New Wild Wing Is Slimmer Version

Conspicuous by his absence during the Mighty Ducks’ exhibition season: Wild Wing, the accident-prone mascot.

A revamped version of Wild Wing will make his debut at the home opener against Philadelphia tonight. The ruse is that the old mascot--the one who tripped into a wall of fire last season--reported to camp overweight and was suspended.

The new Wild Wing is a more muscular version based on the character in Disney’s new animated series, “Mighty Ducks.” (Surely you knew there was cross-marketing involved.)

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Even though the team has returned home, Paul Kariya remains in Vancouver, rehabilitating from an abdominal injury with a personal trainer.

“I’m not going to bother him,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “He’ll know when he’s ready.”

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Defenseman Milos Holan, whose leukemia is in remission after a bone marrow transplant last February, looks forward to attending a game this season.

“I’m not ready yet,” Holan said. “But I follow every game, on television or radio.”