Ducks Set to Open in Japan

The Mighty Ducks will open the 1997-98 NHL season Oct. 3 against Mark Messier and the Vancouver Canucks in Tokyo, where the teams also will play Oct. 4. It marks the first time in the league’s 80-year history that a season opener takes place outside North America.

ESPN2 will televise both games beginning at 8 p.m. (PDT).

The Ducks’ home opener is Oct. 10 against the Ottawa Senators.

The NHL’s 48th All-Star game is Jan. 18 in Vancouver, and there is a 17-day break in the schedule (Feb. 8-24) to allow players to bein the 1998 Winter Olympics.

The Kings open Oct. 1 at Pittsburgh. They play their home opener Oct. 12 against Ottawa.

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King center Roman Vopat, a key player in the Wayne Gretzky trade to St. Louis in 1996, Wednesday signed a three-year contract with the team worth an estimated $400,000 a year.

“Roman’s the type of player [King Coach] Larry [Robinson] really likes,” said Dave Taylor, King general manager and vice president. “He’s a big strong guy who’s a pretty good skater and likes to compete. I think that he has a great future.”

Vopat, 21, the younger brother of King defenseman Jan Vopat, had four goals and nine points in 29 games last season. He is projected as the team’s third-line center.