Post by ducky75 on Apr 9, 2011 14:05:36 GMT -5
Prior to the start of tonight’s Phoenix Coyotes/San Jose Sharks game, Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona talked to Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett and Captain Shane Doan about Fan Appreciation Day and asked what the fans mean to the Phoenix Coyotes organization.
(Audio courtesy of Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona and the Phoenix Coyotes Radio Network):
Dave Tippett
Todd Walsh: It is fan appreciation night. Can you just speak to what you see them (the fans) deal with? There’s so many issues here but there’s a core of people that come out and support you.
“Very loyal and passionate. I know there’s lots being said about ‘Where’s all the fans?’ this and that. Well, we have a great fan base that I guarantee you if you look at any other organization and if they go through two years of turmoil and ownership there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to second guess whether they’re coming. The fans that have stayed with us, you got to give huge kudos to because they’ve been there through thick and thin and ups and downs and every ‘two more weeks it’s done’, ‘two more weeks it’s done’ they’ve hung in there. Like our players, I give them a ton of credit for staying focused our fans have stayed right with us too so it means a lot to this organization.”
Shane Doan
Todd Walsh: Is there anything you’d like to say to people driving into the rink right now or driving around listening about how you feel about them and some of the things that they’ve endured specifically in the last two years?
“Just how much we appreciate the fact they continue to support us in a situation that is easily the most difficult in the league and the fact that they continue to come out. I mean we understand that it isn’t ideal and hasn’t been the way we wanted it to go for the last two years but the fact that they’ve showed up and that they have such enthusiasm and come to the rink and bring so much energy for us as a group we appreciate it and are excited about the next few games and giving them a bunch more home games this year.”
(Audio courtesy of Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona and the Phoenix Coyotes Radio Network):
Dave Tippett
Todd Walsh: It is fan appreciation night. Can you just speak to what you see them (the fans) deal with? There’s so many issues here but there’s a core of people that come out and support you.
“Very loyal and passionate. I know there’s lots being said about ‘Where’s all the fans?’ this and that. Well, we have a great fan base that I guarantee you if you look at any other organization and if they go through two years of turmoil and ownership there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to second guess whether they’re coming. The fans that have stayed with us, you got to give huge kudos to because they’ve been there through thick and thin and ups and downs and every ‘two more weeks it’s done’, ‘two more weeks it’s done’ they’ve hung in there. Like our players, I give them a ton of credit for staying focused our fans have stayed right with us too so it means a lot to this organization.”
Shane Doan
Todd Walsh: Is there anything you’d like to say to people driving into the rink right now or driving around listening about how you feel about them and some of the things that they’ve endured specifically in the last two years?
“Just how much we appreciate the fact they continue to support us in a situation that is easily the most difficult in the league and the fact that they continue to come out. I mean we understand that it isn’t ideal and hasn’t been the way we wanted it to go for the last two years but the fact that they’ve showed up and that they have such enthusiasm and come to the rink and bring so much energy for us as a group we appreciate it and are excited about the next few games and giving them a bunch more home games this year.”