After a season-opening six-game road trip, the Arizona Coyotes are finally hosting the Winnipeg Jets for their home opener. Except, it's not exactly at home.
Protracted squabbles with the City of Glendale, AZ., came to a head when the Coyotes' annual lease on Gila River Arena wasn't renewed, leaving the 'Yotes without a home barn.
Enter Mullett Arena. Also home to Arizona State University's Sun Devils, the rink has a capacity of just over 5,000. For a team like the Coyotes that typically struggles with attendance, these games might be their rowdiest in years.
To that end, all the fans on the first night are getting free mullets.
As the Coyotes' ownership continues negotiations for a new rink in Tempe, AZ., the team (and its opponents) will make do with the retrofitted college arena. But it seems like the Coyotes are ready to lean into the camp, and they've got the Mullett rocking on its first night.
Here are some of the best sights and sounds:
Coyotes legend Shane Doan and his son, ASU captain and 'Yotes prospect Josh Doan, were both on hand for the ceremonial puck drop. With centre ice sharing the two logos, Shane stood on the Coyotes' side and Josh on the Sun Devils':
Midway through the first period, a point shot by Arizona's Troy Stetcher was redirected by Christian Fischer past Winnipeg backup David Rittich for the first NHL goal in Mullett Arena history:
Five minutes later, Fischer potted the second NHL goal in Mullett history:
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