SIX INSPIRATIONS FOR MIGHTY DUCKS CHARACTERS

YOU LIKELY KNOW THE Anaheim Ducks were named after the eponymous team from the film The Mighty Ducks. But did you know that many characters had real-life inspirations? Steven Brill, who wrote the trilogy of Ducks movies, used to attend L.A. Kings games in the 1980s and named most of his characters after NHLers. As the first Ducks film celebrates its 30th anniversary this fall, here’s a look at the story behind the names of six characters.

> GUY GERMAINE

Next to Adam Banks, Guy Germaine is arguably the Ducks’ most talented player. So it’s reasonable to think he was named after Guy Lafleur – heck, Germaine even sports a Habs jersey in the film. Surprisingly, Brill named him after Eric Germain, a minor-league D-man called up by the Kings for four games in 1988.

> FULTON REED

The Ducks’ resident tough guy with the booming slapshot was named after longtime NHL defender Reed Larson. “He had the heaviest shot,” Brill said. “That’s why Fulton’s last name is Reed, because he has this great slapshot from the blueline.”

> FRANK HUDDY

Frank Huddy, the young lawyer who butts heads with coach Gordon Bombay early in the film, was played by Brill. The character was named after Charlie Huddy, who was playing defense for L.A. when the movie was released, following 11 years and five Cups with the Oilers.

> DAVE KARP

A member of the District 5 Ducks in only the first film, Dave Karp’s surname is drawn from an international star. According to Brill, “Karp” was meant as a play on Kharlamov, in reference to Soviet hockey legend Valeri Kharlamov.

> CHARLIE CONWAY

The Ducks’ captain and heart and soul of the team, Charlie Conway was not named after a hockey player but rather a character from another movie. His name was inspired by Charlie Bucket, the protagonist in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

> GORDON BOMBAY

The Ducks’ reluctant coach got his name from booze – and Mr. Hockey. “He was named after two kinds of gin, Gordon’s and Bombay, because, in the original script, he was drinking gin when he got arrested for drunk driving,” Brill said. “But when I saw Gordon’s Gin, I thought, Gordon, like Gordie Howe. That’s a great connection.”