The Save The Coyotes Coalition

I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to send in their fan stories. I enjoyed reading them all and learning about my fellow Coyotes fans. I’d like to start out by telling you all my story, then let my fellow Yotes fans take it away.

My name is Heather McWhorter, I grew up in South Georgia and moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2006. I went to my first Coyotes game in November of that year. I worked at the time at an inpatient substance abuse treatment program for teens. We got tickets donated to us through the Coyotes Tickets For Kids Program so that we could take the kids to games as a reward for their progression in treatment and as a way to help them readjust to being in society and social situations. I’d never been a sports fan at all until that first game. I was hooked after only the first few minutes of the game.

After that, I was first in line to volunteer to take the kids to the games when we had tickets. I then started taking my family to weekend games. I am now a second year season ticket holder. My niece, who was only a year old at the time; became my game day partner. She is now 3 years old and has moved to California but can still howl with the best of us! Had the Coyotes never come to Phoenix, I would never have been introduced to the greatest sport there is. Hockey is now my world. I’ve met some of the most amazing people and had some of the best experiences, thanks to the Coyotes. Should they pack up and move, my world would be crushed. And I know, so many of yours would be as well. We are only beginning to develop the roots of hockey here in the desert. To uproot it now would truly be a tragedy.

This is what we’re fighting for…

“I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.”

Now, without any further ado; Coyotes fans: allow me to introduce you to a few of our own…

Maria W., A season ticket holder in Section 208

I moved to Arizona from Philadelphia in 1996 and immediately went into Hockey withdrawal. I was a season ticket holder with the Flyers since their inception into the league and had the thrill of playoff hockey and attending 2 Stanley Cups wins.  I could not have been any happier when I found out the Coyotes were coming to Phoenix.  I am a hockey fan first, and was happy to show my allegiance to the Coyotes as “my team”.  I started supporting the team by splitting a season ticket with a friend and eventually bought a full season ticket because I could not get enough hockey.  I introduced hockey to my husband in 1999 and he now enjoys the sport as much as me.  We have worked Coyotes Festivals in the past and enjoy the contact with the players. They are all such great ambassadors for the game.

My favorite Coyote memory is the first White-out I attended at AWA.  I get emotional just thinking about it.  As far as a favorite players goes, Shane Doan would be my number one, but there have been so many through the years.  J.R., Tkachuck, Sean Burke, Danny Briere and Rick Tocchet.  It is my hope the team stays in Phoenix so I get to enjoy another White-out real soon.

The financial woes of the team, I believe, can be fixed with proper management and a commitment to keeping our Coyotes here in the Valley.  All of our other local sports teams have gone through rocky times and survived here in the desert and so can the Coyotes.  Put a winner on the ice and the fair-weather fans will come and eventually become true fans.

Thanks for all the work everyone is doing through “Save the Coyotes”.  May God bless us with our boys staying here forever.

Next I’d like you all to meet Murph. Murph is 9 years old and his goal is to one day play in the NHL. Here’s his story:

My name is Patrick Murphy, my hockey friends call me Murph.  I am a Phoenix Coyotes FAN!  I am a BIG fan of hockey!  I have been playing hockey in Arizona since I was three years old.  I started in the Kids First Hockey Program sponsored by the Phoenix Coyotes.

I have big dreams just like the Coyotes players did, when they were young.  My goal is to play in the NHL for the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, AZ, when I get older.

Who ever said there is no hockey in the desert, is mistaking!  I am entering my 4th season of travel hockey, and Arizona’s youth hockey program is thriving in the desert.  Last season, I played on the Jr. Coyotes Travel hockey team.  I have skated at rinks in Scottsdale, Flagstaff, Tempe, Phoenix, Tucson, Chandler, Gilbert and in Glendale during intermission at the Phoenix Coyotes game at Jobing.com Arena.  The Phoenix Coyotes players are an inspiration to youth hockey players, we need them to remain here and continue to support the youth hockey programs.  Some of the NHL players themselves have kids playing hockey here.

The local rinks are full of ex-NHL players lending their talents as Coaches.  Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe has the likes of Mark Ciaccio (Coyotes Power Skating Coach), Wayne McBean (NY Islanders), Sean Whyte (LA Kings), Alex Hicks (Florida Panthers), Derek King (St. Louis Blues) John Kosabud (ECHL).  Gilbert, Arizona’s own Dusty Collins (AHL) who is currently playing in the Calder Cup Finals with the Manitoba Moose.  Collins runs the Collins Hockey Camp at Oceanside in the summer.  My current Coach, Ed Kastelic played for the Washington Capitals and Hartford Whalers.

I was 4 when my parents took me to my first Coyotes game. Jobing.com Arena is the most awesome place to watch a hockey game!  My family was a few rows off the ice and I knew that this was where I wanted to be, in an ice rink and playing for the NHL.  Since then, I continue to catch home games as my travel schedule allows.  I even took the day off from school to come out and support the Phoenix Coyotes Rookies as they took on the LA Kings Rookies. What great talent our Phoenix Coyotes Organization has! The Phoenix Coyotes have always been very good to their fans and I will continue to support them here in the desert!  I believe Howler will continue to HOWL in the desert for all to hear!  I have had the most incredible experiences playing hockey and it all started with the Phoenix Coyotes! www.murphhockey.com

Next we have Stephanie C…..

My name is Stephanie and this is my Coyotes story:

My family enjoys all sports and will go to any kind of sporting event on a whim; however I was not one bit interested with anything associated with sports.  My family is not the biggest hockey fans but wanted to give the sport a try, so they decided to go to their first game in the 07-08 season. One of the individuals going to the game was suddenly unable to go, after much begging I gave in and didn’t let the ticket go to waste.  Needless to say, it only took me one game to fall in love with the sport. By the time the next season rolled around I bought almost a half season. Now with the 08-09 season complete, I am thinking ahead and will be a first time season ticket holder for the 09-10 season.

I am someone who was never into sports until I was introduced to hockey; my family all came from other areas of the United States, and still follow their home team for the most part. As one of the first Phoenicians of my family, I am a follower of my home town team the Phoenix Coyotes. While I do enjoy watching quite a few other teams, nothing is like watching the ‘Yotes. Aside from the fact that they are my home town team I am a fan of the ‘Yotes because I see how much talent they and how far they can go under proper management. While it is very difficult for me to pick one favorite player, my top would have to be Mr. Peter Mueller (#88).

There is nothing that makes me happier then going to the arena, sitting down and watching our boys play some hockey. My family and I are confident that hockey can survive here and we will do our part to make sure it does. We will be there all next season and the many years to come chanting: LET’S GO YOTES!!!

And here’s Josh Y’s story:

I’m originally from West Bend, WI a small town about 30 minutes north of Milwaukee.  We don’t have an NHL team, but we do have the AHL affiliate for Nashville.  Despite this, and having two excellent collegiate teams, hockey isn’t a sport I grew up watching in a state whose sole dedication was to the Packers and the Brewers.  Because of this, it is no wonder why I had never seen a hockey game prior to my first season working with the game production crew.  I was lucky just to get the job, relying on a personal friend who had done some promotions for the Coyotes on the radio.  I have a gig that most hockey fans would die to have…and because of that I myself have become a fan.  I get to stand behind the camera guy during the game and even walk on the ice between periods.  Heck, sometimes I even get to work the camera.  What that does afford me is a spot on the glass to watch the game.  I firmly believe that if a person comes to a hockey game live they can’t help but have a good time.  If you come twice…you just might fall in love with a sport that seems like nothing more than controlled chaos.  The whole first season I had to ask a lot of questions.  What is icing?  Why does the ref occasionally make the center leave the face off circle?  Why do some fans wear a jersey that says “Jets”?  I of course now know the answer to those questions, but throughout that first season I fell in love with sport of hockey and the Phoenix Coyotes.  I now have a team I can watch for my fix between football and baseball seasons.  I was devastated when the ‘Yotes traded Carcillo, I was ecstatic when Al “Big Cubano” Montoya won his NHL debut with a shutout, and every game I secretly hope I can talk to Steven Reinprecht or Kyle Turris about our Alma Mater, UW-Madison and good times at the Kollege Klub.  I am so excited for next season because we WILL make the post season, and I will do anything in my power to help make sure that the Coyotes stay here where they belong.

Go Coyotes!

Meet George F….

We lived on a dead end street in Westchester County, New York with a farm on one side of the house and a pond on the other. The pond was small enough that it froze pretty early and thawed late, so it was a natural thing to take up skating. Because the cool teenagers played hockey, all of us uncool little kids did too. After a few years of pond hockey, one of those cool teenagers had started coaching a team and wanted me to play, so of course I did. I played some club hockey in high school, and went down to the rink for tryouts in college.

Since I was 130 pounds soaking wet at that time, the attributes that kept me alive on the ice were; a ridiculously aggressive attitude for someone my size, a really good turn of skating speed, a weirdly effective faceoff technique and a wicked fast wrist shot (developed to compensate for my complete lack of slap shot skills). While I was cruising the rink at University of Maryland warming up for hockey tryouts, I couldn’t help but notice that, in comparison to the other guys, my speed and wrist shot were now only average at best and everybody else was now a whole bunch larger than I. That was the day I hung up my skates in lieu of spending most of the hockey season in traction.

Once hockey is into your head, it never really leaves. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to go to the Garden to see the Rangers once in awhile. I lived far enough upstate New York to be able to split season Canadiens tickets with a couple buddies. Moving to Cave Creek and starting a business distracted me from following hockey, although I did go to a season ticket selection day at America West the first year the ‘Yotes were in town.

After the new business was struggling less and we had a few bucks to spare, we started to take in a Coyotes game once in awhile. We’ve escalated our attendance every year since. Now everybody in our house including all five kids and (I think) one of the dogs are pretty well educated in hockey and the Coyotes. The girls are actually the more rabid fans, even AFTER the Carcillo trade. Sure it would be great to have a better season (especially after the All Star break), but we still love going to the games. We haven’t made the full season ticket commitment, mostly because games during the week are very difficult to attend and, of course, four or five season tickets adds up pretty fast.

Favorite Coyote is easy, and mine is probably the same as most Coyotes fans. Shane Doan, hands down. Why? It’s not the hockey skills, although leading the team in scoring consistently shows that he’s got those. For me, Doan is a CAPTAIN and it’s a pleasure to see. We’ve been to tons of fan type events for sports and entertainment teams/people. Doan will sit at a signing table ALL DAY, never get impatient and will spend quality time with every single fan. I’ve never seen him in a rush to be somewhere else, and the demands on his time as the captain of an NHL team must be tremendous. He understands his role in the team and works hard on and off the ice to fulfill every responsibility. Comparing Doan favorably to Mark Messier is a natural.

Go Yotes!

Cheers…

A few words from Dave K:

I stumbled across the post on Fanster and wanted to contribute. My wife and I grew up on the East Coast following the Devils and Capitals, respectively. We moved here a few years ago and have really enjoyed having an NHL team to follow here. We’ve taken groups of friends to games several times and they love it. One was never a hockey fan before moving here, and now he has a Doan jersey and goes to more games than we do! Anyway we love this team and tickets are so cheap right now, we’re thinking of getting a season ticket for next year, assuming the team stays.

Giannis A. a Yotes fan all the way in Greece!

I’m a 15 year old Coyotes fan living in Greece. I’ve been a Suns fan for approximately 4 years, but the Cardinals amazing run to the Super Bowl this year pumped me up to become a fan of all the Arizona professional sport teams. I instantly became a die-hard Yotes fan, not only because I fell in love with the sport, but because the fans of the team that I’m communicating with (mainly in Five For Howling) are just great!

Apparently I’ve never attented a Coyotes game, but I’m planning to do so in December.

My favourite Coyote is Scottie Upshall! He’s been spectacular since he joined the team!

I’ve never played hockey, as Greece is the only (along with Albania) European country that doesn’t have a hockey rink!!! The players of our National team (yes, we do have one) are forced to practice in Bulgaria if I’m not mistaken.

To conclude with, I really hope this team stays in Phoenix, and we get to enjoy them for many more years!

Go Coyotes!

Brian M. an original Jets fan!

I don’t know if there are many of my kind left, but I am an original Jet fan!  I was born and raised in Winnipeg and lived the better part of my life there!  Ever since the Jets left the WHA to join the NHL I have been following and loving that team through the good and the bad!  Sadly, mostly the bad.  But I have stuck with them throughout the highs and the lows!  Whether in Winnipeg or in Phoenix, they are still my team, and always will be!  Whether in Phoenix or in Hamilton, I will be their most die-hard fan!

I can still remember the very first NHL game I ever attended!  I still have the program for it!  In their first NHL season, the Jets were playing the Minnesota North Stars.  I will never forget how excited I was to finally be able to see a game live and in person like it was meant to be seen!  The sounds!  The thrills!  The crowd!  Nothing can ever beat the sound of the skates gliding on the ice!  The shaking of the boards with each bone crushing hit!  Truly spectacular!  And when the Jets scored their first goal of the game; what a rush!  I was hooked!  The Jets won that game 5-2, and it was the first of many games that I attended during my 20 years living in the ‘Peg.  I will never forget the names; Lars-Erik Sjoberg, Morris Lukowich, Gary Smith, Willy Lindstrom, Markus Mattsson, Jimmy Mann, Paul MacLean, Laurie Boschman, Scott Arniel, Dougie Smail, Brian Hayward, Thomas Steen, Randy Carlyle, just to name a few.  I will remember the lows, such as the 1980-81 season with only 9 wins.  But I will always treasure the highs; Dale Hawerchuk’s incredible rookie season, the 1984-85 season with their best season ever, including ones in Phoenix, Teemu Selanne’s rookie season with the record of 76 goals by a rookie, a record that will never be broken!

And now they are in Phoenix, and I will never forget the last days of the Jets.  They were truly sad days.  I will always have the image of the Jets players skating around on the ice LONG after the final buzzer, their sticks in the air saluting us fans, tears in their eyes and rolling down their cheeks.  It was obvious that they were going to miss the ‘Peg and the people as much as we were going to miss them!  But I continued to be a fan.  Sure I was not going to be able to see them live and in person any more, not be able to hear the sounds, feel the thrills, and be with the crowd, but they were still the Jets to me!  And always will be!  I moved to Calgary for work in the late nineties, and with that move I was given the opportunity to see my team again!  Sure I was the only person in the whole crowd that was wearing the Desert Dog on their chest, but it added a whole new experience and a whole new excitement to each ‘Yote game that I never experienced before while living in Winnipeg!  New memories were being formed, good and bad, highs and lows, and new names were in the mix; Cliff Ronning, Rick Tocchet, Jeremy Roenick, Mike Gartner, Sean Burke, Travis Green, Mike Comrie, Curtis Joseph, Steve Reinprecht, Ed Jovanovski, just to name a few.  Some new lows; Keith Tkachuk’s consistent contract woes.  But also some new highs; Shane Doan’s emergence as a hockey leader and a strong power forward, seeing the Great One behind the bench and being part owner.

I am as much a loyal and die-hard Coyote fan as I was a Jet fan!  I have moved once again, but this time to Southern Ontario.  As much as I would love to have my team at my back door once again, to be able to hear those sounds, feel those thrills, be with that crowd, there is a large part of me that does not wish that to happen!  The Coyotes are my team now!  The team that would come to Hamilton would not be the same team that I have grown to love in Phoenix!  I have watched all of the former Jets continue to play with the Dogs and leave the Coyotes either through retirement, trades, or free agency.  Those players helped me to see the Jets in the Dogs!  Now all that is left is Shane Doan and with that team in Hamilton, there will be very little left to remind me of my childhood, my youth, growing up in the ‘Peg.  And that on its own is quite sad.  But what is also sad is the knowledge that those loyal and die-hard ‘Yote fans in Phoenix might have to experience that which we Jets fans had to experience in those last days, and I would not wish that on anyone!

Keep the Dogs where they are!  Coyotes live better in the desert!  And it is so much easier to see the Jets in the Arizona heat!

The following was submitted by a fan via the forums at The NHL Arena:

How did you become a Yotes fan?
Honestly… being a new fan to the sport, it was coincidental actually. I was introduced to the game by some friends and slowly started to get addicted to the Sharks and hockey in general in the ’05-’06 season. In the early stages of this, I had a work trip to D.C., so planned to see a game there(Caps/Panthers – 1/18/06) just for fun. But by the time I went to visit a friend in Phoenix in March ’07, it was a given at that point that the trip would revolve around hockey. Unfortunately the timing didn’t work to see them play the Sharks, so I opted to watch them play the Ducks instead (3/22/07) so the Yotes got my full support .

What is your favorite Coyotes memory?
Having the first ever Arena gathering there, sitting next to a dude that LS claimed looked nothing like him, holding up ‘I <3 LS’ signs all over, meeting new friends, passing out “Arena business cards”, having my pic taken by an arena photographer (we don’t have those in S.J.), seeing Bobby Hull on 1/19/08 but not waiting in the long line to meet him, getting very cool swag at the door, and of course getting to watch some talented guys play hockey.

Anyway… after that, I visited my friend again on Nov 15, 2007 and sat a few rows behind the Sharks bench this time. Awesome. But being 100% honest, I would have been happy either way the game turned out. I met Z4dfence at that game… or it was the game in March? Not sure. Then in January of 2008 I met a few NHL Arena folks for the first time, in Phoenix for a 5 day vacation. We saw the Coyotes play the Hawks on 1/19, and the Sabres on 1/21. Go Yotes! So let’s just say that I probably saw more Coyotes games in person, before I saw that many Sharks games in person. So they were my adopted #2 from the beginning.

Who is your favorite player?
From the beginning it was Doan. But then recently I have been on the Boedker and Mueller bandwagon in the last 2 seasons. I have a thing for the “kids” that come in and kick some ass.

I also found out that some people in our group were caught in intermission fan footage on 1/19/08 with the ‘I <3 LS’ sign. So after about 8 e-mails back and forth with their very nice Director of Community Relations and Fan Development, and a $100 donation to the Coyotes Charities, they sent me a DVD of the footage. It really isn’t a big deal, but thought it was cool that the Arena was represented (at 29 secs in), and it was worth it to me to get it. The audio (Welcome to the Jungle – GnR) has apparently been disabled because of copyright issues, so I added some other music which is uploading “in progress”. But the video is intact. Fan Video

-SharksGirl

These stories were submitted via the forums at Coyotes Corner:

Meet: boedkerrocks

How long have you been a fan of the team? a good 15 years.

How did you become a Yotes fan? my friend was a Jets fan and got me hooked.

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? No I have not, still waiting for that dream to come true

Who is your favorite player? That’s kinda hard to answer, but I do love Boedker.

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? The first time they made it into the playoffs.

Meet: BJJCoyote

How did you become a Yotes fan? When they came to the valley I started watching as a youngster (7 years old at the time) and just got hooked on the speed and skill 0f the game.

How long have you been a fan of the team? 13 years

Who is your favorite player? Shane Doan, and my all time fav is the Bulin wall

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? Krys Kalanos Penalty shot on Patrick Roy

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? yes

Tell us about your first Coyotes game…March 8 2003, playing the San Jose Sharks, down 3 to 0 in the first period rallied back to 4-3 in second, won 6-4. Most electric building I have ever heard. Still gives me chills.

Meet: kingbrutis

1. We (wife, 2 yr old and me) were going thru the locker rooms with our ticket Rep and there is Shane Doan in the walkway with his wife a kids. He kindly moves out of the way so we could go thru the door. Now my little boy was not great at walking so it took a few seconds. Shane bent down to encourage him. He said to him “looks like I’ll be coaching you in about 18 yrs.” We all just kinda smiled and thanked him for the kind words. My boy is 5 and he still remembers when Shane Doan took the time to talk to him. The whole experince was like 8 seconds but it will be a memory we will have as a family for our entire lifetime. As a matter of fact, we named our 2nd boy Shane. Funny how something so simple ends up being so meaningful.

2. When the cup was in the arena. Ahhhhhhh. We got to take a family picture with the Stanley Cup. As a hockey fan my whole life, what a great day. No matter how horrible work is or the day gets, it’s just instant smiles. I owe it all to The Coyotes and the Glendale arena. Thanks.

Meet: doansmyfave19

How did you become a Yotes fan?
Well, I went to my 1st game when I was 12… 11 years ago for a cousins birthday. Got a little hockey stick… I still have it!!! I’ve Liked The Sport Ever Since Then!

How long have you been a fan of the team? Well, I was a fan but not a die-hard fan until a few years ago when one of my good friends got me back into it… Now I Breathe It!!!

Who is your favorite player?
Oh Man… I think just about every player on the team I Like… They all have something good about them BUT.. I would Have to say, Keith Ballard and Shane Doan!

