By William Jack, Oct. 31, 2023
The Honda Center in Anaheim came alive with the spirit of Cal Poly Pomona as the Anaheim Ducks hosted CPP Night before their match against the Dallas Stars Oct. 19.
This special event, which brought together students, alumni and fans, showcased the strong connection between the university and the Ducks.
The festivities began at the Puck Drop Patio at 5:30 p.m., setting the stage for an exciting evening that would culminate with the puck drop at 7 p.m.
As fans gathered outside the arena, they were treated to various food trucks offering delicious culinary delights, including Kathy’s cookies and Asian Mexican fusion to satisfy their pregame cravings.
One of the highlights of the evening was Spin the Wheel, where attendees had the chance to win small prizes like co-branded lanyards and keychains. It added an element of fun and anticipation to the event.
Sandra Dowell, a talent advisor and CPP alumna, expressed her excitement for the event.
“I love it!” Dowell said. “I haven’t been to a lot of alumni events, and being able to come back and attend an alumni event but also working on it and promoting the school is really fun.”
One of the most cherished moments of the night was when every student and alumni received a co-branded hat featuring the iconic Mighty Ducks logo on the front and the CPP Bronco on the side. The primarily white hat with a secondary color of green served as a unique and lasting memento from the game.
Not only were students and alumni treated to exclusive merchandise, but they also had access to special discounted seats for the game, making it more accessible to the CPP community.
James Bird, a mechanical engineering student at CPP, shared his excitement about the event.
“I came out here just to celebrate the Anaheim Ducks and the event with Cal Poly,” said Bird.
Knowing the hot dog caper was on the same day, Bird was happy he decided to attend the hockey game instead.
“Yeah, I’m not going to lie,” Bird said. “Going to get a free hat instead of a couple of hot dogs — I’ll take this any day.”
Adding to the excitement of the evening was the interesting fact that it was the Ducks’ mascot Wild Wing’s birthday. This celebration brought together several local mascots who joined the festivities to dance and entertain the crowd.
But the fun did not stop there. Students and alumni captured special moments by taking photos with Wild Wing in front of a CPP backdrop.
Dowell also highlighted that the purpose of the event was to promote the school and keep CPP alums involved with both off-campus and on-campus activities.
She added that she is a CPP alumni and felt that events like this will help us grow our Bronco community.
Laura Gonzalez, another talent advisor, highlighted the vibrant atmosphere.
“It’s very busy, and I love that,” said Gonzalez. “There are food trucks here, music, and the mascots are dancing around. It’s really fun.”
As the night continued, the Ducks took to the ice to face the Dallas Stars. The game featured an impressive NHL debut by Leo Carlsson, an 18-year-old Swede picked second overall by Anaheim in June.
Despite the Ducks’ 3-2 loss to the Stars, Carlsson made his presence felt, earning cheers from the crowd eager for a new era after five straight non-playoff seasons.
Carlsson’s confidence grew throughout the game, and the crowd erupted in a standing ovation when he scored his first NHL goal on a 2 on 1 rush.
While the Stars ultimately reigned victorious in the match, CPP Night still offered students, alumni and Ducks fans a chance to celebrate unity.
Alongside the event hosted with the Anaheim Ducks, the Alumni Association will also host CPP Night with the Los Angeles Kings Nov. 9 as well as an event with the Los Angeles Angels in April.
Feature image by Cameron Kennedy
