Sports
Fiesta Bowl Parade: Shane Doan Named Grand Marshal
No one played for an Arizona franchise longer than Shane Doan played for the Coyotes. Now, the just-retired captain will be honored.
Shane Doan gave his professional career to the Coyotes. The right winger spent 2o seasons in Phoenix, arriving with the team from Winnipeg, until he announced his retirement last week.
Now, Doan - who played in Arizona longer than any other professional athlete - is being honored for his service. On Monday, he was named Grand Marshal of this year's 47th Annual National Bank of Arizona Fiesta Bowl Parade.
Doan will lead the floats and bands through its two-mile route through central Phoenix on December 30th. (For more local news, subscribe to the Phoenix Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts).
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"The Fiesta Bowl Parade is an Arizona icon and I’m honored to serve as this year’s Grand Marshal," Doan says. "During my playing career, I never had the chance to experience the Fiesta Bowl Parade and, for my first one, it’ll be incredible to lead the way."
"Arizona is a special community and since I first moved here 20 years ago, the people have welcomed me with open arms. We’re proud to call it our home and give back in any way we can."
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Doan is a storied member of the franchise, having served as team captain from 2003 through tis past season.
He is the franchise leader in numerous categories including games (1,540), goals (402), assists (570), and power-play goals (128).
"Shane Doan has been a first-class ambassador for the state of Arizona throughout his career, both on and off the ice," said Mike Nealy, executive director of the Fiesta Bowl. "He is the perfect choice to be Grand Marshal for this year’s parade as he represents the values of the Fiesta Bowl organization."
The parade, which gets underway at 9 a.m. involves more than 2,500men, women, children, animals, and floats winding through the streets of Phoenix.
Groups from as far away as Utah and California as well the schools taking part in the Fiesta Bowl create floats and march in the parade.
Photo of Shane Doan playing against the Carolina Hurricanes in March 2017 (Gerry Broome/Associated Press)
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