prime rib, and then on New Year’s we get together to do lobsters with my parents.

Jonas Hiller: Christmas would be the biggest one for me since I am from Switzerland. This year, I would love to get invited somewhere for Thanksgiving so I don’t have to make a turkey for myself.

What is one of your fondest holiday memories?

Luca Sbisa: Getting my very first hockey jersey; it was actually an Anaheim Ducks jersey. It didn’t have a number or a name on it. The next Christmas I got a Mats Sundin jersey.

Devante Smith-Pelly: The first Christmas that I started playing I got a new pair of skates and a couple new sticks. That was a big deal back then.

Andrew Gordon: The world junior tournament starts up in Canada and it’s huge all across the country. It typically starts on Boxing Day (December 26th) but if it’s hosted in Europe it begins Christmas day. We would wake up on Boxing Day morning and watch the game with friends and family. When I was a kid we used to have tournaments on Christmas. We would play several games with all the new equipment we received on Christmas.

HOMEFOR THEHOLIDAYS

Around this time of year, what Holidays do you typically celebrate?

Devante Smith-Pelly: Christmas has been my favorite ever since I was a little kid. Getting the family and friends together and exchanging gifts was always a fun time.

Luca Sbisa: Growing up in Switzerland, Christmas was by far my favorite holiday. I lived up in the mountains so it added to the Christmas spirit. We had at least three feet of snow each year. When I moved to Anaheim I started to enjoy the sunshine and palm trees!

George Parros: When we celebrate Christmas, it’s usually food-based. We eat

With the holidays upon us, it is a time to reflect on family, friends and life-long traditions. Beyond the Boards caught up with several Anaheim Ducks players to ask them about their favorite memories from the holiday season.

AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT DUCKS HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

1 | BEYOND THE BOARDS | DECEMBER 2011

From left to right, Bobby Ryan, Ducks Owner Henry Samueli, Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Marchant during the Annual Anaheim Ducks ‘We Give Thanks’ Thanksgiving Day 2010

George Parros: When I went to Princeton my mom lived about an hour away from school. She would cook up between five and 10 turkeys and we would have the whole hockey team over. About 35 of the guys would show up.

Jonas Hiller: One of my fondest memories was when I was a kid, I woke up after midnight to see if there was any presents for me. I found a hockey stick and started to play with it because I was pretty sure that it was going to be my stick. The next morning my parents told me that it was actually my brother’s present.

Are there any traditions that have been passed down to you?

Luca Sbisa: We’ve kept a lot of traditions, including inviting family over, sharing stories and singing Christmas carols.

Devante Smith-Pelly: Boxing Day is always a pretty big day in Canada, which is the start of World Juniors. My Dad and I have a tradition of watching that game together each year.

Andrew Gordon: I have a pretty small family so it would usually be the four of us spending Christmas together in Hershey (Pennsylvania). We would always put the tree up the same day and decorate it together. I would like the tradition of decorating the tree to continue each year.

George Parros: We would do the traditional stuff, open presents when we woke up and have prime rib for dinner. That has always been a family tradition.

Jonas Hiller: We would devote one night to be spent with my cousins, grandparents and extended family. I really enjoyed seeing all of

my family. With hockey it has been tough to continue this tradition but it is something that I hope to continue doing.

Do you do any charitable work/events during the holidays?

Luca Sbisa: Growing up we did a lot of charitable things with my school. Now, we do things with our church as well as invite people over to our house for Christmas dinner.

Devante Smith-Pelly: We used to do food drives with my junior team during Christmas. I enjoy giving back to those that are less fortunate.

Andrew Gordon: In Hershey we did gift-giving to families that typically don’t get much for Christmas. We would usually purchase the children in the family three or four gifts. After we purchased the gifts, we would wrap them and deliver them to the families. This really lifted their spirits. I’m sure this year we will all look into doing something to make sure that

One of my fondest memories was getting my very first hockey jersey; it was an Anaheim Ducks jersey.

DEFENSEMAN LUCA SBISA RECALLS HIS FONDEST HOLIDAY MEMORY.

everyone has a better Christmas than they would otherwise. George Parros: Since I have been playing I haven’t had the time to go out and do what I used to. I would go out to food banks when I was in high school and serve Thanksgiving dinner. But each year we do the We Give Thanks event with the team here which I really enjoy.

Jonas Hiller: Last year Roger Federer had a match in Switzerland against Rafael Nadal for his foundation and I donated to that. I am also involved with a foundation called Sailability. One of my brothers is involved as well and provides those who have a handicap an opportunity to sail. I myself enjoy sailing and I definitely think it is cool helping out and sticking around for the summer to be around those kids. It reminds me how fortunate I truly am and to make sure that I don’t take anything for granted.

DECEMBER 2011 | BEYOND THE BOARDS | 2

Defenseman Cam Fowler spending some time with a child at Children’s Hospital of Orange County during Christmas.

3 | BEYOND THE BOARDS | DECEMBER 2011

DECEMBER 2011 | BEYOND THE BOARDS | 4

What complaints do you have about living with him?

Ryan: Other than the fact that he snores really loud, I don’t have a whole lot.

Parros: Oh Bobby, he takes too long in the bathroom. He is very particular about the temperature and lighting. He never closes the drapes all the way in the room.

Who controls the TV in your room, and what do you watch? Ryan: We’re 50/50 on that. He likes National Geographic and Planet History shows or whatever they’re called. We always end up with “Family Guy” before bed. I don’t know the name of the show, but to fall asleep every afternoon he puts on a local PBS channel with some guy teaching us how to paint, It’s unbelievable.

Parros: I do. I watch The Discovery Channel, History Channel and Cartoon Network.

Has your roommate tried to pull any pranks on you or anyone else? Ryan: No, there is a lot of roommate camaraderie in that department.

Parros: No, he keeps it friendly. We don’t prank roommates. We prank other guys.

What is the weirdest thing you’ve learned about him since living with him? Ryan: He mumbles in his sleep.

Who takes longer in the morning to get ready?

Ryan: Definitely me. George is out the door in minutes. I’m kind of a bear coming out of hibernation. (Laughing)

Parros: Definitely Bobby. I’m pretty quick.

What do you think he is going to say about you being his roommate?

Ryan: That I carry the looks, while he carries the charm.

Parros: He’s going to say I smell.

Rooming with Ryan/Parros means more time with him, is that a good thing? Ryan: You certainly leave the room a little smarter than when you went in because of the college degree. But you lose a little in the hygiene area.

Parros: It’s a great thing.

Does he ever cater to you? Ryan: No, nothing like that.

Parros: No, we try to stay away from each other.

What advice can you give him for future roommate situations?

Ryan: Buy noise-canceling headphones.

Parros: Just be yourself out there.

Why do you think the coaches had you room with him?

Ryan: Because I was young and Georgie was coming up in the league. He would take care of me my first few years. But it’s ended up being the other way around.

Parros: Just that New Jersey kind of thing. We’re both from there.

BOBBY RYANVS. GEORGE PARROS

TO SEE THE EXCLUSIVE FULL LENGTH INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH RYAN AND PARROS, SCAN HERE WITH YOUR SMART PHONE.

5 | BEYOND THE BOARDS | DECEMBER 2011

RYAN AND PARROS LOOK ON FROM THE BENCH DURING A GAME.

BOBBY RYAN GEORGE PARROS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 72:15PM

ESCONDIDO ICEOPLEX555 N. Tulip Street

Escondido, CA 92025

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31:30PM

CORONA INLINE4325 Prado Rd. #101

Corona, CA 92880

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 251:45PM

RIVERSIDE ICETOWN10540 Magnolia Avenue

Riverside, CA 92505

*Schedule subject to change. Check AnaheimDucks.com for the latest updates.

2011-12 PLAYER RINK TOUR SPEAKING SERIES

DECEMBER 2011 | BEYOND THE BOARDS | 6

Congratulations to Conner Smith! You are the lucky winner for the Beyond the Boards

November drawing of an Autographed Team Stick!

Don’t forget to check out Beyond the Boards each month

for your chance to win exclusive Ducks merchandise and

autographed memorabilia. This month, make sure to “Like”

us on Facebook at Facebook.com/DucksGoal for your

chance to win a Bobby Ryan Autographed 8x10. Beyond the

Boards will draw a winner at the end of December for this

month’s prize. Don’t miss out!!!!