The Coyotes Era

This was one of those times you don't realize how much it means until it's gone.

The Coyotes were a huge part of our lives for a long time. Not just something we watched, but something that was tied into our family in a really personal way. Even now, two years after the team moved to Utah, there's still a sense of loss. They were our team for over two decades, and it's hard to explain what that really meant unless you lived it.

Game days were always exciting. It was a long drive out to Glendale when they played at Gila River Arena, but it was always worth it. When they moved to Mullet Arena in Tempe, everything felt closer and more connected. We even took the train to a game once, which the boys loved. It felt like a whole experience, not just going to a game.

The boys loved seeing their favorite players in person. It's completely different than watching on TV, being that close to the ice, the energy, everything about it. Getting to high-five and take pictures with Howler was always a highlight. They looked up to players like Shane Doan, Lawson Crouse, Clayton Keller, and Logan Cooley.

The Mullet Arena years were our favorite. Murph got tickets to so many games and made it a point to take the boys as often as he could. Joe and I were able to go to a few games too, but he really made it about them. We knew what a privilege and treat it was for Murph to being sharing the experience with them.

One moment we'll always remember was after a game when the boys stayed by the glass waiting to see who the stars would be. When the players come out, they usually toss pucks to the kids. Clayton Keller came over and threw one right to Aidan, and it ended up being shown on TV, so my parents were able to watch it happen at home. Just one of those moments you don't expect, but never forget.

A lot of this time was also shaped by Murph. Watching him grow into his role in the hockey world has been incredible. He's always been someone who gives his time and energy to the kids, and you can see how much he loves it. The boys have always looked up to him, and it meant a lot to us to see him have that kind of influence on them.

He started working with the Coyotes youth programs like Little Howlers and Little Leightons, and also coaching the Kachinas girls teams. Those programs were where things really started to click for our boys. They loved being at Little Howlers, being on the ice with Murph, learning the game, making friends. Every week they were excited to go, and by the end of each session they were tired from working hard, but really happy.

When we found out the Coyotes were leaving for Utah, it was devastating. Not just because we were losing our team, but because we didn't know what it meant for Murph. He had put so much into those programs, and it felt like something really special was being taken away just as it was getting started. The Mullet Arena years had brought the team back into the community, and it was hard to see that end so quickly.

At the same time, our own lives were shifting. Arizona was getting more and more expensive, and things were starting to feel like they were taking away from what we wanted to be able to give our kids. The day the Coyotes move was announced was the day we decided to start looking at moving to North Carolina. Joe talked to his boss, got the green light, and the rest just kind of fell into place.

We love where we are now. It really does feel like where we're meant to be. But we still miss the Coyotes. No other team will ever compare, and when they finally return to Arizona someday, I think it will feel like everything is right again.

Until then, we've found ourselves rooting for the Carolina Hurricanes. They've been incredible! Not just as a team, but as an organization that really cares about the kids and the community. That's all we could ever ask for.

Even though the Coyotes are gone, what they started hasn't disappeared. Murph is still doing what he loves, coaching multiple teams and now running the Shott's Tots program, which continues to introduce young kids to hockey the same way Little Howlers once did. It's part of the Matt Shott Arizona Hockey Legacy Foundation, which is focused on growing youth hockey and giving kids that same opportunity to fall in love with the game.

I'm so proud of him. Not just for what he's doing, but for the kind of person he is. So many kids look up to him, not just ours. I know that for him, it's the same as it is for us — Faith, Family, and Hockey.