ANAHEIM, Calif., - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim announced today that the National Hockey League club intends to officially change its name to the Anaheim Ducks at the start of the 2006-2007 season.   The organization is also evaluating possible changes to its logo, identity and uniforms.   “The process is still very much underway, and we do not expect to be ready to make any further announcements until the end of the season,” said Henry Samueli, who along with his wife Susan purchased the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim last year from the Walt Disney Company.

Fan Feedback Factored Into the Decision

“The Mighty Ducks organization very carefully considered the question of whether to change the team name, and spent many months evaluating various options,” said David Paine, CEO of PainePR, an Irvine, California-based public relations firm that coordinated the research effort for the Samueli family.  “The process included both qualitative research and a formal quantitative telephone survey of Mighty Ducks season ticket holders.  While there was support for keeping the current name, the majority of those surveyed, nearly two thirds, supported some sort of name change.” 

At the same time, the research found strong support generally for preserving the history of the team in some way. 

“In selecting the name the Anaheim Ducks, we are respecting the heritage of a tremendous organization that has been a very important and visible part of the community, not to mention Western Conference Champions and a Stanley Cup finalist,” Samueli said.