Originally published in Eishockey News in 2008 By Lucas Aykroyd Unquestionably, power forward Olli Jokinen was the biggest off-season acquisition by the Phoenix Coyotes. But if the Arizona-based club is to earn its first playoff berth since 2002, it can’t just rely on veterans like Jokinen and captain Shane Doan. The Coyotes will need big […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2008 By Lucas Aykroyd Wayne Gretzky achieved his most famous international victory as a player with Team Canada by victimizing two Russian goalies, Sergei Mylnikov and Evgeni Belosheikin, in the 1987 Canada Cup final. Ironically, the “Great One” can credit much of his coaching success with Phoenix this season […]

What might Wayne Gretzky have said to Sidney Crosby in conversation outside the dressing rooms after the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Phoenix Coyotes 3-1 at Mellon Arena on Monday? Here are ten intriguing possibilities. 1. “Never call the New Jersey Devils a Mickey Mouse organization. What, that thought never crossed your mind?” 2. “Stay away […]

Originally published in the 2003 NHL All-Star Game Program By Lucas Aykroyd Traditional Southern cooking abounds with homegrown delicacies. But for sports fans in hot, dry places, hockey is often seen as an exotic new addition to the menu. Fortunately, it hasn’t taken long for the southern United States to acquire a taste for the […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd They say you can’t go home again, but Jyrki Lumme of the Phoenix Coyotes is always welcomed back with open arms in Vancouver. The 33-year-old native of Tampere, Finland spent eight of his 12 NHL seasons with the Canucks. He proved as gracious and friendly off […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd In 2000-01, Ossi Vaananen of the Phoenix Coyotes became known for more than having arguably the NHL’s most colorful name. Thanks to his solid play, many hockey observers hailed him as the top rookie defenseman in the Western Conference. The 6-4, 220-pound native of Vantaa, Finland […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd This season, the Phoenix Coyotes are celebrating their tenth year in Arizona under the slogan of “Decade in the Desert.” But cynics might suggest that this franchise is like the Biblical Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and the Promised Land is […]