Talk about a hellofa ride! We have been in the upper middle of the chase all season. The highs have been great but damn if it don’t make the lows that much more painful. We started off seriously hot. If you didn’t enjoy shuttin the haters up with our jumpstart out of the gate, you just don’t have a heartbeat.

Consistency is really going to be an issue for us no matter who is in the lineup. Getting hit with the injury bug right where it hurt us most is par for the Coyotes course. We turn into defensive juggernauts and of course lose our 3 best blueliners just as we’re gettin the hang of it. But the noobs have been valiant in handling their bizness. (Both Schlemshady and Hushpuppy have scored their NHL goals) … umm where are the other big guns? When Keith Yandle is your best player on the ice besides Bryzzie…something is very wrong with your veterans.

So we still got cojones to spare most nights. When we’re playin Tippett’s system we are a force to be reckoned with… When we fall back on the dump n chase, scared of our own shadow crap, we give the haters so much joy. (No one said it was gonna be a cakewalk to turn this barge around) I’m not expecting miracles here buckos but I am expecting the 09 Yotes (u know..those guys who are battling against the world for their very survival?) to win games against the teams they ’should’ beat and to at least make a good showing against the rest. And wtf? is up with this piss poor home thang? Performance anxiety my ass. We’re your extra man advantage dudes… but not if you can’t be bothered to show up.

Anyway… we play the Stars at 7pm it should be interesting again. The boys showed the Dallas bigwigs what a good coach can pull out of his butt. We need to do it again. If we can keep our conference rivals from getting points we just might be able to pull this season into focus for the remaining fence sitters. With Z and Jovo back we should be in good shape for this one. JV didn’t look 100% against Calgary but he and Z were both loggin decent minutes.

Keys to the game?

Stay out of the damn box as always. Giving Dallas a power play is tantamount to poking yourself in the eye with a sharp stick. Stupid and senseless way to lose an eye a game.

Remember where the best goals are scored… in the middle of the slot (Don’t get all dependent on Yandle to pull your asses out of the fire with a suprise cannonball at the blue). Ummm especially remember the opponent scores best from there too and don’t let ratty Riberio in yours.

Keep a lid on Modano, that old dog still has plenty of teeth. Dallas has just as many dangerous no name players as we do, Brad Richards cough* cough*… and watch that damn Neal too. (Sorry Jimmy, I know I have you on like 12 fantasy rosters but I’d rather lose a few points than this game)

Don’t play Jason Labarbra even if Bryz has the Hinny Flu. Call up Monty and let him deal. (Sorry AZBarbie, the way you been floppin around swingin yer stick and break dancin like a headless chicken on crack makes me ill)

Come on out! Can’t be a cheaper entertainment package in all of Arizona… speaking of cheap…

Operation Sandstorm kicked off today. “Phoenix Coyotes President & Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced today that the Coyotes will hold a “Sandstorm Sale,” offering select lower level tickets for just $25. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 and will end on Monday, Nov. 30 at 10 p.m.

This offer includes all of the available lower level seats in sections 102, 103, 109, 110, 113, 114, 120 and 121 at Jobing.com Arena. During this brief four-day sale, fans will be able to purchase tickets in any of these sections for any remaining Coyotes home game during the 2009-10 regular season (December-April) for just $25 while supplies last. The tickets for the Sandstorm Sale can only be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

While the Sandstorm Sale pertains to all Coyotes regular season home games from December through April, there are several notable games during the upcoming holiday season.

Holiday Season Highlights:

• Black Friday: Friday, Nov. 27 @ 7 p.m. – Dallas Stars at Phoenix Coyotes
• Calgary Flames: Thursday, Dec. 3 @ 7 p.m. – Calgary Flames at Phoenix Coyotes
• We Win, You Win: Saturday, Dec. 5 @ 8 p.m. – Ottawa Senators at Phoenix Coyotes (If the Coyotes win, redeem your voucher – received upon entry – and game ticket for a free ticket to a future game)
• Christmas Weekend: Wednesday, Dec. 23 @ 7 p.m. – Anaheim Ducks at Phoenix Coyotes
• Blanket Giveaway: Saturday, Dec. 26 @ 7 p.m. – Los Angeles Kings at Phoenix Coyotes (First 10,000 fans in attendance receive a Coyotes blanket courtesy of AT&T)
• New Year’s Eve: Thursday, Dec. 31 @ 5 p.m. – San Jose at Phoenix Coyotes”

