The following is a post put up tonight by Heather from SaveTheCoyotes.com... I encourage you to follow her on twiiter at twitter.com/TheYotesDiva
These are just a few of the great stories on www.SaveTheCoyotes.com.
I encourage all to go check out the site and lend your support. Sign the Petition, etc...
...
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.
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!
These are just a few of the great stories on
Join the Discussion:
»
Comments
»
Post New Comment
