ASU hockey alum shines in NHL debut

TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s not often that you get to make your NHL debut in the same venue you played in during college, but that’s exactly what happened for Arizona State hockey alum Josh Doan.

Doan took the ice at Mulett Arena on Packard Drive in Tempe, Ariz. for the first time as an NHL player on Tuesday night. The 22-year-old is a familiar face in the building. Less than two years ago he scored the first ever Arizona State goal in their new building in a 2-0 ASU win over Colgate.

The Valley native scored 28 goals in his Arizona State hockey career, four of them being game-winners. Now he would be skating in Mullett Arena again, but swapping his Sun Devil uniform for a Coyotes one.

Arizona State hockey alum Josh Doan shines in his NHL debut

Doan and the Coyotes are a match made in heaven. Doan is a product of Scottsdale and is the son of Coyotes legend Shane Doan. Shane is a 21-year NHL vet and spent his whole career with the Coyotes, even before they were the Coyotes. As a rookie Shane played for the Winnipeg Jets prior to their relocation and rebranding to Arizona in 1996.

When retiring in 2017 Shane finished as the Coyotes’ franchise leader in games played (1,540), goals (402), assists (570), and points (972). The Coyotes even retired his number (19) on Feb. 24, 2019.

However, Josh would accomplish something in his debut that his father didn’t even do.

Josh Doan nets two goals in debut

With 16:33 remaining in the second period of Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Doan flicked in the first goal of his NHL career to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

JOSH DOAN WITH HIS FIRST NHL GOAL! 👏

You couldn't script it any better. pic.twitter.com/yDb3BENpPv

— NHL (@NHL) March 27, 2024

A perfect debut for the hometown kid, but the night wasn’t done. The Coyotes had work to do in the third period as it was tied 2-2 with about 12 minutes left in the game. Then Doan positioned himself with a good angle in front of Columbus’s netminder and deflected in his second goal of the evening.

JOSH DOAN HAS HIS SECOND OF THE GAME AND THEY'RE GOING TARPS OFF IN THE DOAN FAMILY SUITE 😱🤯 pic.twitter.com/LsJe4tp486

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 27, 2024

Josh Doan would finish the night with two goals in his NHL debut, leading the Coyotes to a 6-2 win. It’s the first time in franchise history a rookie has scored two goals in their NHL debut. Not even Josh’s father Shane could pull that off, as he waited 14 NHL games before scoring his first goal.

The Coyotes have had a forgettable season, sitting seven games below .500, but on Tuesday, Josh Doan gave them something to celebrate.

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