** we said we’d be behind anything that got butts in the seats (and I know this feels like a slap in the face with a dead fish) I wish they’d make it a little more palatable by offering the STHs a lil somethin somethin (if not now… maybe next season all STHs get a discount? ummm assuming we are around for next year). But it is what it is and I hope it works to galvanize some ticket sales. Its only a few days firesale but again… I hope a lot of people buy a lot of games. We are going to take soo much flak over it so it better work. Soo speaking of sticking around for 2010…

New suitors challenging the Ice Edge group for the team… am I the only one thinkin the NHL is gonna HAVE to figure out a compromise with the CoG to really get the team sold? Getting the lease revamped would raise the value of the team more than any 10 other actions the league could take. But I think over the next month we will see the serious local groups throw their hats on the ice. Bettman says there are 6 suitors for the team (in one form or another) hopefully by season’s end a local bidder prevails.

The City of G has its collective ass in a sling. They can’t just sit on the lease as is and they can’t be seen handing out any money in this economy and with every watchdog group and its brother locked on their every thought. When it comes right down to it, they are going to have to modify or lose it all. Better to make lemonade with the lemons Moyes left them and fight any legal challenges later than to be left with a very empty and pitiful arena and legal battles anyway.

Rampage coach Greg Ireland was shown the door. No reason was given for the sudden dump. But taking a look at their record (with all the freakin firepower they’ve got) might be a clue. 6 – 10 – 2 is not pretty. But then again their goal tending has taken a turn for the worse it seems since Burkie moved up in the world. Monty seems unable to slow his game down for the minors and Tater is always a slow starter. This is not good… the main reason for the high end kids to go to the AHL was to get some exerience and learn to win? Treliving had a little to say about the change HERE

Its time for a win! We lost 2 biggies in the great frozen north… lets not make it an official slide with a third one.

As always … GO COYOTES!

Extra! Extra! Read aallll about it!

Tyson Nash takes over the color commentator’s chair next to Heeter as Louie Debrusk’s replacement.

Wow! Great news for Nasher’s fans. We do miss the lil agitator around the place. Depsite and invitation to try out with Tampa Bay (sheesh is there anyone left that they haven’t tried to get their hooks into?) Tyson went after the radio job here in Phoenix.

Apparently the guys tease him about having a face made for radio but truthfully the kid has a great personality and should provide a whole lot of spark and verve to the radio broadcasts. Great sidekick for Heeter for sure.

Welcome home Tyson!

*** Looks like Wheels has landed. In Beantown. Lots of reports that the BigRig has chosen Boston as his team of choice. Since this entry is purely informational I will save you all from my vitriol and leave it at this barebones announcement.

*** Tampa Bay has apparently asked for permission to court Toc for an assistant coaching position. Many discussions out and about on whether thats a good thing or bad.

*** The Yotes have finally dumped 1060 for xtra 910 as the radio home of the team. Good riddance. You couldn’t hear 1060 across half the valley anyway. Many of us complained about the poor reception plenty of times, good to see the organization respond. Hopefully the radio hosts will be more proactive and proCoyotes at this station. The former flagship station mostly made fun of the team when they bothered to mention hockey at all. it looks like we’re even getting a new host for the extra shows and behind the scenes stuff.

Phoenix Coyotes Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Bucek and Clear Channel Radio/Phoenix Vice President/Market Manager Joe Puglise announced today that they have agreed to a new radio broadcast partnership. with this agreement, XTRA Sports 910 will become the “Radio Home of the Coyotes,” covering the NHL club on 910 AM and on the web at www.xtra910.com.”We’re very excited about the coverage XTRA Sports 910 will provide to our fans” said Bucek. ”The Coyotes are proud to be a part of the station’s powerful lineup of local and national sports talk and high-profile live national radio play-by-play coverage.”

XTRA Sports 910, “The Valley’s Sports Leader”, will serve as the flagship station of the Coyotes Radio Network. Puglise also added, “We’re thrilled to be the new home and destination radio broadcast partner of the Phoenix Coyotes. As one of only a few top-tier major professional sport franchises in town, we look forward to a successful relationship and working well together for some time to come. This agreement makes complete strategic and financial sense for both XTRA Sports and the Coyotes.”

