Kilger’s Star Keeps Rising as Ducks Fall in Exhibition

It looks as if the latest Mighty Duck rookie standout will be center Chad Kilger, if his first exhibition game is any indication.

Kilger, 18, had a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 7-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. There are no guarantees he’ll make the team, but it’s getting very hard to imagine him ever again wearing the uniform of the Kingston Frontenacs, his junior team.

“Who the heck knows? It’s one exhibition. You don’t want to jump on the bandwagon,” Coach Ron Wilson said of the 6-4, 215-pound center. “[But] he’s physically mature. And he has a head for the game. He made some nice little plays sometimes 18-year-olds don’t think about.”

“It was a good first experience. My linemates and everybody helped me out a lot,” Kilger said. “I’ve still got to go out and work hard every day and prove to the coaching staff and the general manager I’m capable of playing at this level.”

The Stars’ Mike Modano, back from last season’s ankle surgery, scored two goals, assisting on another. He also delivered some uncharacteristically big hits, injuring the Ducks’ best defenseman, Bobby Dollas, with a crushing blow against the boards in the first. Dollas sat out the rest of the game because of a sprained left shoulder and is expected to sit out about a week, though he hopes to be back in a couple of days.