His Enthusiasm Isn’t Lost in Translation : Hockey: Ducks’ draft pick Tverdovsky says he’s excited about making the transition to American culture.

Oleg Tverdovsky’s adjustment to the NHL began Thursday when he donned a Mighty Ducks cap and stepped to a podium to address reporters in a thick Ukrainian accent.

“Hello, I am Oleg Tverdovsky,” he said. “I am very happy to be here in California.”

Tverdovsky, the defenseman taken second overall by the Ducks in last week’s NHL draft, then got an assist from an interpreter as he fielded questions about his expectations as a pro player.

“It is going to be unusual and strange to me,” he said. “It’s a completely different culture. But I’m not afraid of the transition. I’m excited.”

The Ducks bill Tverdovsky, 18, as the most talented player in the draft, good enough for them to pass on goaltender Jamie Storr, who went to the Kings, and Radek Bonk, a star with Las Vegas of the International Hockey League last season who was taken third overall by Ottawa.

“I’ve never seen Oleg play,” Duck Coach Ron Wilson said. “Like everybody else, I’m excited to see what he can do.

“If he’s ready to play, he will. I’m making plans right now that he will be ready. But if he needs to play in the minors or go back to Russia for another year, then that’s fine too.

“But I trust what our scouts say--that he’s a real find.”

The Ducks view Tverdovsky as a future quarterback for their needy power play--a role the young man relishes.

“I will consider it a great honor,” he said. “I will certainly do my best to improve the power play.”

Said Wilson: “Oleg has speed, moves the puck and has a great shot from the point. That’s the element we lacked on a game-by-game basis last year, where our defensemen move the puck quickly.

“I’ve read a lot that we should have taken Radek Bonk because of his offensive ability. But Bonk or anybody who plays up front knows that if you don’t get the puck in good position, you’re not going to score.”

John Ferguson, director of player personnel for the Ottawa Senators, has compared Tverdovsky with Bobby Orr, considered one of the greatest defensemen ever. Did the comparison make Tverdovsky uncomfortable?

“It’s nice to be compared to Bobby Orr,” he said, “but I’m aware that it will take a lot of time and work to come near what he has done.”

First on his list of duties is getting settled in Orange County. Wilson, who played six seasons in Europe, hopes to have Tverdovsky live with an area family to ease his adjustment to American culture.

“The hockey will be the easiest part for him,” Wilson said. “The troubling part is what he feels the other 22 hours of the day, when he’s not playing.”

“First and foremost, you have to learn the language. You won’t feel comfortable until you know what you’re saying and what everyone around you is saying.”

So does Wilson speak any Russian?

“Not a word of it,” he said. “They (Russian players) have come to our country, and it’s in their best interests to learn how to speak English.

“As you can see, Oleg does speak a little English, and with the players on our team, I think the transition should be easy.”