Mighty Ducks: Now That’s the Ticket : Sports: More than 500 fans rise early to vie for tickets for the Anaheim team’s sophomore season--a season that might not start on time.

More than 500 people converged on The Pond on Friday morning to hunt for Mighty Ducks tickets despite a player contract dispute that threatens to delay the National Hockey League season.

About 50,000 single-game tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Fans young and old, many decked in Ducks athletic wear, waited in the long line for a chance to see their local team play.

“I’m really excited,” 8-year-old Chuck Miller of Los Angeles, said. “I have cards and a doll of the mascot at home. They’re my favorite team.”

At 8 a.m., Ducks officials began distributing pink priority bracelets to those waiting in line. Each bracelet was numbered, and a computer was used to randomly pick the order of purchase. Some fans who had lined up as early as 3 a.m. ended up behind people who got there hours later.

As security guards called out the numbers, people waited behind barricades, reading novels or using cellular telephones to call in sick at work.

“We’re grateful for the overwhelming response,” said Bill Robertson, a Ducks spokesman. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better. Hockey is alive and well in Orange County.”

As of 3:30 p.m., 20,113 tickets had been sold, Robertson said. Each person was limited to six per game.

Among the lucky fans was Michael Fridella, a 37-year-old hockey fanatic from Westchester who owns a collection of 550 hockey sticks that were given to him at games by professional players.

“I got here at 8:20 a.m. and I was 37th in line,” Fridella said. “I got 25 tickets for five games for my family.”

Tickets for games with local rivals the Kings sold out especially fast.

Amber Hannigan, a 20-year-old from Anaheim, just wanted tickets to see her favorite hunk, former Kings player Luc Robitaille, who was recently traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s awful,” she complained, as she waited under a warm morning sun. “I’m wondering how long I’m going to have to stand in line.”

Many of the fans were concerned about the contract talks.

The NHL season might not begin as scheduled on Oct. 1 if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached between the players and team owners, hockey officials have said. The owners want to establish a salary cap and tax clubs that go over the amount. But the players object.

“People are really fed up with professional sports,” said Donna Young, 32, of Colton. “The baseball strike left a bad taste in people’s mouths and it will just continue the bad feelings if (hockey) doesn’t start on time.”

Kurt Goss, 35, arrived at The Pond at 3:30 a.m. to buy tickets for games scheduled for late in the season.

“I promised (my 5-year-old daughter) I’d get her tickets to a ballgame,” said Goss, a baseball fan laughing at his Freudian slip since there are contract disputes in both sports. “It’s hard to feel sorry for people who make millions a year.”

Mighty Ducks tickets will be on sale at The Pond from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Officials say that if games are postponed, tickets will be valid for rescheduled games. Those who can’t attend those games will receive a full refund, said Bob Wagner, advertising and sales director for the Ducks.