When founded in 1993, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were owned by The Walt Disney Company. The team's original name was chosen from the Disney movie The Mighty Ducks, based on a group of misfit teens who turn their losing youth hockey team into a winner. Disney subsequently made an animated series called The Mighty Ducks, featuring a fictional Mighty Ducks of Anaheim team that consisted of anthropomorphized ducks. Disney had wanted to cross-merchandise the team even further by having every player have a "Mighty" preceding his surname on the back of the uniform (i.e. "Mighty Kariya"), but this idea was swiftly met with major negative reaction. [citation needed]

With their first draft pick, the Mighty Ducks selected Paul Kariya fourth overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Kariya would quickly become a fan favorite and the cornerstone of the young Mighty Ducks franchise. As team captain he would guide them to within a game of Stanley Cup glory in 2003. Buy Anaheim Mighty Ducks Tickets.