It is always unfortunate when a professional sports team ends up moving.
The Phoenix Coyotes are faced with that possibility as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Friday that city officials have a July 2 deadline to wrap up a lease agreement to save the franchise.
If this ends up happening, here are a few of the franchise’s great moments on home ice.
First Coyotes playoff game in Phoenix (April 1997)
After leaving Winnipeg following the 1995-96 season, the Coyotes were born in Phoenix, Ariz.
In their first season, the Coyotes made the playoffs and took on the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. While the team lost in a hard fought seven-game series, the fans brought the whiteout to Arizona in a big way.
Shane Doan’s first career hat trick (January 7, 2012)
There is no doubt that the face of the Coyotes franchise has always been Shane Doan.
In 1,246 games with the franchise, Doan has 815 points (331 goals and 484 assists) to go along with 1,108 penalty minutes. He rarely misses a game, he works hard every shift and the Coyotes logo is deeply ingrained in his heart.
Believe it or not, however, Doan has just one career hat trick. That came back in January 2012 against the New York Islanders.
Coyotes beat Red Wings in Game 3 of 1998 playoffs (April 1998)
Taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 post-season, the Coyotes were not expected to do much.
However, the Coyotes surprised many and gave the Red Wings some trouble. While the Red Wings would win the series, they did it in six games against a tough and streaky Coyotes team.
The Coyotes’ best game might have been a 3-2 come-from-behind victory in Game 3.
If you are a Coyotes fan, you probably remember Jeremy Roenick’s goal that came from just outside the blue-line against Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood.
Whitney scores in overtime to beat the Nashville Predators in Game 1 (April 2012)
The Coyotes surprised many in the hockey world during the 2011-12 season.
The team not only won the Pacific Division and finished third in the Western Conference, but they also advanced all the way to the conference finals. Despite putting up a good fight, the Coyotes lost the series in six games.
One of the bright spots at home during the playoffs was when Ray Whitney, then 39 years old, scored an overtime goal in Game 1 of the second round to beat the Nashville Predators.
Teppo Numminen jersey retirement (January 30, 2010)
On Jan. 30, 2010, the Coyotes retired defenceman Teppo Numminen’s No. 27.
Numminen was a member of the Jets/Coyotes franchise for 15 seasons. During that time, he was a three-time all-star, a consistent point producer from the blue-line and someone the team could rely on to play a lot of games and a lot of minutes.
During his 15 years with the franchise, Numminen played in a total of 1,098 games and his 534 points are a franchise record for a defenceman.