Broadcasters Bob Heethuis and Louie DeBrusk will continue to call all of the exciting Coyotes action. In addition to coverage of Coyotes games, the station will air pre and post-game Coyotes programming and a weekly magazine show hosted by XTRA Sports 910’s Luke Lapinski, who enters his first season as a Coyotes radio host.

More Bullets below

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QuickHit (still don’t have internet at home…)

It’s a unique problem that faces the Yotes next season, where do you put all the talent?

When you’ve got the Hobey Baker Winner, a kid that comes into the AHL cup run and nets a hat trick, the 3rd pick overall in 2006, waiting in the wings for 2008-2009 what do you do?

Do we run basically the same team that barely missed the post season last year with a few additions? (adding only Turris and 1 other lucky forward *Lisin* and a new player in that 6th defensive spot?) leaving you with:

Bryz/Telly

Jovo/Z, Dmo/Bally, Boynk/new guy*Ahnelov* (Yandle up and down for coffee breaks)

Doan/Mueller/Turris Hanzal/Vrbata/Winnik Carcillo/Kapi/Lisin Rhino/Weller/TQ

Which stocks San Antonio to the gills with great new talent in:(Kolarick/Porter/Wheeler/Ross/MacLean) who have the entire season to learn the system and gell outside of the harsh spotlight.

OR

Is there another spot coming available with Vrbie still so uncertain? Leaving you with basically the same lineup after replacing Vrbata w/ MacLean. I really love the idea of bringing the Porter/Kolarick tandem up together (increase their comfort zones/chances for success and possibly grooming a Datsyuk/Zetterberg-like duo).

Enough with the new kids on the block already… get TQ and Kapanen under lock and key. Where the hell is Carcillo’s extention? With Wheeler ditchin us for (freedom of choice or a less talented roster… maybe one he can actually crack in 08-09) or whatever you want to believe, maybe now GMDM can concentrate on a few less fronts and take care of our RFAs before some bone head decides that Carci would look good in some other team’s colors.

We have a LOT of current players still dangling about out there. But I remember last season with invitees and temporary veteran looksees… GMDM is a cagey bastage, we may be seeing a bit more of that strategy as he tweaks the possible options for the roster.

More report cards coming soon… hopefully I will be really, really busy this weekend (with my new interenet, catching up)

Even in a non-playoff post season time sure flies by when you’re having fun. The Patio 6 Posse and Locker Room Crew has been making sure that boredom can’t rear its ugly head.

The first annual off season event took place on Saturday. The Coyotes Fan’s Wave Pool Execursion was a total hoot. A bunch of us trundled over to the Kiwanis Wave Pool in Tempe for the day. What a unique and fun place. Who woulda thunk it? The indoor wave pool is huge, easily accomodating a couple hundred intrepid tubers.

We basically yakked and people watched for awhile and then hit the waves in various garishly colored tubes. Sometimes floating, more often, our comeptitive juices caused crazy bumper tube madness all around the pool. Lots of fun dumping your friends into the water and being dumped or towed around at speed thru the waves.

Afterwards we weary and waterlogged crazies held a BBQ and had much Yotes discussion as well as much hockey talk in general. It was supposed to just be a few hours but lasted from 1pm to 10pm due to the fact that the pool was fun, the food was good and the company was fantastic.

Arizona Sundogs!

Took the President’s Cup in a sweep of Colorado’s Eagles. In only their 2nd year the Dogs ran away with all the marbles. Rob McVicar refused to be solved. The guy had a fantastic postseason run. Rob stopped 41 of 44 shots to bring home the Cup. He also earned the MVP of the playoffs!

The whole team produced and played their hearts out for each other. Urquart, Leavitt, Redenbach, Kolanos and Laperriere again stood out as leaders and outstanding difference makers for the Dogs.

Congratulations on the first of many Championships!

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=698

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AZ SUNDOGS!

