Arizona Coyotes Uniform History – Review

Sep 22, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal (11) celebrates with center Max Domi (16) and center Henrik Samuelsson (15) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Brick Red and Bye Bye Kachina (2003-2014)

Once the original ownership group sold the Coyotes to Steve Ellman, Wayne Gretzky, and Jerry Moyes in 2001, speculation became rampant about a uniform change.

Gretzky, a traditionalist, loathed the Kachina Coyotes uniforms.  The sweeping changes came in 2003 at an unveiling show at Arizona Mills mall.  The entire identity package evolved to include updated logos and a streamlined color palette of brick red, black, and sand.  Gretzky wanted to have the uniforms be simple and clean.  They were certainly that, but also reminiscent of the famed Soviet Red Army hockey jerseys from teams that dominated the sport for decades.

The fans of the Coyotes, for the most part, were disappointed with the changes.  The southwestern/desert motif, so much part of civic pride, was gone and replaced by something more at home in Siberia.

Unfortunately, this change in uniforms also marked the beginning of the darkest days of the franchise:  relocation rumors, finances & bankruptcy, Jim Balsillie and Hamilton. Piss-poor performance on the ice.  These traditional uniforms, and their own evolution in 2007 with the NHL-wide change to the Reebok Edge system, represent an era that most Coyotes fans would LOVE to forget.

However, one moment people love to remember from that era was when Captain Coyote was named to his post.

Next: The Running Coyote/Road-kill Coyote