What is your favorite Coyotes memory?
I got to meet a few players at the end of the 07-08 season.. I remember waiting in a long lone for a few hours just to meet em… They had the team split into with two lines on each side… you had to pick a side.. So, I picked the side that had Both Doan and Ballard.. So… I finally get to the front.. and they we’re about to put the rope in front of me as to say… sorry… we’re all done here… People behind me started to leave.. I had A Ballard Jersey to have Bally sign… had it drapped over my arm… I was bummed at first.. there he is… right in front of me! SO CLOSE! Keith must have seen his name on my jersey because he told the usher.. “I Think I Can Take One More”… “how about the cute blonde gal right there” They let me pass! I Laid my Jersey Down and He was like “That’s A Nice Lookin’ Jersey There My Friend” “Very Cool” I was in awe… I shook his hand and was Like Your my Favorite… Your Awesome! Then got to go down the line and get autograpghs signed by Muller, Z, Hanzal… and a few others! (I Didn’t get Doan’s because he had to leave but that’s my mission this season!)

AND

(sorry one more)

This past season I made a sign for Doan to hold up for him and show how awesome I think he is… it said “No, That’s Not Your Basic NHL Body Check.. Consider Yourself DOANED!” He Loved it! He was all Mr. smilie! He tapped the glass with his stick a few times where my sign was posted.. he’d skate around and give me that Doaner Smile… Ladies, You know what I’m talking about! LOL… Made me giggle like a school gal! LOL If I have a bad day or when everything seems to go wrong I think of that smile and it makes me happy all over again… Good Memories I’ll always have!

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person?
Oh Yes!!! Lots of times!!! Can’t wait to go next season! Love My Yotes!!

Meet: moosemeister

How did you become a Yotes fan?
My dad took my family to a game. We played the Sabers that game. Unfortunately it was a loss. It was quite a while ago. I want to say ‘01 or ‘02. Can’t remember.

How long have you been a fan of the team?
Eight years.

Who is your favorite player?
Shane Doan

What is your favorite Coyotes memory?
It was actually just recently. I went to the game vs the Stars on March 30th. We won that game in overtime.

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person?
Yes. Four times. I don’t live in Phoenix so it’s not easy getting to watch the game.

Meet: nickk382

How did you become a Yotes fan? - I moved to Arizona about ten years ago, and because of my love for hockey, i was forced to love the new franchise

How long have you been a fan of the team? about ten years

Who is your favorite player? Shane Doan

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? Patrick Roy’s ticked off after penalty shot

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? of course, countless times

Tell us about your first Coyotes game… I was with a ton of my family friends, was very young, we were playing the Oilers, and I predicted that Sean Burke would get a shut out and I was right, we won the game 2-0.

Meet: amontoya23

How did you become a Yotes fan? Started playing hockey at the age of 9 or 10 and the Coyotes moved here at the same time, actually. It was great for me to sit down and watch games with my dad as he would point out certain moves our defenseman would make during the game and I could instill that during the games that I played in.

How long have you been a fan of the team? Since the first drop of the puck at AWA.

Who is your favorite player? Past player would be Teppo, current player would be Shane

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? Sitting right behind the Red Wings bench in game 3 of the 1998 playoffs and watching my older brother heckle Sergei Fedorov all throughout the game. “Sergei, are you going to take Anna (Kournikova) to the prom this year?” Fun times continued when we scored two goals in the 3rd and the place went crazy. “Shout” came on over the p.a. and everyone was singing. I went to bed that night and all I could hear was the crowd chanting, “Lets go Coy-otes!”

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? Yes, at least 10 times a season. If the Coyotes stay and get solid ownership, I am buying season tickets.

Tell us about your first Coyotes game… My first game was awesome. My best friends grand-parents had season tickets and they got together with family for a special occasion and bought a suite for one game. My friend asked me if I wanted to go and I couldn’t turn it down. We played the Maple Leafs and it ended up in a 1-1 tie. My memory is shady, but Kris King either scored the only goal or he got into a fight that night. Odds are is that he got in to a fight, haha. It was a night I won’t soon forget though, I know that much.

Meet: CoyoteBlaze

How did you become a Yotes fan? When I was 16 and The Flames were close to moving, I had ties to Phoenix and first visited in 2000 during the Yotes/Avs series, the crowd all in white, and loud as hell.. They instantly became my 2nd team, and were my team to replace The Flames if they moved, as there was no chance I’d be a fan of the Portland Flames. I’ve followed the Yotes ever since but have only been able to watch them the past 2 years, in terms of every game, as Center Ice wasn’t available to me.

