Fans Pack Ice Den Scottsdale on Saturday to Watch Open Practice

The Pack sure packed the Ice Den.
The Arizona Coyotes held an open practice at the Ice Den in Scottsdale on Saturday, and fans came from all around The Valley to catch a glimpse - and maybe even get an autograph or two - from some of their favorite players.
Lifelong fans and new hockey converts converged at the Shane Doan rink in the early afternoon, which resulted in one of the most energetic practices of the season for the Coyotes.

Head coach André Tourigny and his staff had the team run through almost all situations during the hour-plus skate, giving fans a glimpse of what a high-intensity, fast-paced practice entails.
"That was fun," head coach André Tourigny said. "It was good for us because we had it right after a day off. We had a good pace today, and it was a longer practice."

Robby Crouse, of Peoria, drove a long ways to see the Coyotes in action on Saturday. He said his favorite player is Lawson Crouse - the two share a last name, though there's no relation - and was excited to see the team run through its drills.
"Any time I can get out to one of these events I like to come," Crouse said. "I like to see the guys practice and get a little bit of behind-the-scenes kind of look."
Daniel Beckham, of north Phoenix, has been going to games since the team relocated to Arizona from Winnipeg prior to the 1996-97 season.
He was a huge fan of Coyotes legend Shane Doan growing up, but recently has taken an interest in the Coyotes' prospects. He said his favorite player on the current team is rookie Dylan Guenther, who has impressed early on in his career.
"I just wanted to see some of the new players and the younger talent that we have drafted," Beckham said. "Those steps mean we're getting closer to that playoff team, and hopefully eventually making a run towards the Stanley Cup."
Guenther and fellow rookie forward Jack McBain stayed long after the practice to sign autographs for fans.

The 19-year-old Guenther, who has seven points in 15 games in his first NHL season, said seeing the stands at capacity means the world to him and his teammates.
"It's good to give back," Guenther said. "It's good to sign stuff, and it's awesome to see the support from the community."
Marissa Travis, of Anthem, has been a season ticket holder for over 20 years, and is also the team manager of her daughter's 12U elite green Kachinas team.
Her son also plays hockey, and the sport has been in the family for as long as she can remember. She said she'll stick with the team through thick and thin, and was excited to see how an NHL practice is conducted.
"You can't be a fair weather fan," Travis said. "Whether they're winning or losing, it's the game."

She also said she has continued to attend games at Arizona's new, temporary home, Mullett Arena, and would encourage anyone that's never experienced hockey before to check it out.
"It's a fast-paced sport, and it encourages everyone to get involved," Travis said. "They do a really good job with their fan base. They're really just bringing everybody in, and if you're on the fence, you should come check out a game."
Saturday's practice even brought families together.
Xavier and Alexa Castro, siblings from Phoenix, attended the skate together. Alexa has been a Coyotes fan since attending her first hockey game in middle school, and convinced her brother to join her at the open practice in Scottsdale.
She said she'd never seen a practice before, and was interested in seeing how it would go. Getting Xavier to attend his first-ever Coyotes event was the cherry on top.

"I just love it," Alexa said. "I want someone else to be able to enjoy the game like I do."
Xavier was impressed with everything he saw.
"How smoothly they're able to pass the puck and move it around has impressed me," he said.
Christian Pfohl came from his home in Mesa to watch the practice, and was excited to see his favorite players, Clayton Keller and Karel Vejmelka, in person.
He said he's been a fan for his entire life, and since he isn't able to catch games as frequently as he used to, thought Saturday's skate was a great opportunity to see them in person.
The team did not disappoint.
"I noticed a lot of good teamwork, and they get along with each other very well," Pfohl said. "It's a lot of new faces, so it can be hard to meld together and create a team out of that."
The sport has hooked him, and he's sure anyone who has yet to experience it just needs to go to one event, and it will immediately have an impact.
The takeaway? If you've yet to witness NHL hockey, you're missing out.
"It's so exhilarating because it's not as high scoring as other sports, so the goals are that much more impactful," Pfohl said. "It's a great experience, and it's a great time."