Shane Doan Has Been Cleared To Play And It’s Time To Howl!

Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Oh Captain, my Captain! Shane Doan has been cleared to play by doctors and Phoenix Coyotes fans hopes for the rest of the season have been cleared for landing. What will Shane bring back to the ice? Leadership, first and foremost. Not that his team hasn’t performed admirably without him. Since Shane fell ill the Yotes have gone 4-3-5. And that’s exactly why Shane decided to skate up and throw his weight into the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night.

"I want to play… I want to be able to help out. Guys are battling hard and doing everything they can to find ways to win. You want to help. That’s what we’re supposed to do and that’s what I’m paid to do. I want to get out there and try to do it. – Shane Doan (MAN OF MEN)"

Shane has been out since early December when he contracted Rocky Mountain Fever. Because of course that’s what Shane Doan gets. A sickness that sounds like something Old West Gunslingers get after running from the law. Apparently you get the bacterial disease from ticks. Which leaves us with just one question. What was he doing?

Was he training like Rocky Balboa in Rocky 4? Was he carrying a broken down Zamboni over his shoulders while running through thorny brush? Was he walking barefoot through the desert like Kane from Kung Fu, searching for a way to somehow make himself less awesome? Oh I’ve got it. He was wrestling bears for raw Salmon. “Because Doan feed on live fish!” Duh.

Happy fandom aside this is exactly what the team needs. After Yandle put up Olympic-like numbers and somehow wasn’t asked to join the US Team, Shane’s return is going to inject the necessary fire to get the Yotes over the hump. Tomorrow is going to be a heck of a game. Expect Doan to make a difference.