When Shane Doan retired following the 2016-17 NHL season, it wasn’t a matter if the Arizona Coyotes would recognize his legacy in the desert, but rather when.

This past summer, not only did the Coyotes announce plans to retire his No. 19 jersey, but the Ice Den Scottsdale recently held a ceremony to officially name the arena’s west rink the Shane Doan Rink.

The jersey retirement ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24 when the Coyotes host the Winnipeg Jets (the original Jets team drafted Doan in the first round of the 1995 NHL Draft before moving to Phoenix prior to the 1996-97 season. The current Jets are the relocated Atlanta Thrashers).

Doan will become the first Coyotes player to have his jersey retired at Gila River Arena.

Former Coyotes players Keith Tkachuk (7), Jeremy Roenick (97) and Teppo Numminen (27) and former Jets players Bobby Hull (9), Thomas Steen (25) and Dale Hawerchuk (10) have been inducted into the Coyotes’ Ring of Honor.

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Doan played his entire 21-year career for the Coyotes franchise, skating in 1,540 games and compiling 402 goals and 972 points. He served as captain for his final 13 seasons.

“Shane Doan is Mr. Coyote and a Valley icon,” said Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen. “No one has done more for the Coyotes or the game of hockey in Arizona than Shane.”

“I am extremely grateful to be the first Coyotes player to have his jersey retired,” added Doan. “I am so proud to have played my entire career for the Coyotes because loyalty and commitment mean everything to me.”

As the Ice Den Scottsdale prepares for its 20th hockey season in the Valley, anniversary festivities commenced Aug. 12 with the rink dedication ceremony.

“When we first realized that the timing of our plans to reconstruct and renovate the west rink lined up with Shane’s retirement, we knew immediately that there was no better player or person to celebrate and rename the rink after,” said Coyotes Ice president Mike O’Hearn.

The west rink, first called the Moon Rink as a nod to the Coyotes original jersey shoulder patches and more recently called the Ice Den Rink, was officially renamed the Shane Doan Rink with over 350 fans and members of the youth hockey community attending the sold-out event to celebrate the dedication. Doan’s wife Andrea, and children Gracie, Josh, Karys and Carson joined him at center ice for the dedication ceremony, with Shane and Josh participating in the first official faceoff on the newly-named ice sheet.

Following the ceremony, guests in attendance joined Doan on the ice for an inaugural skate and all left with a souvenir puck to commemorate the event. A portion of the proceeds from tickets sales from the event were donated to the Shane and Andrea Doan Foundation.

“You would be hard pressed to find someone who has spent more time in this building and on the ice than Shane,” said O’Hearn. “I think it would be even harder to identify a building in the state where he has spent more time than the Ice Den Scottsdale. For the past 20 years, watching Shane be the first player on and the last player off the ice during Coyotes practices was a regular occurrence. Even since his retirement, he’s in the building weekly as a member of our Jr. Coyotes coaching staff. We are thankful that he continues to share his time, experience and passion with youth hockey players, including his son Josh, looking to follow the same path. The community is fortunate to have such a loyal and dedicated leader like Shane, and the Ice Den is privileged to be a part of his career and legacy.”

“It’s an exciting honor to be recognized in this unique way,” added Doan. “The Ice Den has basically been my second home since it opened in 1998. It’s a true asset to the community. Over the past 20 years, my family has and continues to spend countless hours at the rink. It is inspiring to think of all the young hockey players who will develop and compete on the ice. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Photos/Sandra Tenuto Photography

— Matt Mackinder

(Sept. 20, 2018)