Oct 30, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes Paw Patrol ice crew clean the ice in Halloween costumes during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
While the Netflix series Stranger Things has swept across the country, the Arizona Coyotes have had some strange occurrences of their own.
Over the past 20 years that the Arizona Coyotes have been playing hockey in the desert there have been some strange events.
Not quite on the level of Stranger Things, but some random occurrences and happy accidents have taken place.
For those who have seen the series Stranger Things, you know how strange things got in Hawkins, Indiana.
But how strange have things been over the years in Arizona?
Next: 2016: From All-Star Captain To No All Stars
Jan 31, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Pacific Division forward John Scott (28) of the Montreal Canadiens takes a shot during the 2016 NHL All Star Game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
2016 The Year of No Arizona Coyotes All Star?
The NHL decided they wanted to spice up the All Star Game and give fans the power.
The fans used that power to vote in relatively unknown Arizona Coyotes enforcer John Scott.
That was strange in it’s right, particularly considering the Coyotes still had fan favorites Shane Doan and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
It got stranger from there.
Not only was he voted in as a captain, the Coyotes traded him in a questionable deal before the All-Star Game to Montreal. This left the NHL in a strange situation and left the Coyotes to not have a player on their roster participate in the All-Star Game.
For his part, John Scott went on to steal the show and win All-Star Game MVP.
Next: Derek Morris' Goal From the Red Line
Half Court Rink Shot
It’s something you would see at the buzzer in a basketball game.
A guy like Steph Curry would fling the ball into the air from half court and bank it in.
I know most of you are saying I’ve seen guys plow the puck in from further and bury the empty netter.
The thing is in the 2012 Western Conference Finals, Derek Morris demolishes a slapshot from about 50 feet away.
Oh and I forgot to mention it was the first period…and Jonathan Quick was in the net!
Next: 16 Year Wait
Doan Gets a Hat Trick
This next feat isn’t that strange.
The strange part about this one is how long it took to occur.
Captain Coyote had been in the league for 16 long years before recording his first hat trick despite regularly topping 20 goals per season.
That’s right the captain and the leader of the Coyotes had never had a hat trick until January of 2012.
It was a mere second away from being yet another 2 goal game for Doan, but he beat the buzzer against the Islanders to notch his first career hat trick.
Next: Shane Doan Trick Shot
Shane Doan Scores With Broken Stick
Shane Doan seems to always be involved in strange moments.
This one is especially strange because normally a player wouldn’t be able to play the puck with a broken stick. The circumstances created the perfect storm for a shootout goal against the Ducks in 2014.
Shane Doan approached the net with stick intact, but when he fired off the shot the blade of his stick broke off and flew over the head of Ducks’ goaltender Frederik Andersen.
Andersen followed the blade of the stick as it passed over his head and the puck slid into the back of the net.
Next: Bathing Your Twins? Nah, We Need You To Backup Louis Domingue
Next: They Gave Away What? Alice Cooper Bobblehead Night
Mar 5, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Recording artist Alice Cooper poses with his retro Arizona Coyotes jersey before a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
Alice Cooper Bobble Head Night
Every franchise has it’s notable fans.
The Lakers have Jack Nicholson, the entire NBA has Drake, and the Arizona Coyotes have Alice Cooper.
In 2012 the Coyotes had Alice Cooper Bobblehead night where fans received a bobble head of the rocker with a boa constrictor around his shoulders and a Coyotes shirt under a black jacket.
This may be the strangest give away Arizona has ever seen.
Next: The Butt Goal
The Butt Goal
This is not a typo.
The sports world remembers the butt fumble, when NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into the rear of a teammate and fumbled the ball.
The Patriots recovered it and returned it for a touchdown and the video went viral.
In 2013 the Arizona Coyotes were tied 1-1 in overtime with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres Mark Pysyk shot the puck and Smith stopped it. Pysyk then whacked at a rebound that was deflected high into the air.
Mike Smith lost sight of the puck and skated back into the net.
When the referees looked in the net the puck had gotten caught in Smith’s pants and he unknowingly skated the puck over the line.
The refs called it a good goal thus resulting in the sudden death overtime loss on a very strange play.
Next: Can It Get Any Stranger?
Mar 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) looks on prior to the game against the San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
2016-2017 Will Have It’s Moments
The upcoming season for the Coyotes is sure to have it’s strange moments.
Let’s just hope none as strange are as the butt goal.
The Coyotes will have the challenges ahead of them and with a plethora of youngsters on the roster, any number of wild things could occur.
The majority of the NHL would find nothing stranger for Arizona than a Stanley Cup, so may be we should keep welcoming the strange and see what it brings.
