Anaheim Ice bills itself as “the coolest place in town.”

It was that on a day where temperatures outside still were well into the 80s as unseasonably warm Southern California weather winds down.

But what made it even more cool inside was the first day of training camp for the Anaheim Ducks . After all, the 200 hockey fans who showed up for the occasion weren’t there to watch the Zamboni do donuts.

In and among the players on the ice were those who will comprise the San Diego team for its inaugural season in the American Hockey League .

Gulls in Ducks’ clothing.

Anaheim has invited 64 players to its training camp. They were broken into three groups Friday so they could be accommodated on the ice over a six-hour practice period. No one seemed to mind taking the ice in shifts. After all, that's what they do.

“We’re hockey people,” Gulls coach Dallas Eakins said. “When the season ends, whether you won a championship or didn’t make the playoffs, you look forward to going to training camp.”

Key dates Sept. 18 — NHL training camps opens in Anaheim with 64 players. Sept. 19-21 — Scrimmages at noon each day at Anaheim Ice training facility. Sept. 28 — Gulls break off into separate training in Anaheim. Oct. 2/5 — Preseason games against Ontario. Oct. 6 — Gulls move camp to San Diego. Oct. 10 — Season opener against Grand Rapids at Valley View Casino Center.

Eakins was more eager than most for this day to come. He was hired by the Gulls in June, six months after being fired as coach of the Edmonton Oilers .

“My season didn’t end last year in April or June, it ended in late December,” Eakins said. “So I’ve had a long time off.”

Now he has a short time to assemble his team, play a couple of preseason games (Oct. 2 and 5 against Ontario) and be ready for the season opener Oct. 10 against Grand Rapids at the Valley View Casino Center.

Everyone on the ice shares the mindset that they are going to make the Ducks’ 23-man roster. In reality, there are probably only one or two spots up for grabs.

“I’m quite sure that (Ryan) Getzlaf and (Corey) Perry are going to make this hockey team and there’s a whole lot of other guys right behind them,” Eakins said. “So it’s not hard to go down and have a fairly good idea of what you’re starting with (for the Gulls).

“But the most crucial guys that we’re going to get in San Diego will be coming to our team in the last week. Those are the question mark guys, but they’re going to be the most critical guys.”

All 64 players will train together for the next 10 days. The Gulls, whose roster will include 25 to 28 players, will then break off to train on their own at Anaheim Ice before moving down to San Diego for the final week of the preseason.

This is the third training camp here for Antoine Laganiere, a left wing from Montreal. He will probably end up on the Gulls roster, although Laganiere isn’t prepared to think about that just yet.

“Every minute, every second out there, you need to enjoy it and not think too much ahead,” Laganiere said.

If Laganiere doesn’t make the Ducks roster, playing in the AHL is a pretty good consolation prize.

“It’s considered probably the second best league in the world,” he said. “The level is quite impressive and (fans) have a lot to look forward to.”

Center Kyle MacKinnon, who played for the AHL’s St. John’s team last season, shared Laganiere’s mindset. But MacKinnon, too, is more likely to start the season in San Diego than Anaheim. And he’s good with that.

“I’m looking forward to a new city, not just for me but the organization,” MacKinnon said. “It will be great for the Ducks to have their affiliate team so close. ...

“I’m excited for that whole process and being a part of it. Hopefully, playing well down there and, who knows, seeing how things happen and getting up here one day.”