Anaheim Ducks find top score in bowling is far from perfect

You often read about team-building or team-bonding in sports as a way to relieve the pressure of a grueling season.

In the NHL, the prevailing theory among some coaches is that the more that players participate in team activities off the ice, the more they play as a team on the ice.

Whether true or not, it is fun to see the likes of Teemu Selanne bowling. That is what he and his Ducks teammates did on Monday afternoon, skipping practice for a team-bonding bowling session in San Jose, where on Tuesday night they will take on the Sharks.

There is no question Selanne is a terrific athlete (he also plays tennis) but maybe he doesn't get the chance to bowl very often because he did not get the top single-game score.

We're told that Todd Marchant took the top score, bowling a 204, while Ryan Getzlaf, George Parros and Kyle Palmieri took the team title.

And yes, with a 204 as the winning single-game score (far from a perfect score of 300) it's clear none of the guys bowl a lot. No word yet, however, on what Teemu's score was.

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo: Teemu Selanne aims for a strike during the team-bonding event. Credit: Lauren O'Gorman / Anaheim Ducks