phoenix coyotes history
phoenix coyotes history
NHL fans with Phoenix Coyotes tickets are excited to be attending games at Glendale Arena this season. Wayne Gretzky is behind the Coyote’s the bench this year, so it’s easy to see why Coyotes tickets are such a hot commodity. It still remains to be seen if the greatest hockey player ever will become one of the greatest coaches. The Great One, who has been with the Coyotes as Managing General Partner since June 2000, has assembled a talented staff of assistants to join him behind the bench.
The Coyotes originally joined the NHL as the Winnipeg Jets in 1972. After 11 playoff appearances in Winnipeg, the organization moved to Phoenix in 1996 and began play in America West Arena. Big league hockey was now being spread to areas that prior to their arrival used ice only to cool their drinks. Like most expansion teams, the Coyotes adopted their name after a contest was held to allow the fans to determine their favorite moniker. The Coyotes logo is a Coyote head thrown back in a howl. Team colors are red, sand, and white.
After moving south to Phoenix in 1996, the Coyotes made five playoff appearances in six seasons from 1997 to 2002. Despite that record of success, a shot at the Stanley Cup eluded the Coyotes. In their playoff appearances, the Coyotes couldn’t duck the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 1997, they saw red against the Detroit Red Wings in ’98, got buried by the Colorado Avalanche in 2000, and bitten by the San Jose Sharks in 2002
The Coyotes best season was in 2001-02, when they were led by goalie Sean Burke. Burke posted a 2.29 goals against average, and finished with a record of 40-27-9-6, just missing the division title by five points. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the NHL Playoffs by the San Jose Sharks. In fact, although the Coyotes would make the playoffs in five of the nine seasons in Phoenix, the team failed to get past the first round in any year. In 1999, the Coyotes had a 3-1 lead on St. Louis, but would get the blues, and drop the next three games.
2003 provided only more questions for Coyotes fans. Phoenix franchise faded into the playoff sunset with lackluster regular season. One of the few bright spots in the year was an incredible 332-minute span without a goal by goalkeeper Brian Boucher, a new NHL record.
NHL fans in the desert with Phoenix Coyotes tickets are banking that having Wayne Gretzky at the helm will lead them to places they’ve never been. If Gretzky can coach like he played, Coyote tickets will be more of a hot commodity in the desert than a glass of ice water. Providing a quick injection of veteran leadership with players like Mike Ricci, Gretsky is hoping for a quick turnaround but leading what may be the best Coyote team ever onto the ice at Glendale Arena, The Great One may be facing the biggest challenge of his storied career. Coyotes ticket holders will also be looking at the show behind the bench.
