‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’: 12 Easter Eggs You May Have Missed in Episode 6

Earlier this morning, the hotly-anticipated Mighty Ducks reunion episode finally premiered on Disney+! The episode centers on the upcoming “Spirit of the Ducks Gala,” an event celebrating 25 years of Ducks hockey. The fancy gathering includes the return of a number of popular Ducks players from the past, including Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), Connie (Marguerite Moreau), Adam Banks (Vincent LaRusso), Ken Wu (Justin Wong), Averman (Matt Doherty), and Guy Germaine (Garette Ratliff Henson).

The former Ducks rally around Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) after learning that their beloved coach wasn’t invited to the gala because he “doesn’t represent the best of the Ducks.” Coach Bombay? Not representing the best of the Ducks?! That’s, in a word, hogwash.

Episode 6 (“Spirit of the Ducks”) features no shortage of sly callbacks to the original Mighty Ducks trilogy. Here are 12 Easter eggs you might have missed.

1. Fulton Reed (Once Again) Smashes Coach Bombay’s Window (3:36)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. A founding member of the vaunted Bash Brothers, Reed, who I somehow didn’t realize is played by Elden Henson of She’s All That/Idle Hands/Daredevil fame because I’m an idiot, memorably met Coach Bombay by breaking his van window with an errant hockey puck. Reed, who’s now working in construction, once again breaks Gordon’s passenger-side window, but this time it’s with a piece of loose concrete.

I loved this. Very smart, super fun, and a crafty way to reintroduce Fulton.

2. “Ducks fly together” — Coach Bombay to Fulton (4:54)

Coach Bombay’s “Ducks fly together” comment is a callback from a phrase said by Jan while Gordon was in the middle of an inspirational speech during D2: The Mighty Ducks. “Because we are the Ducks, and Ducks fly together.” — Jan

3. “Once a Duck, always a Duck.” — Coach T to Evan

Since the Ducks are basically the new Hawks, this statement from Coach T to Evan mirrors the sentiment expressed by Peter in the original film after he found out Coach Bombay used to be a member of the Hawks. “You were a Hawk, weren’t you? Guess you guys stick together to the end.”

4. “Anyone know where I can find District 5?” — Coach Bombay to the Ducks (14:42)

When Bombay first met the Ducks, their team name was the generic “District 5.” He was driven onto the ice by his limo driver and introduced himself by saying “District 5 peewee hockey team: I’m Gordon Bombay. I’m your new coach.”

5. “Man I miss getting into fights on the ice. Good times.” — Fulton (15:43)

Fulton Reed and Dean Portman were known as the “Bash Brothers.” After Ken Wu learned how to fight from one of Russ Tyler’s (it’s knuckle-puck time!) friends during a pickup game of street hockey in D2 (stick, gloves, and shirt), he became known as “Little Bash Brother.”

In Game Changers, Wu references this D2 plotline with his “breadsticks, gloves, shirt” line.

6. Guy and Connie got married! (18:38)

Connie and Guy dated during the Ducks trilogy. The two were a beloved couple, even inspiring romantic Guy/Connie mashup videos on YouTube. Also, the two named one of their kids after Coach Bombay!

7. “What’s it gonna take you to hang out with us? Another criminal court order?” — Connie (19:41)

Gordon Bombay didn’t originally coach the Ducks by choice. He only took over District 5 after he was sentenced to 500 hours of community service as a punishment for drunk driving.

8. The Charlie Conway of it all (18:45)

Joshua Jackson, the actor who portrays the heart of the Ducks Charlie Conway, was presumably unavailable due to his involvement in Peacock’s upcoming series Dr. Death. His absence was explained by Fulton.

“Don’t tell me Charlie was right about you? He didn’t come because he said it’s not like you’ve been showing up for us lately, so why should he show up?”

Game Changers head writer and executive producer Steven Brill (who also wrote the original trilogy) addressed the possibility of Jackson eventually making an appearance during a February 2021 interview with TVLine.

“We’ve talked to Josh over the years developing this and he’s part of the family, part of the group… and everyone else, when and where they show up, is an open, exciting question.”

I’ve only seen the first six episodes of Game Changers and have no inside knowledge, but based on Jackson’s affinity for the franchise as well as the importance of the Charlie Conway character, I can absolutely see Jackson making an appearance (perhaps virtually via a video chat?) in the season finale. But again, that’s pure speculation.

9. “The Ducks have become a bunch of cake-eaters.” – Adam Banks (23:10)

Jesse repeatedly referred to Banks as a “cake-eater” during the original film.

10. “So who taught you it was okay to drive a limo on the ice?” — Bombay (25:30)

Averman driving the limo onto the ice to pickup Bombay is a callback to when Bombay had his limo driver drive on the ice during his first meeting with the Ducks (then District 5).

11. The original Ducks enter the gala in a “flying-V” formation. (26:08)

12. Kenny Wu’s still got it! (28:30)

The character of Ken Wu was an Olympic figure skater. During the Ducks/Don’t Bothers practice, Wu dusts off some of his old figure skater moves.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 7 premieres Friday, May 7 on Disney+.

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