Building the Pack Episode 1: A Review

“I hate this day,” Captain Shane Doan said as he was driving to the rink for day one of camp to kickoff the first episode of Fox Sports Arizona’s new documentary style series Building the pack. The 24/7 style series can be seen on Fox Sports Arizona in three parts, with the first airing on Monday, and the two subsequent episodes airing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

” I think Coyotes fans will love Building the pack as we not only get a glimpse behind the scenes while the players work to make make the roster during camp, but we get to see a side of some Coyotes players we never see, their life outside the rink.”

If episode one is any indication oF how the series will play out over the final two episodes, thEn Coyotes fans are in for a great inside look at the team.

It starts from the first team meeting of the season, where cameras rolled as Head Coach Dave Tippett unveiled this season’s team theme “The Coyote Way.” For fans to be able to get a glimpse of things like that is part of the reason why i have already fallen in love with this series, but the biggest reason I think Coyotes fans will love Building the Pack is we not only get a glimpse behind the scenes while the players work- to get back in shape or to make make the roster during camp- but we get to see a side of some Coyotes players we never see, their life outside the rink.

Sep 29, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) makes a shoulder save during the second period at Rogers Arena. Arizona won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

I think the moment that Coyotes will love the most from this episode is when Fox Sports Arizona brought their cameras inside the home of Mike Smith. We got to see a very raw Mike Smith here being a great father as he played with his three little boys Axel, Ajax and Nixon, with one of them even trying to drop the gloves with their old man at one point. If you watch episode one and aren’t immediately smiling while watching the Smith family, you are probably the Grinch and your heart is two sizes too small. I hope we get to see more off-ice stuff as the series moves along.

There is another thing to look out for in the coming episodes as well, the personality of Keith Yandle. Who had one of the better lines during the whole show regarding teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson, “Oliver is used to it [photo shoots] he is a model in the summer, i think he just wants to take his shirt off,” Yandle said.

Overall a job well done by Fox Sports Arizona and i highly recommend giving it a watch. Episode two airs Tuesday at 7 pm while episode three airs Wednesday at 630 pm. If episode one is any indication than they will be must see for Coyotes fans.