19th Season for #19
By Adam Pierce
Shane Albert Doan, our fearless leader, has been through the roller-coaster ride that is Coyotes Hockey since day one. Drafted by the Winnipeg Jets 7th overall in the 1995, Doan experienced the financial struggles of the Jets organization as a rookie, which led to the move to Phoenix, Arizona one year later. Since moving to the desert, Doan has managed to stay put and become the face of the Coyotes franchise. Captain Coyote has had numerous opportunities to leave the Valley but has remained loyal to his team as he wants to bring Lord Stanley to the desert for the first time in NHL history.
19 seasons with one team is a long tenure as Doan’s playing career is slowly coming to a close. At age 37 (38 on October 10th) Shane Doan is still skating around with the younger guys playing the game that he loves. With that being said, a lot has changed in the league and around the world since he put on the Coyotes sweater for the very first time. During his playing career for example, we have seen Winnipeg lose a team and gain a team, we have seen the Coyotes switch logos from the Kachina Yote to the second best logo in hockey, and we have seen two NHL lockouts. During his time in the league, Shane Doan has notched 354 goals, 508 assists, 1,142 penalty minutes, and a life time of memories.
One Doan memory that we all enjoy and love is his first and only career hat trick. Will he notch another three goal performance this season? Only time will tell.
Aside from his on ice statistics, let’s take a look at how the world has changed from Doan’s first season as a Coyote compared to his 19th season.
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Times have indeed changed since Doan laced up his skates for the first time in Arizona. Another statistic that can be broken down is his career total of penalty minutes. As of right now, Shane Doan has accumulated 1,142 penalty minutes. Let’s put this in to perspective as well:
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Aside from the facts listed above my absolute favorite Doaner comparison is 1995 Rookie Shane Doan and 2014 Captain Shane Doan. Click the links to enjoy:
With Shane Doan’s era in the NHL coming to it’s final chapter, many pages have been left unwritten. Time is not on our captain’s side as age is quickly catching up to him as the years fly by. With 862 career points in the bank, Doan’s race to 1000 is getting tougher and tougher with the passing seasons. Another goal that has yet to be fulfilled is a Stanley Cup championship for the Arizona Coyotes, but with the 2014-2015 season upon us, we may find this goal being crossed off Shane’s checklist. While Shane Doan has gone through many experiences in his long career with the Coyotes, his drive, motivation, and passion for the sport of hockey has never changed.