Arizona Coyotes Mullett Arena: Trick or Treat

After a grueling six-game road trip where the team won two of six games, the Arizona Coyotes Mullett arena debut finally took place. The opening game against the Winnipeg Jets featured all the pomp and circumstance to begin a new season. Former captain and Coyotes legend Shane Doan and his son Josh who plays for Arizona State University, conducted the ceremonial puck drop. It kicked off a partnership lasting at least three years between the NHL team and the university to conduct Coyotes games in the slick new Mullett arena.

#Yotes legend Shane Doan and his son Josh, who is currently starring at ASU, dropped the ceremonial puck before this game started. Josh is a Coyotes prospect as he was drafted by the team in the 2021 draft. pic.twitter.com/ny9srsvl1y

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Coyotes Mullett Arena: Halloween Trick or Treat?

The huge controversy over the player locker rooms was not an issue. The franchise took a lot of heat with complaints that the arena with its small capacity and the temporary locker rooms were subpar.

“Actually, our locker room was fine,” Winnipeg associate coach Scott Arniel said postgame. “It’s big, it’s wide open here.” Jets forward Blake Wheeler echoed his coach.

“If you get lost in the surroundings or the locker room or whatever, you’re going to be distracted, not give yourself a chance to win,” Wheeler said. “So all-in-all, I think it was made out to be a lot worse than it actually was.”

“And as long as you got a spot to put your gear on and talk about the game and I mean it really is a beautiful college hockey rink. So, I’ve played in way worse arenas for sure.”

Jets forward Cole Perfetti’s only real issue with the locker room situation was it being on top of the community rink. He said it was “a little chilly on the feet.” Perfetti also stated that the Mullett arena ice was better than the ice at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where the Jets faced the Kings on Thursday.

Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez talked with @BurnsAndGambo about the temporary locker rooms and when he expects the new ones to be ready. @Gambo987 @Burnsy987 @ArizonaCoyotes pic.twitter.com/JZTesi2Pky

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) October 29, 2022

Most players including the Coyotes Christian Fischer, praised the condition of the ice as being fast, with the resilient boards being something they needed to adjust to.

Each seat contained a ‘mullet’ wig to use the arena name in a marketing ploy. It was quite ingenious and went along with the approaching Halloween holiday. So, all things considered the arena atmosphere was definitely a treat.

Drop the Puck

In their game at the new Mullett arena, the Winnipeg Jets spoiled the Coyotes hopes of winning in their new digs. The Jets prevailed in overtime, 3-2. The Coyotes saw forward Christian Fischer tally two goals to pace the Yotes. Goalie Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 of 35 shots on his net and the Yotes record went to 2-5-1. The nemesis of taking a two-goal lead only to surrender three straight goals was the Coyotes downfall.

Not only were the Coyotes playing their old team the Jets, but the winning goal was also scored by former Jets captain Blake Wheeler. Wheeler was drafted by the then-Phoenix Coyotes in 2004 using their fifth overall selection. He refused to sign with the Desert Dogs. Instead, he signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins in July of 2008. So, for the Coyotes that was surely the ‘trick’ as Wheeler scored the winning goal against the team who originally drafted him.

The next game, on Sunday, was against the talented New York Rangers and the Yotes went down in defeat again by the same score in regulation. The Rangers Artemi Panarin collected two assists as did the Coyotes excellent prospect Dylan Guenther.

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The Home Advantage at Mullett Arena

Both teams experienced the idiosyncrasies of the new arena. Yet, the Coyotes still have 39 games left to play there this season. They will learn those crazy bounces off the boards and take advantage of them. The visiting teams won’t know those little details.

The other factor is the size of the arena makes it absolutely ear-busting when the crowd gets into it.

The walls are just 15 feet behind the ends of the rink making the sound have no escape. Everyone knows that having that explosive noise in the building can be like having an extra player on the ice.

The national exposure about the team having to play in a small building has been prevalent. But the news about their prospective new arena in Tempe was encouraging.

Breaking: Per sources, the Tempe City Council is likely to refer the Coyotes' arena & entertainment district proposal to referendum, leaving a vote in citizens' hands.
That may delay the process, but the proposal appears to have support.

Via @PHNX_Sportshttps://t.co/j2tyoY5iPf

— Craig Morgan: "Shockingly personable" (@CraigSMorgan) October 30, 2022

Later in November the team and their fans should know the decision about the Tempe entertainment and arena project. The fact that it’s being sent as a referendum may slow down the process, but business leaders are in favor of the project.