D2: The Mighty Ducks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids D2: The Mighty Ducks
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Sam Weisman
Produced by	Jon Avnet Jordan Kerner
Written by	Steven Brill
Starring	Emilio Estevez Michael Tucker Jan Rubeš Kathryn Erbe
Music by	J. A. C. Redford
Cinematography	Mark Irwin
Editing by	John F. Link Eric Sears
Studio	Walt Disney Pictures Avnet–Kerner Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date(s)	March 25, 1994 (1994-03-25)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Money made	$45.6 million

D2: The Mighty Ducks (also known as The Mighty Ducks 2) is a 1994 American 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. In some countries the film was titled The Mighty Ducks (the first having been titled Champions and as The Mighty Ducks Are the Champions on home release). It was succeeded by the final film the series, ', in 1996.

Plot

Former Pee-Wee hockey standout and coach, Gordon Bombay, is a star in the minor leagues, expected to reach the National Hockey League. However, a career-ending knee injury brings him back to Minneapolis, where he works in the shop, now run by Jan, younger brother of Bombay's mentor, Hans. Don Tibbles, a hockey apparel executive, visits Bombay and offers him a chance to coach a team representing the United States in the Junior Goodwill Games in Los Angeles, having heard of Bombay's work with the Ducks, from Jan. Bombay accepts, and he manages to reunite most of his former Ducks players including loyal team captain Charlie Conway, street-wise Jesse Hall, jokester Les Averman, lovers Connie Moreau and Guy Germaine, comical goalie Greg Goldberg, and all-star player Adam Banks.

While the reunited Ducks are rollerblading in the park, three Hawks, still sore about their loss from the previous year, attempt to humiliate them. However, their plans are foiled by enforcer Fulton Reed, who also rejoins the Ducks. To truly be a continental Team USA, Tibbles recruits five new players, from across the US, with special talents to join the team: Luis Mendoza from Miami, a speedster, (who has trouble stopping), Dwayne Robertson from Austin an expert puck-handling cowboy, Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney from Bangor a skilled goalie, Ken Wu from San Francisco, a young Olympic figure-skater turned hockey player and Dean Portman from Chicago, a rebellious enforcer.

While there is initially some friction between the original Ducks, and the newcomers, under Bombay's coaching, and tutelage from team tutor, Michelle McKay, they soon learn to work as a team, and set out for LA. Soon, Bombay becomes distracted by the lure of celebrity, and begins to neglect the team for a luxurious lifestyle. The team wins easy victories over Trinidad & Tobago and Italy in the double-elimination tournament. Fulton Reed and Dean Portman gain recognition for their enforcer skills, and are dubbed the "Bash Brothers". Backup goaltender Julie Gaffney asks Bombay for a chance to play, but is told to wait as goalie Greg Goldberg is on a hot streak.

The team suffers an embarrassing 12–1 defeat against Iceland, coached by ex-NHL player Wolf "The Dentist" Stansson. USA plays poorly, Dean and Julie are ejected from the game, and Banks is slashed in the wrist, after scoring the team's lone goal. Frustrated, and realizing one more loss will mean elimination, and the end of everything, Bombay drives his players even harder, even forcing them to practice well into the night, but they begin to suffer from complete exhaustion. Realizing the children are too tired to complete their school work or even stay awake in class, McKay intervenes, cancelling practice and confronting Bombay over his thoughtlessness and putting his ego ahead of the well-being of his team.

Once better rested, the team is confronted by a street hockey team, led by frequent game attendee, Russ Tyler, and his brother who challenge them to a game of schoolyard puck, and teach them to play like "the real Team USA". Russ impresses the team with his signature shot, the "knucklepuck", which rotates end over end rather than spinning around its centerline.

Bombay continues to suffer from the pressure until Jan, who had watched the Iceland game, flies in to L.A and visits. Jan gently chides Bombay for his egotistical appearance on TV, and reminds him of his love for the game, which had made him such a great coach for the Ducks, leading Bombay to spend the evening playing rollerblade hockey by the beach to reflect on everything. In the match against Germany, Bombay fails to arrive on time, forcing Charlie to tell the referee that Michelle McKay is the team's assistant coach, to avoid forfeiting. The team struggles, entering the third period tied, until Bombay finally arrives and apologizes to Michelle and the team for his selfish behavior, promising be's back to his old self. Inspired by the return of their true coach, the players go on win the game with their signature "Flying V", and advance to the next round.

