in by asking if you know how to knucklepuck.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a knucklepuck was Taylor’s trademark skill where he flips the puck on its side and takes a slapshot.

While Thompson will not be participating in the festivities next week, he made up for it in this infomercial-style skit alone as he demonstrated how to execute his signature moves and even jogged on the ice with skates on.

He advertises his piece of vulcanized rubber as something that can “improve your everyday needs.”

The majority of the cast was also present in the two-minute clip. From improving one’s guitar skills to delivering quips to opponents while on the ice for you, the knucklepuck is versatile.

Though it may just be a coincidence, there was a subtle dig at the performance of this year’s team when Kenan Thompson laid the kicker in the video with “You tired of playing like s—? Then what are you waiting for?”

The Anaheim Ducks, of course, have lost 18 of its last 20 games and are in second to last place in the Western Conference this season.

Since the premiere of “D3: The Mighty Ducks,” the third installment of the series in 1996, the cast has branched out and have continued their careers in show business. Thompson, most notably, has been a member of Saturday Night Live since 2003.

It was a nice touch by the organization to also include players from the current roster as seeing Josh Manson snapping a twig in half was the clip fans didn’t know they needed in their life.

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