Rockin Prescott Valley and apparently Colorado too. The last Coyotes affiliate standing, has gained a 2 – 0 series lead over the Colorado Eagles. The Dogs got up a 3 – 0 lead in the first period and chased poor Sebastian Laplante outta his net. Bryan Bridges didn’t fare too much better in relief. Rymsha, Liebel and Redenbach made hay in the first period,Kalanos and Leavitt finished off the hapless Eagles with their tallies. Only Erik Adams was able to get past the once again stellar Rob McVicar. (5 – 1 Sundogs)

If you can’t make it out to the game (they are having a viewing party at the arena) or watch on TV, try the chl feed at centralhockeyleague.com, there is a chl network option tab under the fanzone, follow the instructions… its free… and legal.

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=695

World Cup -

The dynamic duo of Hanzal and Vrbata strike again for the CZE nationals. Vrbata got another 2 goals as the Czechs stomped Italy 7 – 2. Big Marty Hanzal got another assist as the CZE team keeps rolling forward. They will play the winner of the Sweden Switzerland game next.

http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/czechs-outskill-italy.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=ade7ed6f74

The Canadian’s barely survived a late comeback from Team USA. After bein up 3 – 0 the Canadians got a little loose and the American’s jumped on everything they could. Unfortunately Heatly would snag the GWG. (5 -4 CAN) Bally and Mules have not gotten anything on the board yet, neither has our captain (Shane can actually take a break from carrying this team on his back with so many good players onboard this year).

http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/heatley-to-the-rescue.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=ae3388c0c4

Teams Russia and Sweden just got a little tougher to play as well. Henrick Lunqvist and Evgeny Nabakov just reported in to the tourney. Thats a lot of stopping power for 2 teams who are already at the top of their heaps.

~Pics from HHOF-IIHF site.~

World Cup -

Jovo and Doaner are playin for Canada, neither scored in their first game but CAN whupped SLO in the first game on their home ise. (5 -1 CAN)

Hanzal and Vrbata jumped all over the Danes in their first round. Apparently the Coyotes lil sniper found more ammo. A beauty of a between-the-legs pass from Hanzal put Vbrat back on track. (5 -2 CZE)

USA today is a tough team on more than just paper. Sportin their 1960 retro sweaters and kickin keisters all over poor Latvia. (4 – 0 USA) With Pat Kane, Peter Mueller, Keith Ballard and Dustin Brown on the roster, look out for these boys to rock the tourney with many surprises.

The Mighty Finn and the Swedish Wolf also made their national teams and play later today. elly and his Swedes take on France while Kapanen and his crazy Finns take on Germany (GER was tough last year and surprised the Cezchs but the Finns added the firepower that they were missing last season with Teemu Selanne).

EDIT:****Telly and the Swedes corked Belarus (6 – 5 SWE) and Kapi and his Finns walloped Germany (5 – 1 FIN)

http://www.iihf.com/

AZ Sundogs!

Are rockin more than just Prescott Valley. Behind Cory Urquhart’s hattie the Dogs jumped out to the early 1 – 0 series lead. McVicar stopped 24 of 28 and Laperriere, Rymsha and Leavitt all put points up to lock the game down.

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=693

SA Rampage -

Just couldn’t find their game after forcing a 7th on the Toronto Marlies. All the games in the series were pretty tight. Each team had one blow out game but mostly squeekers… Marlies aqueeked last. The Rampage bow out in the first round but take plenty of good things to think about with them into their off season as well as some serious firepower for next year. (The Yotes were busy signing all kinds of talent during these first weeks of the offseason… lots of new faces and skills for next year as well as some much needed pride and experience from making the playoffs).

http://sarampage.com/news/rampagenews/index.html?article_id=190

Coyotes Locker Room -

The crew will be meeting up at the Kiawanis Wave Park next weekend (Sat May 10th) come on over and hang out (Its about $11 for the pool and we are plannin to BBQ … like a tailgate w/ out the Yote game LOL) Everyone is welcome to join in and hang out… lots of Yotes discussion/speculation will be afoot.

It is simply amazing. Both the Arizona Sundogs AND the San Antonio Rampage are cookin on all cylinders. Both have done well in the postseasn.

The Dogs are vying for the President’s Cup in the finals! After gettin the stuffing whomped out of them in game 6 (2 – 9) the pups came back for a 6 – 1 decisive win to advance. SWEET! All of the games up until the 6th were close. Both teams showed moxie and heart, battling each other to a standstill. Game 6 was the turning point at which the young Sundogs hitched up their socks after the embarrassment and blasted the Laredo Bucks with everything they had in game 7. This team has gumption to spare.

