DUCK NOTES : Players Eligible for Unemployment

NHL players in California have been ruled eligible for unemployment benefits, a spokeswoman for the state Employment Development Department said Wednesday. The ruling makes it likely some NHL players will receive the maximum of $230 a week for up to 26 weeks.

The Ducks have received notice they have until Nov. 21 to appeal a claim by defenseman David Williams, and a club official said he is not aware of any grounds for objection. However, Williams’ claim still has to receive final approval from the EED.

Don McSween, a Michigan resident, also has filed a claim in California, and Tom Kurvers has filed a claim in New York, where he was employed by the Islanders until being traded in June. Though New York law allows striking and locked-out employees to receive benefits, the state earlier denied benefits to striking baseball players.

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The Ducks, unhappy that some prospects aren’t playing enough in San Diego, have assigned left wing Maxim Bets to the Worcester (Mass.) Icecats of the AHL.

Bets, 20, is a top scoring prospect acquired last season from St. Louis for defenseman Alexei Kasatonov. He had two 100-point seasons in juniors and appeared in three NHL games last season, but had played in only seven of San Diego’s 13 games, totaling two assists.

The Ducks have 14 prospects in San Diego.