To play a fighter you got to train like a fighter.

Jake Gyllenhaal is an accomplished, good-looking actor with many big films to his credit. But even for a heartthrob like Gyllenhaal, there’s the one that got away.

The “Southpaw” actor reportedly bawled his eyes out when his parents forced him to pass (and not shoot, ha get it) on the lead kid role in the 1993 movie “Mighty Ducks” which eventually was scooped up by Joshua Jackson.

“I definitely remember crying on the kitchen counter,” he said on The Howard Stern Show. “But my parents were like, ‘Look, you’re about to enter junior high school, you gotta get your education, that’s the most important thing. I promise you, you hate us now, but you’ll thank us later.’ And I do.”

Check out the clip (warning, there's some foul language in here):

Nice fake out by Gyllenhaal on whether he has seen the film or not.

Imagining Jake Gyllenhaal as Charlie Conway just seems … wrong. Kind of like Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly – which actually did happen for a period of time before filmmakers came to their senses and Michael J. Fox punted Stoltz from the iconic role.

First off, take a look at this young picture of Gyllenhaal. Whoever was in charge of casting – maybe Averman? I mean, that doesn’t exactly scream young pre-teen heartthrob.

View photos Photo via http://i.huffpost.com/gen/190018/JAKE-GYLLENHAAL-YEARBOOK-PHOTO.jpg More

Also, we have no knowledge of Gyllenhaal’s triple-deking ability.

Jackson nailed it and won the championship!

Overall it all worked out for everyone

Even though he didn’t do any films from 1993-98 per IMDB, Gyllenhaal, 34, turned into a pretty good actor and has lived a pretty good life in his own right. He went to Columbia. He dated Kirsten Dunst at one point. He's reportedly worth $65 million. And Jackson used his role as Charlie Conway to springboard into our late-90s consciousness in his role as Pacey Witter on the hit TV show "Dawson's Creek." Seriously, when you hear “I don’t Want to Wait” by Paula Cole, tell me an image of Jackson doesn’t immediately pop into your head? Or James Van Der Beek. Or … Katie Holmes pre-Tom Cruise.

Mighty Ducks coach Gordon Bombay couldn't be reached for comment.

- - - - - - -

Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY