Coyotes roll out red carpet for Doan during retirement ceremony

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Arizona Coyotes retired former captain Shane Doan's No. 19 jersey during a 90-minute ceremony at Gila River Arena on Sunday, the first player so honored in franchise history.

The Coyotes previously inducted six players into their Ring of Honor, but Doan is the first to have his jersey number lifted to the rafters.
Doan played all 21 of his NHL seasons for the franchise, which relocated from Winnipeg to Arizona in 1996, one year after drafting Doan in the first round. He was the longest-tenured captain in the NHL when he retired in 2017, holding that role for 13 seasons.
"Hockey gave me more joy than I could ever imagine," a teary-eyed Doan said. "I was never the greatest player, a superstar or anything like that, but I kept hanging around. I found incredible meaning in taking this long journey."

Among those attending were NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, numerous former Coyotes players, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Arizona Diamondbacks World Series hero Luis Gonzalez.
"He spent 21 years (with one team), nobody does that," Bettman said. " He could have gone to play anywhere, but Shane never wanted to leave Arizona. He said, `This is our home.' Shane always said hockey works in the desert, it belongs in the desert... This franchise wouldn't be here without him."

Multiple former teammates, including Daniel Briere and Tyson Nash, recalled Doan as the ultimate team player, one who brought out the best from everyone else by never settling for less than that from himself.
"I've learned so much from him, how he treats everyone with respect," Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson said before the team's game against the Winnipeg Jets, who also honored Doan during warmups.

A two-time All-Star, Doan played in 1,540 games, the 16th most in NHL history and the fourth most with a single team, and had 402 goals and 570 assists. He is the franchise leader in goals, assists, points (972), power-play goals (128) and games played. He had 15 goals and 13 assists in 55 Stanley Cup Playoffs games.
The Coyotes reached the playoffs eight times with Doan in their lineup, advancing to the Western Conference Final in 2012.
"No player in our team history meant more to this franchise than Shane," Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen said.