Arizona Coyotes: Shane Doan to have number 19 retired

Former captain Shane Doan will be the first Arizona Coyotes player to have his jersey number retired.

On Dec. 29, 2015, the Arizona Coyotes dropped another game to the Chicago Blackhawks by the score of 7-5, in what amounted to the hockey equivalent of a “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” for the Hawks. Shane Doan was the lone bright spot in the game for the home team, posting his second career hat trick At the time, that also tied him with Dale Hawerchuk (379) for the most goals in franchise history.

Head Coach, Dave Tippett, per the usual, was grilled on the teams short-comings. But the media also asked about his thoughts on his captain’s hat-trick performance:

"“It shows the unbelievable sacrifice he makes. The leadership he shows that this game is out of hand and he’s not going to quit. That’s a great lesson for our young guys in the lineup tonight.”"

Doan (or “Doaner”, as those in the locker room called him) was also asked about his hat-trick.

"“It would be a lot nicer if that was to tie the game instead of to make it a two goal game. It’s no fun in those situations to score. You don’t really get any joy out of it and obviously you don’t appreciate it, but there is no joy in scoring in a game like that.”"

This is just one of the plethora of examples of the type of leader Doan was during his 21-year tenure in the NHL.

In 2010, he was awarded the King Clancy Trophy. This award is given to the player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community”.

In his December 1st, 2015 article with The Player’s Tribune, Shane talked about how serious he took the responsibility of wearing the “C” for the organization. He also credits his prior captains and veterans for molding him into the leader he became.

"I view wearing the C for this organization as a privilege, but also a tremendous responsibility. We all get told to keep our chin up from time to time, but I think it means a little more to a young guy when it comes from someone who has really been in the same position. A lot of times, being a good captain means being part hockey player, part human resources rep, part therapist."

The man’s been through it all. Doan has seen three different incarnations of one organization – from being drafted seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1995 Entry Draft, to the franchise packing up and moving to Phoenix in 1996, and finally ending with the change of moniker from “Phoenix” to “Arizona” in 2014. He did this while being the constant professional both on and off the ice.

You would be hard-pressed to find a negative word spoken about the man’s character.

Doan retired as the Coyotes’ franchise leader in games (1,540), goals (402), assists (570), points (972), power-play goals (128), and game-winning goals (69). On Feb. 24, 2019, Doan will officially have his iconic number 19 immortalized into the Coyotes rafters, before their game against the visiting Winnipeg Jets.

A fitting symbolic end to a great playing career. Congratulations Doan, you deserve it.