Practices become more focused on studying their opponents skills, refining their own skills, and having fun at the same time. The renewed Bombay finally realizes Adam's wrist injury and benches him despite his complaints. To fill the open roster spot, Charlie recruits Russ, who's knucklepuck secures USA's victory over Russia, advancing them to the final championship game for a rematch against Iceland (who lost against Russia, and is tied with the USA). In their final team practice, Bombay and the team dress casual, and have some fun on the ice, until Wolf and the Iceland team show up unannounced and unwelcome. After some cross words between Wolf and Bombay, the two coaches engage in a round of 3-Bar. Bombay gains the upper hand, but Wolf slashes Bombay in his injured knee, sending him crippling to the ice in pain. The Ducks are enraged, but Bombay says they'll get him back in the final game.

On the day of the final game Adam returns, his injury healed, only to find Team USA with a full roster. Knowing the team needs Russ's knucklepuck and Adam's skill against Iceland, Charlie voluntarily gives up his own spot, cementing his leadership as true team captain and helps Bombay coach instead. In the final game, the physically imposing Iceland initially dominates as the Ducks incur penalties: Ken scores a goal, then picks a fight with an opposing player, the Bash Brothers fight the entire Iceland bench and Dwayne lassos an opposing player before he can check Connie. An annoyed Bombay observes, "this isn't a hockey game, it's a circus." as the second period comes to a close, Iceland leading 4-1.

After a rousing locker room speech from Bombay and new Duck jerseys from Jan, the team emerges rejuvenated. The Ducks tie the game 5-5, with goals from Connie, Banks (assisted by Dwayne), Luis, and finally Russ, who was targeted by Iceland but disguised himself as Goldberg to pull off a successful "knucklepuck". The game is forced to go to a five-shot shootout. Jesse, Guy, Fulton (with his signature slapshot), and Banks successfully score, while three of the first four Iceland players score. With a 4–3 score in favor of the Ducks, Gunnar Stahl, the tournament's leading scorer, is Team Iceland's final shooter. Bombay replaces Goldberg with Julie, who has a faster glove. Gunnar fires a hard slapshot, and Julie falls to the ice. The entire stadium waits in breathless anticipation as she opens her glove and drops the puck, revealing the game-winning save and the Ducks' triumph over Iceland to win the tournament. Despite Wolf's disappointment, he congratulates Bombay; Gunnar does the same to Charlie, stating "Good work, Captain Duck". Adam is handed the American flag by officials, but gives it to Charlie instead, who runs around the rink as his teammates skate behind him in triumph over their win.

The team returns to Minnesota; to celebrate their victory, they roast marshmallows and sing Queen's "We Are the Champions" around a campfire.

Cast

Cameo appearances

There are several cameo appearances in D2: The Mighty Ducks from famous athletes.

• Kristi Yamaguchi – Champion Olympic figure skater
• Greg Louganis – Champion Olympic diver
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Basketball player
• Wayne Gretzky, Chris Chelios, Luc Robitaille, Cam Neely – National Hockey League (NHL) players
• Bob Miller - play-by-play announcer for the championship game vs. Iceland
• Darren Pang - Color Commentator for the championship game vs Iceland
• Mike Emrick - Play-by-Play commentator

Departures

Mighty Duck players that were in the first film but not this one:

• Tammy Duncan (Jane Plank; her figure skating skills were replaced with those of Ken Wu)
• Tommy Duncan (Danny Tamberelli)
• Terry Hall (Jussie Smollett, despite the continuation of the character's brother, Jesse)
• Dave Karp (Aaron Schwartz)
• Peter Mark (J.D. Daniels; his street punk goon image was replaced with those of Dean Portman)
• Hans (Joss Ackland; Bombay's mentor was replaced by his brother, Jan, though Ackland reprises his role in the )

Reaction

Year-end worst-of lists

• 9th – Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

Box office

In its opening weekend, the film grossed $10,356,748 domestically. It was a financial success, with a final domestic box office total of $45,610,410.

Soundtrack

1. Queen – "We Will Rock You"
2. Poorboys – "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" (Bachman-Turner Overdrive Cover)
3. Gary Glitter – "Rock and Roll"
4. Martha Wash – "Mr. Big Stuff"
5. David Newman – "Mighty Ducks Suite"
6. Tag Team – "Whoomp! (There It Is)"
7. The Troggs – "Wild Thing"
8. Gear Daddies – "Zamboni"
9. Queen – "We Are the Champions"
10. John Bisaha – "Rock the Pond"

See also

In Spanish: D2: The Mighty Ducks para niños