The Mighty Ducks hockey team has persevered the test of time through sequels and the transition onto the small screen in an animated series. And now a live-action series with Emilio Estevez reprising his role as the iconic Coach Bombay. The Mighty Ducks continue to warm our hearts with their harrowing tales of rags to riches. Disney+ premieres the new series on Friday, March 26th, 2021.
A team of misfits with an imperfect coach has been proven to be a classic algorithm to a feel good and family friendly film. Disney has revived the Mighty Ducks several times with something for everybody. Let’s take a look at the hockey team that has stayed in America’s hearts for almost 30 years.
After running into some trouble with the law, Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) is sentenced to the community service assignment of coaching the Mighty Ducks hockey team. Bombay is a former player of the Hawks hockey team himself. He is resentful of both his obligation and his team’s habitual losing record. Bombay imparts hockey instruction on the wayward team. And they return the favor by inspiring the coach to be a better and more charitable person. He uses his firm’s funds to provide the team with better equipment and becomes personally investment in their personal lives. The Mighty Ducks prove to the spectators, the other teams and themselves they are capable of anything.
Inspired by his players, Bombay reenters minor league hockey yet suffers a knee injury and returns to coaching. However, the magic appears to be gone and the team suffers losing streaks. Once again diving into the same narrative of unexpected heroes, a street hockey team teaches the players how to enjoy the essence of the sport again.
Star player Charlie Conway (played by Joshua Jackson) emerges as the main character as we follow the team to an elite private school upon receiving scholarships as a championship team, yet the welcome is not a warm one. With several cuts made to other players to make room for the winning Ducks, the local players are resentful. Conway also holds animosity towards new coach Ted Orion (Jeffrey Nordling) and eventually walks away from the team. With the help of Coach Bombay’s wise words, Conway matures and returns to lead the team to victory.
In somewhat of a full circle from the original 1992 film, a whole new group of underperformers is organized and coached by Coach Bombay in this new series airing on March 26th. Emilio Estevez is once again a main character, yet the real focus is on mom Alex played by Lauren Graham. Refusing to allow her son to feel defeat after being rejected from the junior Ducks, now a top league in the district, Alex encourages her son Evan (Brady Noon) to round up others and receive coaching from Coach Bombay.
The Mighty Ducks have remained in our hearts for decades. And the new series is sure to continue the hockey team’s legacy.
