ARIZONA COYOTES
Coyotes to wear Kachina jerseys for home games upon return to play
May 29, 2020, 1:22 PM
Derek Stepan #21 of the Arizona Coyotes skates out onto the ice before the NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Gila River Arena on February 22, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Lightning 7-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
If the NHL resumes play for the 2019-20 season, the Arizona Coyotes will be donning a fan favorite.
The team announced Friday that for all outings designated as home games, the Coyotes will wear Kachina jerseys.
The league announced on Tuesday a return-to-play format that would be used if and when the league and players agree on solutions to other hurdles that must be cleared first. It calls for hub cities, and commissioner Gary Bettman gave a list of 10 that are being considered. The Phoenix Metro Area was not one of them, meaning the Coyotes will play “home” games in another city.
Still, in those games, the Coyotes won’t be wearing their standard red and black uniforms. Instead, it will be the throwback that’s generally reserved for Saturday home games only:
You asked, we answered.
When we return to play, we'll be wearing Kachina jerseys. pic.twitter.com/8noEoX2Lpn
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) May 29, 2020
“I love the jerseys, I think the black jersey, it looks so sharp at home,” forward Derek Stepan told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta this week. “I’m a big fan of it. I think we just look good. Obviously I’d be a fan of switching back.
“You ask some of these young guys on our team, if you don’t look good, you might as well not even try.”
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If the league returns to play, it will use a 24-team format that has a play-in round to reach the 16-team Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Coyotes will have to qualify by beating the Nashville Predators in a best-of-five series first, held in one of two hub cities to be determined later.
