Danielle Solzman
Six members of the Mighty Ducks cast from the films reunite with Coach Gordon Bombay in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers episode, “Spirit of the Ducks.”
Don’t forget to check out parts one and two of my interviews with the Mighty Ducks!
This is the episode that many of us have been waiting for. Unfortunately, the pandemic means that a number of people couldn’t be included in the reunion episode. Among them are none other than Charlie Conway himself, Joshua Jackson. And then there’s Russ Tyler, portrayed by long-running Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson. Thompson’s schedule is so busy between SNL and his sitcom that it would have been a miracle if he’d make an appearance when there isn’t a pandemic!
What brings everyone back together is the Spirit of the Ducks Gala. But before this, Coach T recruits Evan (Brady Noon) to play for the Ducks again following the recent Don’t Bothers win. Because of his recent recruitment, Ducks Mom and Alex’s (Lauren Graham) boss, Stephanie, has Alex preparing gift bags for all the attendees. Was nobody else available or was this revenge for the recent Moms Hockey Skills Challenge? No matter what the official results said, Alex clearly beat her boss.
This brings me to the Gala itself. There’s one person who wasn’t invited to attend: Coach Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez). How do you hold an event celebrating 25 years of the Ducks and not invite the man that originally coached them? Bombay searches through his office with Alex but can’t find any invite. Alex asks her boss but she responds by saying that they didn’t have Bombay’s address so they didn’t invite him. “I’m sorry but he just doesn’t represent the best of the Ducks,” Stephany says. Moreover, they’re presenting the first-ever Ducks Lifetime Achievement Award to Coach T. Nobody could blame Gordon Bombay for not taking this well. I mean, I would be as crushed as he is, too!
And now we get to the reunion itself. Early on in the episode, Bombay drives by a construction zone only to have Fulton Reed (Elden Henson) break his passenger-side windshield. A brief conversation later and Fulton invites him to join the Ducks for pizza at Twin Cities Slice. At pizza, Bombay is joined by Reed, Connie Moreau (Marguerite Moreau), Guy Germaine (Garrette Henson), Adam Banks (Vincent A. LaRusso), Lester Averman (Matt Doherty), and Ken Wu (Justin Wong). I don’t know about you buy I had chills when he sees them, hugs, and starts quacking. On one hand, the former coach is happy to catch up with them but at the same time, he’s very disappointed to be left out of the Gala.
The Ducks don’t take it well that he’s not going. Bombay should really be honest here. Connie says it would take another criminal court order. Fulton on Charlie not being there: “He didn’t come because it’s not like you’ve been showing up for us lately so why should he show up.” Bombay: “We were a team a long time ago but I think it’s time that we all just move on.” The scene cuts off but they’re disappointed in their former coach.
Not that it should come as any surprise but the Gala itself isn’t fun until the original Ducks bring Bombay to the arena. Prior to that, Evan meets the original Ducks and tells them Bombay wasn’t invited. Bombay practicing hockey when his old team stops by to pick up up and take him to the reunion. We get a nice callback to the first film when Lester Averman drives a limo on the ice. Upon arriving at the reunion, the original Ducks take the stage and say why Bombay should receive the award. They teach the crowd what being a Duck was all about: fun, heart, and team. During the next practice on the following day, Bombay brings the original Ducks.
Gordon Bombay: “Is that assistant coach position still open?”
Alex Morrow: “I do not think it has been filled yet.”
There’s even a nostalgic callback to the original score before the episode ends. It also plays during the end credits, too. Steve Brill is behind the camera in the director’s chair while Todd Linden wrote the episode. You couldn’t ask for a better reunion episode given the circumstances. I’m loving where Gordon Bombay’s journey is taking him. The entire season has been inching closer and closer to Bombay becoming a coach again. It may have taken his former team but I’m happy he got there again.
Where Are They Now
- Fulton Reed: He’s the first former Duck we see. Bombay mentions that he could do without him smashing his window every time they meet up. To which Reed responds, “I can’t help it–it’s kind of my thing.”
- Connie Moreau: Connie and Guy are now married. She’s a state senator with three kids. Bombay never responded to their wedding invite.
- Guy Germaine: He’s just along for the ride.
- Adam Banks: He became a public defender. “I learned a long time ago to fight for the good guys.” At the reunion: “The Ducks have become a bunch of cake eaters.”
- Lester Averman: “I take a limo to work every day.” After teasing that he drives a limo to work, we find out that he’s really driving someone else to work.
- Ken Wu:
