The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

Last updated

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
The Mighty Ducks Game Changers Title Card.png
Genre
Based on
Developed by
  • Steve Brill
  • Josh Goldsmith
  • Cathy Yuspa
Starring
Music by John Debney
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Arielle Boisvert
  • Shawn Williamson
  • Damir Konjicija
  • Dario Konjicija
  • Marissa Berlin
  • Todd Linden
  • Jessica Watson
  • Patrick Kang
  • Michael Levin
  • Buddy Enright
Production locationsVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Cinematography
  • Séamus Tierney
  • Edward J. Pei
Editors
  • Steven Sprung
  • Eric Lea
  • Brent White
  • Hallie Faben Comfort
  • Gena Fridman
  • Justin Chinn
  • Annie Popko
Running time30–42 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Disney+
ReleaseMarch 26, 2021 (2021-03-26) –
November 30, 2022 (2022-11-30)
Related

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is an American sports comedy-drama television series based on the 1992 film written by Steve Brill. Developed by Brill, Josh Goldsmith, and Cathy Yuspa for Disney+, the series serves as a follow-up to the film, and is produced by Disney Branded Television, ABC Signature and Brillstein Entertainment, with Brill serving as head writer, and Goldsmith and Yuspa serving as showrunners.

Contents

Lauren Graham, Brady Noon, and Emilio Estevez star in the series. As of January 2018, ABC began developing a series based on the franchise The Mighty Ducks, with Brill set to write the series. The series was announced to be released on Disney+ in November 2018. Filming for the series was scheduled to begin in February 2020, and ended in June 2020. In August 2020, it was announced that filming could officially begin after Disney TV Studios made a deal with British Columbia unions about testing the cast and crew members for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The series premiered on March 26, 2021. [1] In August 2021, the series was renewed for a second season. which premiered on September 28, 2022. [2] [3] In February 2023, the series was cancelled by Disney after two seasons. [4]

The series was also removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023, amidst a Disney+ and Hulu content removal purge as part of a broader cost cutting initiative under Disney CEO Bob Iger. [5]

Synopsis

Now a hockey powerhouse, the Mighty Ducks junior team is selective about who makes the roster. After being cut and told he is wasting his time, 12-year-old Evan Morrow, at the urging of his mother, forms a new team of underdogs with the help of original Ducks coach, Gordon Bombay, who has since become the despondent owner of a low level ice rink. [6] [7] [8]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Special guest stars

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 10March 26, 2021 (2021-03-26)May 28, 2021 (2021-05-28)
2 10September 28, 2022 (2022-09-28)November 30, 2022 (2022-11-30)

Season 1 (2021)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date  [16]
11"Game On" James Griffiths Steve Brill & Josh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaMarch 26, 2021 (2021-03-26)
After her son is cut from the Mighty Ducks, struggling single mom Alex Morrow decides to help Evan start his own hockey team so he can have fun and get away from the stressful, win-at-all-costs atmosphere the Ducks promote. While Evan and his neighbor, Nick, set about recruiting players, Alex searches for a rink. After being turned down by many area rinks, Alex stumbles upon the Ice Palace, a rundown rink owned and operated by Gordon Bombay, who has reverted to his old personality of hating hockey and is barely keeping the rink afloat. He initially refuses Alex, wanting to remain distant from hockey, but is convinced when Alex offers him money from a state hockey program in exchange for renting the facilities. Evan and Nick, meanwhile, recruit a team of young misfits, many of whom don't have hockey experience. But despite the odds being stacked against them, the team announces their intent to challenge the rest of the league and Alex, whom Evan asks to be coach, names the squad the Don't Bothers.
22"Dusters" Michael Spiller Josh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaApril 2, 2021 (2021-04-02)
The Don't Bothers meet at the Ice Palace for their first practice. Evan is excited to get to work, but he quickly becomes dismayed when Alex's coaching focuses more on sharing feelings and trust exercises. Alex and Evan each consult Bombay for advice, but he is adamant about remaining away from hockey. After Evan confronts her about the issues facing the team, such as an equipment shortage, Alex despondently hides in the bleachers, when she witnesses Bombay warm up on the ice. They talk about Alex's coaching before Bombay tips her off to a cache of unclaimed hockey equipment at the Ducks' skating complex. Despite the new gear and their determination, the Don't Bothers are heavily beaten in their first game. Evan, upset over the loss, resolves to try harder and leads the team in an after-game skate. As she watches on, Alex realizes that her methods aren't working and she'll actually need to learn more about hockey to be a more effective coach.
33"Breakaway" Jay Karas Josh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaApril 9, 2021 (2021-04-09)
Evan relentlessly tries to get Sofi to join the Don't Bothers, but she refuses each time. Winnie, the cocoa girl at the Ice Palace, is dumped by her boyfriend and Nick tries to win her heart, but Bombay advises him to be just a friend. The Don't Bothers face the Ducks for the first time and Sofi scores a barrage of goals. However, a play Bombay wrote down in Alex's notebook helps the Don't Bothers score their first goal. Sofi decides to quit the Ducks when Coach T berates the team and points her out singlehandedly for letting Evan score. Alex confronts Bombay about his past and he explains how he went from being a college hockey coach to running the Ice Palace. Sofi tells Evan that she still needs permission from her parents to join the Don't Bothers.
44"Hockey Moms"James GriffithsJosh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaApril 16, 2021 (2021-04-16)
Bombay tries to motivate Alex while helping her prepare to take on Stephanie, her boss, in the Slap Shot Challenge, part of the Ducks' annual "Hockey Moms Skill Challenge". An exhausted Sofi has been practicing with both the Ducks and Don't Bothers and forges her mother's signature so she can play for the team. However, it all catches up with her when she shows up at a Ducks practice accidentally wearing her Don't Bothers jersey and is confronted by her parents. During the showdown, Alex wins with a slap shot of 41 mph, only to lose on the technicality that her skate crossed the line during the shot. Sofi is disappointed as the team she would play for was dependent on who would win, but later gets a surprise from her father; a signed permission slip for her to join the Don't Bothers. Elsewhere, Nick, believing he is in the "best friend zone" with Evan, invites him to a sleepover. They also ask Koob and bond with the goalie while trying to retrieve Koob's phone from Nick's mothers.
55"Cherry Picker"Jay Karas Matthew Carlson April 23, 2021 (2021-04-23)
Alex and Bombay are growing closer, leading to Bombay inviting Alex to a pro-hockey game. Things are thrown off kilter, though, when Evan's father Rob, makes a surprise visit while touring with his band. Evan is excited while Alex is concerned Rob will disappoint their son. Meanwhile, Lauren and Maya start to connect as friends, but the relationship is threatened when Lauren realizes she doesn't fit in with Maya's clique. Both situations come to a head at the Don't Bothers' next game when Bombay kidnaps Rob, preventing him from catching his flight for a concert gig, thus making sure he attends Evan's game as promised, inspiring Evan to play his heart out, while Nick convinces the girls that their friendship is more important than social cliques. Evan's performance helps the Don't Bothers win their first game, but Trevor, Stephanie's son, and one of Evan's former teammates, informs Evan that Coach T was at the game and wants to meet with him.
66"Spirit of the Ducks"Steve BrillTodd LindenApril 30, 2021 (2021-04-30)
Bombay bumps into Fulton Reed, one of the original Mighty Ducks, when a piece of flying concrete smashes his car window and he learns about the "Spirit of the Ducks" gala, celebrating the Ducks' 25th anniversary. Meanwhile, Evan is invited back to the Ducks by Coach T and seriously considers rejoining, going so far as attending a practice, but ultimately decides to remain with his friends. Bombay learns that he wasn't invited to the gala because he doesn't represent "the best of the Ducks". He reunites with some of the old Ducks who, upon learning he wasn't invited, gatecrash the party and stand up for their former coach. The next day, the older Ducks join the Don't Bothers for a scrimmage at the Ice Palace, while Bombay accepts the assistant coach position for the Don't Bothers. After the practice, however, a video of Evan practicing with the Ducks is posted online and the Don't Bothers walk out in disgust.
77"Pond Hockey"Melissa KosarMarissa BerlinMay 7, 2021 (2021-05-07)
The Don't Bothers are still stung by Evan's betrayal, especially Sofi and Sam. So, Alex calls a players only meeting and forces them into the locker room to hash it out, until the power at the Ice Palace fails. Bombay improvises and takes the team to the same frozen pond he used as a kid to help hone the team's instincts and that helps Evan find a way to earn back his squad's trust by giving up the captaincy. Alex, meanwhile, starts to doubt her abilities as coach after seeing how Bombay is with the team and decides to step aside and let him take over. Bombay, however, admits he deliberately cut the power to the Ice Palace and reminds Alex that she had reawakened his love of the game and encourages Alex to take the reins and lead the team. Evan makes amends with Sofi and prevents Sam from quitting. After all the drama, the Don't Bothers come together for another late win.
88"Change on the Fly"Michael SpillerDamir Konjicija & Dario KonjicijaMay 14, 2021 (2021-05-14)
Inspired by Alex's "putting fun first" motto, the Don't Bothers continue to perform better than expected. But after continuous praise from Sofi's parents, the temptation of winning brainwashes Alex and she starts overworking the team, which makes them sour, despite continuing their winning streak. Logan, who still struggles to skate, gets a lesson from Bombay who, after seeing Logan make pancakes before practice, realizes he has potential for stick-handling. Nick, who had just scored his first goal in the previous game, becomes tired about everyone trying to one-up him, but when Logan talks to him, Logan reveals that he is envious of Nick's relationship with his mothers. The Don't Bothers play their final game of the regular season with a place at States on the line. Alex refuses Bombay's suggestion of putting Logan in the game several times. However, Nick tricks her, allowing Logan to take his place and Logan uses "the Michigan" to score the game-winning goal and send the Don't Bothers through. However, an angry Alex berates the team in the locker room for going against her and the squad realizes that she had gotten too focused on winning. Evan determines that his mother needs to be fired.
99"Head Games"Melissa KosarRita HsiaoMay 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)
Evan fires Alex from her coaching position. She accepts it, realizing her mistakes and decides to go to her office to get work done. Evan wants to ask Sofi to the party being held for the players the night before the tournament, but she responds in a confusing manner, leading him to ask podcaster Mary Joe for advice. But she corners him into asking her instead, just to make Nick jealous. Sofi and Nick notice this and Sofi decides to show up with Trevor, and Nick is jealous, since he has a crush on Mary Joe. At work, Alex inadvertently finds out that Stephanie and her husband Clark are getting a divorce and she bonds with her depressed boss, finding similarities in their lives, with Stephanie praising Alex for having a happy child. Meanwhile, Bombay and Coach T have a drink at the bar, but Coach T was just manipulating Bombay to drop the secret that he wasn't eligible in the NCAA to coach due to a mistake Bombay made years ago. This leads to the tournament committee disqualifying Bombay and the Don't Bothers. Alex and Stephanie, having received a call from Evan, show up as Bombay's "attorneys" and expose a mistake on the league's side of the argument and the league decides to let Bombay coach. Evan gets Mary Joe and Nick to hang out and he reconciles after his fight with Sofi, later revealing their feelings to each other.
1010"State of Play"Michael SpillerMarissa Berlin & Todd LindenMay 28, 2021 (2021-05-28)
The Don't Bothers win through to the finals at States to face-off against the Ducks. However, Sofi's leg injury gets the best of her and refuses to sit out the game, as this would make the Don't Bothers forfeit for not having enough players. The rest of the Don't Bothers decide her injury is not worth the trophy and all agree to make her sit out. The Ducks are crowned champions due to the forfeit. On the way out of the rink, the Ducks and Don't Bothers meet each other in the corridor and agree to play a game at the Ice Palace with a bet on the line (if the Ducks win, the Don't Bothers must drop out of the league, and if the Don't Bothers win, then they get the Ducks name). The game at the Ice Palace starts off with the Don't Bothers scoring first. Coach T encourages his team to play dirty since there is only one referee. After the second period, the Ducks are ahead by two. In the Don't Bothers locker room the team comes together once more and Bombay surprises them with the original Ducks uniforms. The Don't Bothers tie the game up and then use the Flying V formation to score the game-winning goal and securing the Ducks name. Later, Bombay resurfaces the ice with a Zamboni and the original Ducks logo at center ice in the Ice Palace.

