Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes. The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area and compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was originally founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets, a charter member of the rival World Hockey Association (WHA), before joining the NHL in 1979. After financial struggles in Manitoba, the team relocated to Arizona in 1996, playing as the Phoenix Coyotes until adopting the state-wide Arizona identity in 2014.

History

The franchise began in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, where they became a powerhouse led by stars like Bobby Hull and won three Avco World Trophy championships. Following the NHL–WHA merger, the team joined the National Hockey League in 1979, enjoying success with players such as Dale Hawerchuk. Financial difficulties led to relocation, and in 1996, under new ownership led by Steve Ellman and Jerry Moyes, the team moved to Arizona, playing its first seasons at America West Arena. The early years in the desert were marked by playoff appearances under coach Jim Schoenfeld and a memorable 1998 playoff run. Subsequent decades involved prolonged instability, including a 2009 bankruptcy, an era of NHL operation, ownership changes involving Matthew Hulsizer and eventually Andrew Barroway, and multiple arena searches, culminating in a move to Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University in 2022.

Team information

The team plays its home games at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, a temporary venue shared with the Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey team. The club's primary broadcast partners are Bally Sports Arizona for television and ESPN 620 AM for radio, with play-by-play announcer Matt McConnell. The team's colors are brick red, desert sand, black, and white, and its logo features a howling coyote's head shaped like the state of Arizona. The current owner is Alex Meruelo, who purchased the team in 2019. The Coyotes have a longstanding affiliation with the American Hockey League's Tucson Roadrunners and the ECHL's Rapid City Rush.

Season-by-season record

Since relocating to Arizona for the 1996–97 NHL season, the franchise has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs nine times, with its most successful postseason result being a trip to the Western Conference Final in the 2011–12 season under coach Dave Tippett. The team has won one division title, capturing the Pacific Division championship in the 2011–12 NHL season. Notable individual season performances include Jeremy Roenick's 87-point campaign in 1999–2000 and Keith Tkachuk leading the league in goals during the 1996–97 NHL season. Recent seasons have focused on a rebuild under general manager Bill Armstrong, resulting in several high draft picks like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther.

Players and personnel

The current head coach is André Tourigny, and the general manager is Bill Armstrong. Historically significant players for the franchise include Hall of Famers such as Teemu Selanne, who began his NHL career in Winnipeg, and Mike Gartner, who played in Phoenix. Notable Coyotes alumni include captain Shane Doan, the franchise's all-time leader in games played and points, goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The current roster features young talents like Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, alongside veteran leaders such as Jason Zucker. The team's hockey operations department includes Chief Hockey Development Officer Shane Doan and Director of Amateur Scouting Darren Stratton.

Achievements and records

The franchise's championships include three Avco World Trophy wins (1976, 1978, 1979) as the Winnipeg Jets and one NHL division title in 2012. Individual award winners include Dale Hawerchuk winning the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1982, Teemu Selanne capturing the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1993 after a record 76-goal rookie season, and Shane Doan receiving the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2012. Franchise records are held by Doan for goals (402), assists (570), and points (972), and by Nikolai Khabibulin for wins and shutouts. The team retired the number 19 for Doan and the number 99 league-wide for Wayne Gretzky, who served as head coach and part-owner.

Community involvement

The organization is active in the community through the Arizona Coyotes Foundation, which focuses on children's health, education, and sports-related initiatives. Key programs include the "Learn to Play" initiative with the NHL Players' Association to introduce youth to hockey, and the "Coyotes Charities" golf tournament. The team partners with local organizations like the Arizona Department of Child Safety and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Players regularly participate in hospital visits to Phoenix Children's Hospital and school reading programs. The franchise also emphasizes environmental sustainability efforts in the Sonoran Desert region.