How long have you been a fan of the team? 9 years

Who is your favorite player? Mikkel Boedker

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? The White Out in 2000

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? Yes

Tell us about your first Coyotes game… November 15th vs Dallas, Yotes lost 3-2, Jokinen nearly tied it in the last seconds.. Reinprecht and Porter scored. Carcillo owned Ott good in his fight, while Ott was sticking his toungue out to a camera man.. hilarious! I was in awe of the whole Coyotes experience from Westgate to the arena.

Meet: yotesbeliever

How did you become a Yotes fan? Got a 10 dollar seat during the 1st playoff series with Anahiem

How long have you been a fan of the team? Since the end of the 1st year here, bought season tickets the 2nd year and been a STH ever since

Who is your favorite player? Currently Doaner, Loved and miss Ballard

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? Jr in game 7 of St Louis series wearing the mask. Hitting everything that moved on the 4th line.

Tell us about your first Coyotes game… I grew up on hockey, my dad watched as much as he could on TV and the roadrunners when they were here, and I was 12 during the 80 olympics for the miracle on ice so when the yotes moved here I was very interested but worked a night job. Do to restructuring i got a healthy buyout my nights freed up in time to catch the 2nd home game of the whiteout. Fell in love even in my crappy 10.00 obstructed view seat.

Meet: RemoAZ

How did you become a Yotes fan? Bought my Ice Pack and Went to the first game when they moved here. I started going more and more after they moved across the street and finally shelled out the dough for season tickets last year. I’ll be a season ticket holder as long as I can afford it. Going to the games is my favorite thing to do.

How long have you been a fan of the team? Since they said we would be howling in the desert.

Who is your favorite player? If I had to pick one I’d say Mikkel Boedker but I’m a fan of the team over any individual player.

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? Until we make the playoffs next year, I’d have to say the first time I went to Westgate for dinner and walked over to Glendale Arena for the game. If you haven’t been to Westgate and/or Jobing.com, you’re missing out. A great experience and lots of fun.

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? Yes and I even fought all that traffic, paid for a crappy parking spot and sweat my butt off walking to AWA (sarcasm intended).

Tell us about your first Coyotes game. First regular season game in AWA. The game just started and my buddy yells “hey, where’s that blue dot!” (joking of course). Everybody around started laughing. Was funny as hell.

Meet: DocumentOne

How did you become a Yotes fan? Grew up watching the Mighty Ducks movies, made me love hockey so it came natural being a Yotes fan when they moved here.

How long have you been a fan of the team? Since the beginning.

Who is your favorite player? Then: Jeremy Roenick. Now: Ed Jovanovski

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? Skating the America West Arena rink with Brad Isbister (they filmed it and used a clip in a season ticket promo video).

Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? Yes, many times.

Tell us about your first Coyotes game. Can’t remember my first game but I remember the game where I met the Cowboy from Mighty Ducks 2…ha, as you can see Im a fan of the Mighty Ducks.

Meet: Yotesgirl19

How did you become a Yotes fan? My boyfriend at the time was a season ticket holder, and he was very passionate about the team, I got hooked the moment I smelled the ice.

How long have you been a fan of the team? 2003, I moved to AZ and ever since I have been a fan.

Who is your favorite player? Shane Doan, Ilya Bryzgalov

What is your favorite Coyotes memory? I have quite a few.
1. When I get to go to my first white out (hopefully next season..lol)
2. When Craig Weller took out the entire line of Columbus Blue Jackets (Craig the line slayer Weller…lol, it was awesome!)
3. When Carcillo had the one punch knockout on Barch and the entire crowd starting singing along to Wild Thing as they put him in the box.
4. The night we defeated the Red Wings 6-3 on Jan 20th 2009
5. The night I met Shane Doan, he was the most gracious humble guy I have ever met. He gave me his full attention, and of course that huge smile with a thank you for being a fan…I kept telling him, thank you for being in Phoenix! he is amazing.
Have you seen the Coyotes play in person? yes, I am a full season ticket holder
Tell us about your first Coyotes game. it was at the AWA and I was soooo excited, my boyfriend took me, and I couldn’t stop jumping out of my seat during the game, I’m sure all of those who sat behind me were thrilled…
It was thrilling to see how fast the game moved, the courage of the players…I was hooked immediately, it was like a drug. I haven’t been able to follow any other sport since.

We are the fans of the Phoenix Coyotes…

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