Season 2 (2022)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date  [16]
111"Ice Breaker"Melissa KosarJosh Goldsmith & Cathy Yuspa & Steve Brill September 28, 2022 (2022-09-28)
The Ice Palace is condemned and, while Fulton Reed and Dean Portman work on renovating the rundown rink, Alex takes the Mighty Ducks to EPIC, an elite summer hockey program in California run by Colin Cole, a former NHL player. Unfortunately, the invite was meant for the former Ducks and Cole asks them to leave. However, Alex gives an impassioned speech that convinces him to let them stay. The players gather for an "icebreaker" where Cole informs them they'll be competing for a chance to play in the World Hockey Summer Showcase in front of scouts from colleges and the NHL. They engage in an exercise to score goals, with each player being able to leave the ice once they do. The Mighty Ducks are quickly embarrassed by the more dominant and aggressive players but soon manage to get the hang of the game until it comes down to Nick against Cole's son, Jace. Nick scores and, despite Nick's and Alex's pleas to leave the fierce competition and return to Minnesota, Evan rallies the team into staying.
122"Out of Bounds"Melissa KosarTodd LindenOctober 5, 2022 (2022-10-05)
The Mighty Ducks struggle to adjust to life at EPIC, including 5 a.m. wakeup calls, a strict nutrition regimen, and intense workouts. Cole gives each player a performance wristband, which monitors their overall fitness level, and ranks everyone's statistics on the "big board" in the middle of campus. The rankings will be used to draft teams for a tournament, with the winner playing a team from Canada in the annual Summer Showcase in front of scouts. Alex is not fond of monitoring the kids' fitness, and she and Cole clash over their philosophies on what a summer camp should entail. Cole takes note of Evan's on-ice skill, while Alex meets Jace, Cole's son who is frustrated with the pressure his dad puts on him. While on a run, a frustrated Nick decides to flee and gets lost in the woods. Sofi and the rest of the Mighty Ducks search for him, but Evan attends a clinic held by Cole instead, which upsets his teammates. Alex finds Nick at a nearby hotel and convinces him to never give up on a difficult situation; Nick returns to EPIC and is welcomed back with open arms.
133"Coach Classic"Melissa Kosar Matthew Carlson October 12, 2022 (2022-10-12)
Cole announces the annual "Coach Classic" is upcoming, where ten players will be chosen to compete in a game against the coaches. Sofi discovers that Jace is one of the top players of his age in the country, but he has been struggling on the ice and grown weary of his father's intensity. Evan, who desperately wants to be chosen for the game, is passed over, while Jace is selected. Jace wants no part of the game, so he gives his jersey to Evan, but Alex refuses to let him play out of fear for his safety. Alex eventually relents after she becomes the coach of the kids' team. During the game, Cole switches sides and plays with the kids, but the game ends in a tie after Jace is unable to score the winning goal. Evan grows jealous of Jace and Sofi's budding relationship.
144"Draft Day" Lauren Graham Josh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaOctober 19, 2022 (2022-10-19)
The eight teams of EPIC prepare for the annual draft to create teams for the summer camp. A lottery is held to determine the draft order: Cole wins the first overall pick, while Alex will pick last. With Nick's help, Alex offers the other coaches various favors in order to trade up on the draft board. Alex convinces Cole to swap her second overall pick for the first. Evan desperately wants to be drafted by Cole, while Sofi is surprised at how serious he is taking the camp. The two attempt to rekindle their relationship, but Evan decides against sneaking out at night, leaving Sofi frustrated. At the draft, Alex selects Nick with the first overall pick, despite finishing last on the big board. Alex proceeds to draft all of the Mighty Ducks players, except Evan, who is drafted onto Cole's team, "Dominate". In return, Alex drafts Jace with her final pick. Following the draft, Evan and Sofi break up, and Evan leaves with his new teammates.
155"Icing on the Cake" Michael McDonald Marissa BerlinOctober 26, 2022 (2022-10-26)
Evan and Nick struggle to adjust now that they're on different teams. As the teams begin practice, Cole puts Evan and his Dominate team through rigorous training on the ice and in the weight room, while the Mighty Ducks hold leisurely exercises outdoors. Nick invites Evan to his birthday party, but Cole schedules a practice for that night, prompting Alex to unsuccessfully ask Cole to excuse Evan. During practice, Evan, not knowing his mom asked Cole to excuse him, feigns illness, but Cole sees through the lie and benches him for their first game. Without Evan, Nick's birthday party is a disaster, but Evan eventually arrives and everyone sneaks into the kitchen after hours for ice cream. Meanwhile, Maya attempts to help Sofi become more rebellious, and Jace takes a liking to her.
166"Twigs"David KatzenbergJessica WatsonNovember 2, 2022 (2022-11-02)
The tournament begins, and the Mighty Ducks are blown out in their first two games. The team has a bonding session, where they each hold a twig and talk about a negative emotion affecting them. Jace, feeling it's pointless, quits the team. At the end of the meeting, Alex puts the twigs together and notes how hard it is to break them all at once, and as a team they are unbreakable. Their next game is against Dominate, and the rejuvenated Mighty Ducks force a 2-2 tie at the end of the second period. During the intermission, Nick has an encounter with A.J., the top player on Dominate, who admits they are playing with their off-hands in order to make the game seem close. The revelation deflates the team and turns them against Evan, and Alex asks Cole to have his players play properly in the third period; Dominate promptly wins the game in a rout. Afterwards, Jace, upset over what his father did, asks to rejoin the team. They accept him, but Sofi admits they need help. Later, Alex makes a phone call to the Anaheim Ducks.
177"Spirit of the Ducks Part 2" Josh Duhamel Matthew Carlson & Todd LindenNovember 9, 2022 (2022-11-09)
On an off day, the Mighty Ducks take an unsanctioned field trip to the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks. Jace is hesitant to enter the rink, and later confides in Sofi that one summer prior, his hockey struggles started there after he put the puck into his own net in front of numerous scouts. Sofi attempts to motivate him, and the two kiss. Meanwhile, the teams are picking their captains, and A.J. nominates himself to be the captain of Dominate. Evan intervenes, and says while he doesn't have A.J.'s talent, he brings more heart and fight. They decide to settle the captaincy by having an ice bath challenge, which Evan wins. The Mighty Ducks have practice, where Alex encourages them to incorporate a new technique into their game. They are later joined by players from the Anaheim Ducks. Following practice, the team nominates Jace as their captain. That night, Cole confronts Alex for leaving the campus, but Alex shows him a video of Jace practicing with the Ducks. Overwhelmed at seeing Jace finally succeed, he kisses Alex.
188"Trade Rumors" Jay Chandrasekhar Patrick Kang & Michael LevinNovember 16, 2022 (2022-11-16)
News of Cole and Alex kissing spreads quickly throughout EPIC, and the two agree to go on a date. The rejuvenated Mighty Ducks go on a winning streak and advance to the championship game against Dominate. A depressed Evan grows jealous of Sofi's budding relationship with Jace and admits to Alex he misses being a Duck, while Cole takes great interest in Jace's on-ice skills. Cole speaks with Alex and proposes trading Evan to the Mighty Ducks in exchange for Jace. Evan later overhears this and begs Cole not to trade him, but Cole wonders if Evan truly has a future in hockey and suggests he would be better off with his friends. The trade rumor greatly upsets players on both teams and is vetoed by Alex the night before the championship game.
199"Summer Breezers"Jay ChandrasekharJosh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaNovember 23, 2022 (2022-11-23)
Prior to the championship game, Cole and Alex host a banquet for both teams, but the players are upset with them over the trade rumor. Tensions between the teams spark pushing and shoving and ultimately a food fight before the banquet is canceled. As the teams continue to argue while cleaning up, Sofi calms everyone down by saying hockey isn't everything, and having fun and making friends is the most important value at any summer camp. On the day of the championship game, neither team shows up to the rink, and they are later found at a lake near campus enjoying a summer day. Cole relents and joins in on the fun, and begins to mend his relationship with Jace. That night, Cole receives word that a team from Canada is soon arriving, who are scheduled to play the winner of the Mighty Ducks vs. Dominate game in the Summer Showcase. Since the championship game was never played, the two teams decide to merge. The next day, the Canadian team arrives at EPIC, who are led by Coach T.
2010"Lights Out"Melissa KosarJosh Goldsmith & Cathy YuspaNovember 30, 2022 (2022-11-30)
Cole declares that the unified team will play as the Ducks in the Summer Showcase, and he will watch as a fan to avoid pressuring Jace. The game is held at the Anaheim Ducks practice arena, where Ducks player Cam Fowler gifts the team new jerseys for the game. Nick sprains his ankle, and he is unable to play. The Ducks struggle as Evan is distracted by scouts and Jace feels the pressure again. Coach T uses the "Flying V" out of spite in his quest for revenge. After the second period, Sofi, Evan, and the team let Jace know that he is a special player. In the third period, Cole rejoins the Ducks and Nick takes over for Rich Eisen on commentary. The Ducks earn a penalty shot at the end of the game, which Evan scores, as Jace turned down the chance to convince Evan that he has not reached is hockey "ceiling". After the game, Sofi, Evan, and A.J. are approached by scouts. As summer at EPIC comes to a close, Sofi and Jace share a goodbye kiss. Nick attempts to cheer up a sad Evan, reminding him that he's the one traveling back home with Sofi, and there is still hope for their relationship.

Production

Development

By 2018, Steve Brill and Jordan Kerner, who respectively served as writer and producer for the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks , pitched to ABC Signature head Tracy Underwood an idea for a TV series based on the film, which was approved for development. [17]

On January 22, 2018, it was reported that a half-hour The Mighty Ducks TV series was being developed by ABC Signature Studios, with Brill set to write and executive-produce the series. [17] The series was being shopped to several networks and streaming services by the studio. [17] On November 8, 2018, it was reported that the series will be released on Disney's streaming service, Disney+. [18] On November 6, 2019, it was reported that Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, George Heller, and Brad Petrigala will co-executive-produce the series alongside Brill. [6] On February 12, 2020, Goldsmith and Yuspa were revealed to be serving a co-creators and showrunners for the series, while Kerner and James Griffiths were revealed to be co-executive-producing the series, with star Lauren Graham also being credited as co-executive producer. [7] On August 2, 2021, Disney+ renewed the series for a second season. [2] On February 17, 2023, Disney+ cancelled the series after two seasons. [4]

Casting

In February 2020, Lauren Graham and Brady Noon were cast in the series as the lead roles, with Emilio Estevez returning to reprise his role as Gordon Bombay, in addition to executive producing, as well as directing an episode. [7] [8] [19] Swayam Bhatia, Taegen Burns, Julee Cerda, Bella Higginbotham, Luke Islam, Kiefer O'Reilly, Maxwell Simkins, De'Jon Watts were also cast in undisclosed roles. [8] On March 18, 2021, it was reported that Elden Henson, Matt Doherty, Vincent LaRusso, Marguerite Moreau, Garette Henson, and Justin Wong would reprise their roles from The Mighty Ducks films for the sixth episode of the series. [15] In November 2021, it was reported that Estevez's season 2 option would not be picked up due to creative differences and a contract dispute. [20] On January 24, 2022, Josh Duhamel was cast in a starring role for the second season. [14] On March 25, 2022, Naveen Paddock joined the cast as a new series regular while Margot Anderson-Song, Noah Baird, Stephnie Weir, Connor DeWolfe, Timm Sharp, and Tiffany Denise Hobbs joined the cast in recurring roles. [12]

Filming

Filming for The Mighty Ducks was scheduled to begin on February 18, 2020, and end on June 11, 2020. [21] Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [7] James Griffiths served as a director for the series. [22] In August 2020, it was announced that filming could officially begin after Disney TV Studios made a deal with British Columbia unions about testing the cast and crew members for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [23] Filming officially resumed in September 2020 and concluded on December 17, 2020. [24] [25] Filming for the second season began in early 2022. [2]

Promotion

In March 2021, ahead of the series premiere, and along with the NHL's return to ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN collaborated on a 30 for 30 promotional featurette in partnership with Cheerios entitled The Legend of the Flying V on the championship game between the original Ducks and the Hawks, shown in the climactic scene of The Mighty Ducks . Among those who provide commentary are Don't Bothers members Sofi, Evan, Nick, Koob, Maya and Lauren along with original Ducks Fulton, Lester, and Connie – all played by their original actors ahead of their return in Game Changers – United States women's hockey forward and Olympic gold medalist Meghan Duggan, retired NHL forward and TNT hockey analyst Anson Carter and ESPN hockey analysts and SportsCenter anchors Linda Cohn, John Buccigross and Steve Levy. [26]

Release

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers was released on Disney+ on March 26, 2021. [1] The second season was released on September 28, 2022. [3]

The series made its linear premiere on Freeform on January 1, 2023. [27]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 87% based on 39 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Game Changers doesn't quite flip the puck, but it has enough heart and good humor to make The Mighty Ducks proud." [28] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 16 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [29]

Caroline Framke of Variety said Game Changers manages to be a solid follow-up, stating the series manages to provide a sharp update to a timeless story without relying too much on nostalgia, and praised the performance of the actors. [30] Robert Daniels of Polygon applauded the humor of the series, claiming it offers a hysterical critique of present-day youth sports, and stated it manages to be a light-hearted family-friendly show. [31] Joel Keller of Decider wrote that Lauren Graham represents the best asset of the show, praised the performances of the cast members, and complimented the writing, saying the dialogues are sharp and entertaining. [32] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised the performances of the actors, complimented the series for its inclusive messaging, and found it sincere and emotional at times, despite calling the narrative flaccid. [33] Ashley Moulton of Common Sense Media rated the series 3 out of 5 stars, complimented the depiction of positive messages, stating the show promotes perseverance and positivity, and found agreeable the presence of role models, citing the gender and racial diversity across the main cast. [34]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2021 ReFrame Stamp IMDbPro Top 200 Scripted TV RecipientsThe Mighty Ducks: Game ChangersWon [35]
2022 Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Pilot and Series (Live Action)Alexis Frank Koczara, Christine Smith Shevchenko, Jana Jacques Lind, Tiffany Mak, Gianna ButlerNominated [36]
2023 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Kids TV Show The Mighty Ducks: Game ChangersNominated [37]
Favorite Male TV Star (Kids) Brady Noon Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Jackson</span> Canadian-American actor (born 1978)

Joshua Carter Jackson is a Canadian-American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Pacey Witter on The WB's teen drama Dawson's Creek (1998–2003), Peter Bishop in the Fox science fiction series Fringe (2008–2013), Cole Lockhart on Showtime's The Affair (2014–2018), Dan Gallagher in the Paramount+ series Fatal Attraction, and Dr. Christopher Duntsch in the Peacock crime drama series Dr. Death (2021). For the latter, he was nominated for the 2022 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series. He currently stars as Dr. Max Bankman in the ABC series Doctor Odyssey (2024-). His other credits include When They See Us (2019), and Little Fires Everywhere (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaheim Ducks</span> National Hockey League team in Anaheim, California

The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Honda Center, and is owned by Henry and Susan Samueli. The Ducks are affiliated with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL. The Ducks are one of two teams based in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, along with the Los Angeles Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emilio Estevez</span> American actor, director, and writer (born 1962)

Emilio Estevez is an American actor and filmmaker.

<i>The Mighty Ducks</i> (film) 1992 film by Stephen Herek

The Mighty Ducks is a 1992 American sports comedy-drama film about a youth league hockey team, directed by Stephen Herek and starring Emilio Estevez, Joss Ackland and Lane Smith. It was produced by The Kerner Entertainment Company and Avnet–Kerner Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the first film in The Mighty Ducks film series. In some countries, the home release copies were printed with the title as The Mighty Ducks Are the Champions to avoid confusion with the title of the sequel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Graham</span> American actress, producer and novelist (born 1967)

Lauren Helen Graham is an American actress and author. She is best known for playing Lorelai Gilmore on The WB dramedy series Gilmore Girls, for which she received several nominations, winning two Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Parental Unit in 2005 and 2006, and for playing Sarah Braverman on the NBC drama series Parenthood (2010-2015). She also appeared in the films Sweet November (2001), Bad Santa (2003), The Pacifier (2005), Because I Said So (2007), Evan Almighty (2007), and Max (2015). In 2013, Graham published her debut novel with Ballantine Books, Someday, Someday, Maybe. In 2016, Graham reprised her role on a Gilmore Girls Netflix revival miniseries A Year in the Life and published a memoir, Talking as Fast as I Can.

<i>D3: The Mighty Ducks</i> 1996 film by Robert Lieberman

D3: The Mighty Ducks is a 1996 American sports comedy-drama film directed by Robert Lieberman and sequel to the 1994 film D2: The Mighty Ducks. It is the third and final installment in The Mighty Ducks trilogy and was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Jeffrey Nordling, Heidi Kling, and Joss Ackland. Estevez, Kling, Ackland, Joshua Jackson, Elden Henson, Shaun Weiss, Matt Doherty, Garette Ratliff Henson, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Larusso, Aaron Lohr, Ty O'Neal, Kenan Thompson, Mike Vitar, Colombe Jacobsen, and Justin Wong reprise their roles from the previous films in the series with Scott Whyte, who played Gunnar in the second film, returning in a different role. Brandon Adams who played Jesse Hall in the first two films was the only one who did not return for the third installment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Bandits</span> Defunct ice hockey team in the American Hockey League

The Baltimore Bandits were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena. The Bandits were an affiliate of the National Hockey League's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. After two years of minimal on-ice success, the franchise was moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

<i>D2: The Mighty Ducks</i> 1994 film by Sam Weisman

D2: The Mighty Ducks is a 1994 American family sports comedy-drama film directed by Sam Weisman. It is the second installment in The Mighty Ducks trilogy, and a sequel to the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks produced by Walt Disney Pictures, The Kerner Entertainment Company and Avnet–Kerner Productions. Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Elden Henson, Shaun Weiss, Brandon Adams, Matt Doherty, Garette Ratliff Henson, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Larusso, Brock Pierce, Robert Hall, and Bob Miller reprise their roles in the film with Michael Tucker, Jan Rubeš, and Kathryn Erbe joining the cast. It was followed by the final film of the series, D3: The Mighty Ducks, in 1996.

<i>The Mighty Ducks</i> Disney media franchise about a junior ice hockey team

The Mighty Ducks is an American media franchise. It features William McLendon in a trilogy of live-action films released in the 1990s by Walt Disney Pictures and a live-action sequel television series, as well as an animated television series by Walt Disney Television Animation and a real-world hockey team in the National Hockey League. The movies revolve around a Twin Cities ice hockey team, composed of young players that stick together throughout various challenges. Despite negative reviews from film critics, the trilogy's commercial success paved the way for the franchise's expansion.

Matthew Doherty is an American actor. He is known for his role of Lester Averman in The Mighty Ducks trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg Sulkin</span> British actor (born 1992)

Gregg Sulkin is an English actor. He made his television debut in the 2002 Doctor Zhivago mini-series. He later starred in the 2006 British film Sixty Six, and subsequently appeared in the Disney Channel comedy series As the Bell Rings and Wizards of Waverly Place. In 2010, he starred in the Disney Channel television film Avalon High. He also appeared in the television special The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex. He starred on MTV's show Faking It as Liam Booker from 2014 until its cancellation in 2016. He also appeared on Pretty Little Liars as Ezra's brother, Wesley "Wes" Fitzgerald. In 2016, he starred in the role of Sam Fuller in the horror-thriller film Don't Hang Up. He starred as Chase Stein in the TV show Runaways, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Anaheim Ducks</span>

The history of the Anaheim Ducks begins when the team joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1993 as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Founded as an expansion team in 1993 along with the Florida Panthers, the Ducks were originally owned by The Walt Disney Company, which named the franchise after its film The Mighty Ducks. Since their inception, the team has played at the Honda Center, located in Anaheim, California, close to both Disneyland and Angel Stadium.

Paris Berelc is an American actress and model. She is known for her roles as Skylar Storm in the Disney XD series Mighty Med and Lab Rats: Elite Force, and Alexa Mendoza in the Netflix sitcom Alexa & Katie.

Scarlett Madeline Estevez is an American actress, disc jockey, and music and television producer. She began her career as a child actress playing Megan in the films Daddy's Home (2015) and its sequel Daddy's Home 2 (2017). Estevez went on to play Trixie on the television series Lucifer from 2016 to 2021, and Gwen on the fourth season of the Disney Channel television series Bunk'd in 2019. She starred as Violet Rodriguez / Ultra Violet in the Disney Channel series Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion in 2022.

Julee Cerda is a South Korean born American actress who resides in New York.

<i>Just Beyond</i> American anthology series

Just Beyond is an American horror comedy anthology television series created by Seth Grahame-Smith for Disney+, based on the Boom! Studios graphic novel series of the same name by R. L. Stine. The series premiered on October 13, 2021, with all 8 episodes. The series was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023.

Dylan Playfair is a Canadian actor. He is most noted for his starring role as Reilly in Letterkenny (2016–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brady Noon</span> American actor (born 2005)

Brady Noon is an American actor. He is known for his roles in Boardwalk Empire, Good Boys, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and Family Switch.

References

  1. 1 2 Pedersen, Erik (January 28, 2021). "'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers': Teaser & Premiere Date For Disney+ Hockey Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Hatchett, Keisha (August 2, 2021). "Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Renewed for Season 2 at Disney+". TVLine . Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Petski, Denise (August 3, 2022). "'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Gets Season 2 Premiere Date On Disney+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Hatchett, Keisha (February 17, 2023). "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Cancelled at Disney+ After 2 Seasons". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ Weatherbed, Jess (May 19, 2023). "Over 50 shows are being pulled from Disney Plus and Hulu". The Verge. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Pearson, Ben (November 6, 2019). "'Mighty Ducks' TV Series Details Revealed: Here's What the Disney+ Series is About". /Film. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Goldberg, Lesley (February 12, 2020). "Lauren Graham to Star in 'The Mighty Ducks' TV Series for Disney+". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Andreeva, Nellie (February 13, 2020). "'The Mighty Ducks': Emilio Estevez To Reprise Role As Coach Gordon Bombay In Disney+ Sequel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Fact Sheet" (PDF). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution . February 21, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  10. ↑ Vitarelli, Alicia (March 26, 2021). "Young Abington actor stars in new Mighty Ducks series on Disney+". ABC 6 . Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (November 5, 2021). "Emilio Estevez Not Returning To 'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Petski, Denise (March 25, 2022). "'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers': Naveen Paddock Joins As New Series Regular For Season 2, 6 More Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Season 2 Fact Sheet" (PDF). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution . August 30, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Petski, Denise (January 24, 2022). "Josh Duhamel To Star In 'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bucksbaum, Sydney (March 18, 2021). "The Mighty Ducks original film stars returning for an episode of Disney+ revival". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Shows A-Z - mighty ducks, the: games changers on disney plus". The Futon Critic . Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 Goldberg, Lesley (January 22, 2018). "'Mighty Ducks' TV Series in the Works (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  18. ↑ Pearson, Ben (November 8, 2018). "Disney's Streaming Service is Called Disney+, Here's How It Will Be Different From Netflix". /Film. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  19. ↑ Marc, Christopher (November 8, 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: Emilio Estevez To Direct An Episode of 'The Mighty Ducks' Series For Disney+". The Ronin. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (November 8, 2021). "Emilio Estevez Speaks Out About His 'Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Exit, Reveals Long-Haul Covid". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  21. ↑ Plana, Vincent (February 5, 2020). "Disney Plus' The Mighty Ducks TV series to begin filming in BC this month". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  22. ↑ Marc, Christopher (January 11, 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: 'The Mighty Ducks' Disney+ Series Adds 'Cuban Fury' Director James Griffiths". HN Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  23. ↑ Jennings, Collier (August 15, 2020). "Mighty Ducks Disney+ Series Gets the Greenlight to Start Production". CBR . Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  24. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 2, 2020). "'The Good Doctor', 'A Million Little Things', 'Big Sky' & 'The Mighty Ducks' Among Series That Have Started Production In Vancouver". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  25. ↑ "DGC BC Production List" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada . October 23, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  26. ↑ "30 for 30: The Legend of the Flying V". Disney+/ESPN. March 21, 2019. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  27. ↑ "'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Season 1 to Air on FreeForm". December 29, 2022. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  29. ↑ "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  30. ↑ Framke, Caroline (March 25, 2021). "'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Makes For a Smart, Surprisingly Sweet Cannibalization of Disney IP: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  31. ↑ Daniels, Robert (March 26, 2021). "Under the nostalgia, the new Mighty Ducks has a sharp message". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' On Disney+, Where Lauren Graham Starts A New Youth Hockey Team With Emilio Estevez's Help". Decider. March 27, 2021. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  33. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (March 25, 2021). "'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  34. ↑ "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers TV Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  35. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (July 20, 2021). "ReFrame Gives 117 Shows Gender-Balance Seal of Approval Including 'Pose,' 'Bridgerton,' 'WandaVision,' More". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  36. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (November 22, 2021). "Artios Awards: Casting Society Sets Nominations For TV, Theater, Shorts & Shortform Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  37. ↑ Denise Petski (January 31, 2023). "Nate Burleson & Charli D'Amelio To Host Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards; Stranger Things Leads 2023 Nominations — Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.