Park Will Feel Right at Home With Ducks

In the NBA and major league baseball, it’s a common enough dream come true: A kid grows up in Southern California and ends up playing for his hometown team.

The NHL? That’s a little different.

The Mighty Ducks made two small moves for the stretch run Tuesday before the trading deadline, but they made one big dream come true when they acquired center Richard Park, who grew up in Rancho Palos Verdes.

“That definitely has been a big dream of mine, being a Southern California kid, to play in Southern California,” said Park, acquired from Pittsburgh for right wing Roman Oksiuta, a talented player who clashed with Coach Ron Wilson over work ethic and defense.

The Ducks also acquired Hartford center Mark Janssens, 28, a third- or fourth-line defensive player, for prospect Bates Battaglia, who is playing for Lake Superior State, and a 1998 fourth-round draft pick.

Park, 20, was born in South Korea. His family immigrated to the United States when he was 3.

He left home at 13 to play youth and junior hockey in the Toronto area. He was a second-round draft pick in 1994 and played in 56 games for the Penguins last season, scoring four goals with six assists. He has spent most of this season with Pittsburgh’s minor league team in Cleveland.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Duck Trade

The Mighty Ducks traded wing Roman Oksiuta to the Penguins for center Richard Park. They also acquired center Mark Janssens from the Whalers for left wing prospect Bates Battaglia and a 1998 fourth-round draft pick:

PARK STATISTICS

*--*

GP G A Pts 1996-97 1 0 0 0 Career 58 4 7 11

*--*

JANSSENS STATISTICS

*--*

GP G A Pts 1996-97 54 2 4 6 Career 501 34 58 92

*--*