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The Arizona Coyotes are battling their way through December while the rest of us battle our way to a holiday break. To celebrate the season, it’s the Coyotes’ 12 Days of Christmas.
It’s December and the Arizona Coyotes are on the ice on a regular basis.
That also means it’s holiday time. We thought we’d tackle that with a little festive creativity.
As you read this post please feel free to sing it in your head, or aloud, especially if you are at work.
So let’s sit back relax and sing read along to the the Coyotes 12 Days of Christmas.
Jan 26, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) scores his third goal to complete the hat trick during the second period against Arizona Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue (35) at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
On the first day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me… one Jets franchise
Yes, Winnipeg is back in the NHL now after the Atlanta Thrashers failed to work out.
Once upon time, however, the Winnipeg Jets name settled down for a long winter’s nap and moved their franchise to Phoenix and became the Coyotes, although the franchise kept it’s history in tact.
So any Jets records before 1996 are technically Coyotes franchise records, though the new Jets franchise also claims said records. Confusing.
Anyway, thank you Winnipeg because 20 years later we are still going strong.
On the second day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me… two Shane Doan hat tricks!
It took most of a very long career, but Shane Doan’s first hat trick came on January 7th of 2012 against the New York Islanders. He had 2 goals up until 0.1 before the final buzzer. Somehow Doan just gets the puck across the line in time to record his third goal of the game.
The second came against the Blackhawks in 2015.
It also resulted in this little salute from the Arizona Coyotes’ faithful, which was awesome.
On the third day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me…third overall pick we picked Dylan Strome.
Dylan Strome might have been sent back to the Erie Otters in his first NHL season, however he is tearing it up down there.
He’s gonna be just fine.
Strome also needs NHL ice time, we already know he is an NHL talent.
Now we need to give him the experience.
Unfortunately, Strome may be the center Arizona deserves, but not the one it needs right now.
On the fourth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me…four years of Wayne Gretzky
Is this the gift that every Arizona Coyotes fan would like to return?
Probably.
It didn’t go as well as anyone hoped, but at least we had the greatest hockey player of all time in the Valley of the Sun for awhile.
Gretzky went 143-161-24 as head coach, but unlike in his playing days he was missing talent.
On the fifth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me …five sweater logos
When the Coyotes first arrived in Phoenix, they arrived with embodiment of the 90’s on their sweater. The variety of color used could have been better suited for a music video than a hockey uniform.
However like all things 90’s nowadays it has comeback as a lovable logo into the rotation.
They have utilized several logos in their time in the Valley.
The first was the Kachina logo with a full body Coyote goalie. The second was a large Coyote terminator face logo.
As for three and four they finally went to an updated look with a clean Coyote head. The Coyote head had a minor adjustment in the angle so that is included as the fourth.
And the fifth sweater logo they donned was when the unveiled black alternate uniforms that had a swift running Coyote logo across the chest.
Nov 10, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes right wing Shane Doan (19) looks on during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
On the sixth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me … six franchise records for Shane Doan
The Captain, who is surely to be immortalized outside of the new arena in Tempe, holds six franchise records.
The guy has only been around 21 short years to accomplish all this.
He holds the franchise record for games played, goals, assists, points, power play goals and game-winning goals.
Oct 29, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) plays the puck during the third period of the game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
On the seventh day of Christmas the Coyotes Gave to me…seven years ‘til Matthews can sign in the Valley
Auston Mathews is coming home!
Well maybe, maybe not. And definitely not for awhile.
I fully expect Auston Matthews who hails from Scottsdale, AZ to pull a LeBron James and tell Arizona he’s coming home to win one for his home town.
I also fully expect Matthews won’t have an ESPN special to announce his decision.
May 13, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Overall view prior to the game one of the Western Conference finals of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
On the eighth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me…eight playoff appearances
Since moving to the Valley of the Sun the Coyotes have been to the playoffs eight times.
Most recently and most notably was when they made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2012.
Look at that ice. “Stanley Cup Playoffs.”
That would be a nice sight this year at Gila River Arena.
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of a statue of former Chicago Blackhawks player and NHL hall of fame member Bobby Hull covered in snow outside the United Center prior to a game against the Winnipeg Jets. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
On the ninth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me …number nine gets unretired
Bobby Hull wore #9 famously for the Winnipeg Jets and the Chicago Blackhawks.
However, his son infamously wore the number as a Coyote.
The Jets had retired the number nine in honor of Bobby’s contributions to the team, ergo the Coyotes had it retired as well as it is technically the same franchise.
When Brett Hull signed with the Coyotes in 2005, they unretired the number so Brett could wear it on the ice.
Nov 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Anthony Duclair (10) celebrates a goal by left wing Jamie McGinn (88) during the second period against San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
On the tenth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me …Anthony Duclair
This gift is like one that is given at a white elephant party.
So far this season Anthony Duclair has been a bit of a gag gift.
A gag gift with potential, yes, but nonetheless if you walked away from a general manager’s Christmas with this one you might be on the verge of tears.
Nov 4, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes mascot Howler blocks the view of Toronto Maple Leafs fans during the second period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
On the eleventh day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me … eleven years of Howler
This lovable Coyote debuted 11 years ago and has been entertaining ever since.
From on the ice to off of it, Howler shows up pretty much everywhere in the Valley.
He is always high fiving and hugging. He’s great with kids too.
Calgary Flames right wing Tim Jackman gets ready to eat a right hand from Phoenix Coyotes left wing Paul Bissonnette (12) winds up to throw a punch during the second period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE
On the twelfth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me…a Biznasty
When Paul Bissonnette checked in on the ice, one of two things would occur.
The first was that he was intent on fighting you.
The second was that you were intent on fighting him.
The Coyotes enforcer was a fan favorite and he contributed 7 goals in his tenure with the team.
Nov 25, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) and right wing Shane Doan (19) celebrate with teammates after beating the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in a shootout at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
And so we present the Arizona Coyotes’ 12 Days of Christmas
Here we go! All together now for the finale!
On twelfth day of Christmas the Coyotes gave to me…
12 a Bisnasty
11 years of Howler
10 Anthony Duclair
9 gets unretired
8 playoff appearances
7 years ’til Matthews
6 franchise records
5 sweater logos
4 years of Gretzky
3 picked a Stromer
2 Doan hat tricks
and a Jets franchise in the Valley….
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