"Since he can remember, Bobby Ryan has always wanted to play in the Wachovia Center.

"I remember running around my basement in Cherry Hill pretending I was Pelle Eklund," Ryan said Friday, while riding the Anaheim Ducks' team bus to the South Philadelphia sports complex, where he first saw Eklund, Rick Tocchet and Eric Lindros play for the Flyers.

"And I loved that old Legion of Doom line," he said.

Tonight, the greatest hockey player ever to come out of South Jersey will suit up for the Ducks and skate onto the Wachovia Center ice in front of more than 100 friends and family members.

"I'm excited," Ryan said, while riding the bus alongside new Ducks teammate and former Flyers defenseman Luca Sbisa. "I've been looking forward to this game for a long time. I love Philadelphia."

It's a tough, blue-collar town, and I know my family is excited. But I don't want to get caught up in it too much. I just want to play a simple road game and hopefully get the win."

Although he moved from Cherry Hill to El Segundo, Calif., when he was 11 years old, Ryan still considers South Jersey his home. It's where his parents, Bob and Melody Stevenson, now live and work.

Life as a budding NHL star -- Ryan finished second behind Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason in Rookie of the Year voting last June -- has had its share of trials and tribulations for the talented 22-year-old right wing."