Arizona Coyotes celebrate 20 years in the Valley

Feb 18, 2017, 7:40 PM | Updated: 9:43 pm

To the original #Coyotes:

Thank you. #ARI20NA pic.twitter.com/63sPRln4pA
— #ARI20NA (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 19, 2017

BY MATT LAYMAN

Arizona Sports

Now that they’ve been in the Phoenix area for 20 years, the Arizona Coyotes are celebrating with a visit from alumni, throwback jerseys and more.

For their game against the San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena on Saturday, which included a Keith Tkachuk bobblehead giveaway, the Coyotes paraded their former stars and current players, all donned in the classic black “Kachina” jerseys.

Just a kid who loves the game. #ARI20NA

📸: @azjordon pic.twitter.com/LSCoqOMa7s

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 19, 2017

Didn't make it in time for one of these guys?

Might want to keep your 👀 on our accounts tonight! #ARI20NA pic.twitter.com/rAKACaGtqX

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 19, 2017

The Yotes also rolled out their “All-Time Starting Six,” which includes three current players: goaltender Mike Smith, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the captain Shane Doan. The alumni in the Starting Six included Teppo Numminen, Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk.

Doan is the Coyotes’ all-time leader in goals (401), assists (563) games played (1523). Smith has the third-lowest goals against average (2.67) and save percentage (.916) among goalies who played at least 100 games, and Ekman-Larsson led NHL defensemen in goals with 23 in the 2014-15 season.

Numminen scored 108 goals and was the captain for two seasons in Arizona, posting the second-highest plus-minus rating in team history (+42). Tkachuk was the very first captain in the desert, scoring 40 game-winning goals and the fourth-most points in franchise history. Jeremy Roenick’s 152 goals are the third-most by a Coyotes center to go along with 227 assists and 43 power play goals.

Some of the earlier players in team history were critical part of hockey’s growth in the Valley.