Guy Hebert

Bryce Alderton

Opportunity knocked calling Guy Hebert.

That was in 1993, when the National Hockey League held an

expansion draft for the league’s two newest franchises, the Anaheim

Mighty Ducks and the Florida Panthers.

Hebert, a five-year Newport Beach resident, had played goalie for

the St. Louis Blues, but was selected by the Ducks as the No. 1

goalie taken in the draft that year, and the player that grew up

playing hockey in New York got the opportunity to play every day in

the net, for a Southern California team no less.

“For my career it was a great opportunity to try to land a No. 1

goalie spot in the NHL,” Hebert said.

Eight years, and 441 games (a Ducks’ all-time record for goalies)

later, Hebert holds team records in games won (173), a .911 save

percentage, and is second on the team’s all-time list with a 2.75

goals allowed average (game).

“I was most proud to stay on a team for eight years and make a

significant impact over all those games,” Hebert said.

Through those 441 games Hebert played, the Ducks advanced to the

playoffs twice in 1997 and 1999, beating the Phoenix Coyotes in the

first round in 1997 before losing in the second round to the Detroit

Red Wings.

Hebert, 35, was put on non-roster waivers in March 2001, took a

year off from hockey, but now is back with the Ducks as the team’s

Director of Alumni Association.

The Ducks enter their 10th season this year and Hebert hopes he

can share his insights on Duck history with fans and players alike

and establish an alumni base for the organization.

“Ten years is about the right time for people to look back to

players in the past and make sure they are recognized,” Hebert said.

In the Ducks’ first home game this season against the Red Wings,

whom the Ducks also faced in their first game in 1993, Hebert and 12

team members from the 1993 team were recognized in a pregame

ceremony.

Hebert hopes to provide more of these opportunities while

educating longtime fans at home games at the Arrowhead Pond.

“I’m doing a lot of things to help create excitement about the

team again,” Hebert said. “I hope to do something to bring fans back

into the Pond again. I feel like there’s light at the end of the

tunnel. I would say I’m an ambassador for the team. I’ll be around

the rink for a lot of games this season talking to fans to share

stories of my time here in Anaheim and create interest for the team.”

The Ducks haven’t been to the playoffs in three years and

attendance has been plummeting the last five seasons after the Ducks

sold out nearly every home game in their first five seasons.

But with new General Manager Bryan Murray and some offseason

additions, Hebert likes where the Ducks are headed and is excited to

be a part of the organization after taking a year off.

“It was no secret in Anaheim that (fired general manager) Pierre

Gauthier, who is no longer here, had a vision that was different than

a lot of the players,” Hebert said. “I certainly didn’t see

eye-to-eye with management, which might be the reason I was let go. I

think there has been a cloud that has hung over the team’s head since

1998-99 (the last time the Ducks made the playoffs). The next year we

missed the playoffs and then we faltered the next season. I think it

was the culmination of the frustration of a lot of guys not being

able to get over the hump.”

The Ducks sit third in the Pacific Division through games Thursday

with a 4-6-3 record, good for 11 points and Hebert thinks the horizon

looks promising.

“I think we’re on the right track with Doug Moss as the new senior

vice president of business operations and Bryan Murray. It’s guys

like that who are the reason I wanted to come back. Last year I was

so beat up mentally and physically and I didn’t watch any games (on

television) or go to the rink at all. But this year it’s been nice to

go down to the rink and feel welcomed and appreciated.”

Hebert remained skeptical when asked if he would consider going

back to play.

“(Playing hockey) is something I’ve done since I was 3 or

4-years-old, but I wouldn’t anticipate going back again,” Hebert

said. “I’m happy with what I’m doing now and it seems a good fit for

me.”

Hebert lives with his wife of seven years, Sarah, and their

daughter, Madeline.

The former goalie also spends time with Ducks charities, most

recently helping raise money to save an ice hockey rink in San

Clemente.

“I’ve also gotten to know people with cystic fibrosis and help out

the community that’s been a big part of my life,” Hebert said.

Hebert, an avid fisherman, and family are happy to be in Newport

Beach.

“My daughter and I go to the beach all the time and my wife loves

Fashion Island,” he said.

In August Hebert traveled to Alaska to tape a television program

called “Fly Fishing the World” that Hebert said will air in January.

“The producer invited a lot of athletes and had asked me for a

number of years so I said, ‘I’d love to go,’” Hebert said. “Now I

have some fish stories.”

In addition to stories of Ducks, which he hopes will be filled

with positives for years to come.