Arizona hockey runs deep for Andrea Doan and her family. Her husband Shane played for the Coyotes during their inaugural season in 1996 and their son Josh played at Arizona State and for the Coyotes during their final season in 2024.
She will now get the chance to help bring NHL hockey back to Arizona.
Maricopa County Chairman Thomas Galvin announced Monday that Doan will serve as the chair of the advisory panel on pro hockey to Arizona, an informal group of Arizona leaders focused on giving the state an NHL team again.
“Arizona means a lot to me and my family, and the hockey community in this incredible state is committed to bringing the NHL back to the desert,” Doan said in a press release. “I am honored to serve as the chair of this advisory panel and look forward to working with my colleagues and fellow community leaders in Arizona on this important effort.”
Doan has lived in the Valley for almost 30 years and has been involved in helping both the NHL and youth hockey communities in Arizona. She is an Arizona State University graduate and, along with her husband Shane, received the Pat Tillman Service Award for their dedication to service and community engagement.
Andrea Doan joins state officials and community partners to bring NHL back
The Coyotes played in Arizona for 27 seasons, but the final two years were spent at Arizona State’s Mullett Arena after their lease at then-Gila River Arena (now Desert Diamond Arena) was terminated.
Their inability to secure a permanent home for themselves eventually led to the sale of the team, as Utah Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith purchased them in April 2024.
Galvin has been working on plans to bring the NHL back to Arizona since he was elected in January, when he spoke with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Galvin sees Doan’s connections to the Arizona hockey community as valuable pieces in realizing his plans.
“I am honored to have Andrea Doan join me in this effort to bring the NHL back to Arizona,” Galvin said. “Andrea has dedicated much of her personal life to our community and building support for Arizona hockey. Her knowledge of the industry and connections to Arizona and the NHL are instrumental to our mission.”
Doan and Galvin aren’t the only ones working to bring an NHL back to the Valley. Arizona native and member of the 2024 Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey team Lyndsey Fry co-founded the Matt Shott Arizona Hockey Legacy Foundation and is working on community outreach to increase support for hockey in Arizona.
“Everything good I’ve ever had in my life has come from this game,” Fry said. “Professional sports such as the NHL are a key community ally in the development of youth and amateur sports in the state. I stand ready to work with Andrea Doan, Tom Galvin and our large community of hockey supporters to get the NHL back to this incredible state.”