Led in points by Alex Leavitt and Cory Urquhart (both with 22 point) this young team has all the makings of a winner. We don’t get much news on the Sundogs but after this season’s performance maybe that will change. Hopefully edgy goalie Robert Mcvicar can keep up his winning ways and the boys can snag a nice piece of hardware to present to the loyal faithful out in Prescott Valley.

GO SUNDOGS!

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/

San Antonio Rampage is making some noise of it’s own down in the heart of Texas and around the AHL.

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So many things happening, so little time to write about them… sighhh.

Okay let us just bounce randomly through some of the ’stuff’.

World Cup -

Z, Vrbie and Hanzal will be playing for the Czechs. Kapi for the Finns. Looks like Telly has accepted the net job for Sweden. Bally and Mules will be donning the red,white and blue for the US and Jovo and Doan for Canada (KT will also be at the Canadian’s camp, no word on if he actually makes the squad yet). Speaking of Captain Clutch…

Captain Coyote -

Shane Doan. All around good guy and a leader where ever he goes, has been chosen … again to play for Canada in the World Cup (no surprise there eh?) Our intrepid Captain helped helm the last Canadian team to an undefeated gold medal so why wouldn’t they want him back.

Shane has been busy garnering other accolades from the hockey world, he’s also a finalist for the Masterson trophy. (The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and is given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.) I don’t have to tell you folks about the qualities that make Shane such a good candidate for this award, we see it everyday. Interesting enough, the other candidates include Chris Chelios and JR.

Chellie I can understand, the guy personifies perseverance (hell, he’s 46 and has 1,616 games under his belt!) in a sport that counts hits as a stat, the body takes a LOT of wear and tear and to still be playing (and playing well) at 46 is a testimony to Chelios’ drive, determination and dedication.

JR on the other hand… well, you all know I have no love for the man. Irritating, arrogant and all around pain in my nether regions (tell us how you really feel Onyx). Yeah he was on the edge of extintion (by his own hand… or would that be his mouth?) and yeah he is doin well with SJ. But he’s fighting a battle that he brought on himself. Some of his past comments and actions do NOT display much less exemplify what the Masterson trophy is all about.

Doan: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=358894&page=NewsPage&service=page

JR: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=359186&page=NewsPage&service=page

Chellie: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=359682&page=NewsPage&service=page

Rampage Ruminations -

The boys are barely holding their own. They are 2 – 3 in their series against the Toronto Marlies. They’ve got more firepower than ever before but seem to have a wee bit of a consistency issue.

Game 1 was a squeaker as the Marlies edged our boys out 4 -3. In game 2, our Rampage got the franchise’s first ever playoff win with a 6 – 3 decisive victory, mainly powered by the duo of Porter and Kolarick. Game 3, Phoenix’s very own David Spina led the way in a 3 -2 victory to put the Rampage ahead in the series. The Marlies refused to die graciously and fought back in game 4 with a reversal and held onto a 3-2 win to tie up the series. Game 5 seemed to be a first goalie to blink loses kinda game. The Marlies scuttled away with a 2 -1 win.

Tordjy and Monty have been sharing the net. Neither one has stepped up and ”owned’ the series yet. Both are playing well though.

So our boys return to Toronto (its win or die time) to try to force a game seven in this series.

Game recaps and some nice video – http://sarampage.com/news/team/index.html?datearchive=2008-04-1

 Go Rampage!

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Rampage edged by Marlies in the first game of their playoffs. 4 – 3 Marlies.

Montoya in net for this first run. The Marlie’s Newberry and Mitchell got the first two goals but Arizona’s very own David Spina grabbed a PP goal to keep the Rampage close.

Matt Murley got a shortie to tie it all up but Marlie center Foster took advantage of Keith Yandle’s broken stick to make it 3 – 2.

It became a seesaw as Brendan Bell (former Marlie) tied it up again in the middle moments of the third period. 3 – 3 until the last 6 minutes and the Marlie’s Jriry Tlusty took advantage of a miscue behind Monty’s net to get the game winner. 4 – 3 Marlies final.

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