Shane Doan...Good On And Off The Ice

Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes, NHL hockey player

During our visit to the desert we had a chance to meet Right Winger Shane Doan of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes.

NCS: What type of charity work are you involved with?

SD: I have been involved with youth since I was a kid. I grew up on a ranch, a dude ranch where about 150 kids would come through every week during the summer. In the winter time youth groups would come up for field trips. Now, with members from the Phoenix Coyotes, I spend time in the community working with Boys & Girls Clubs and the Children’s Hospital.

NCS: Who was your mentor that instilled the virtue of giving upon you?

SD: Definitely my father. He did everything for me. He started a Boys Club for kids in our rural farm area. Kids would come over to my parent’s ranch and ride horses and do different fun activities.

NCS: What advice would you give to someone who wants to play in college or at the professional level?

SD: Never forget that its just a fun game. You have to truly enjoy it. If you ever take the game to seriously and loose the fun, it’s not worth it anymore. I truly believe that. Obviously its different for everybody, but for me personally, I love the game. I enjoy it the most when I am playing my best.

NCS: If you were a youth hockey coach for a day, what would you have the kids work on?

SD: Fundamentally you have to be able to skate. You have to be a good skater. You can get by by not having the best shot or stick but if you can skate, it makes up for everything. For me it’s a constant battle to work on my skating.

You have to make it fun. There is always a fun way to work on skating and the fundamentals.

NCS: What is it like playing for The Great One – Wayne Gretzky?

SD: Obviously its great. Wayne is the world wide ambassador of hockey. He is an icon back home in Canada and was a role model to me as I was growing up. You have to understand, hockey in Canada is like soccer in Brazil. I grew up watching him play and went to games in Edmonton. 21/2 hours south of Edmonton. I grew up watching him and to be playing for him is totally cool. He has such a way to unarm situations and when you’re talking to him, it doesn’t seem like you are talking to an icon. He is easy going and very humble. It was special meeting him for the first time. I thought he was bigger than life – a superhero, and he his, but he is just a normal guy.


The Doan File
Doan was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, seventh overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. Doan has played all of his ten NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes franchise, the longest current tenure of any player with the franchise, and is the final remaining player to have worn a Jets' uniform to have played continually for the franchise.

His best season was 2003-04 when he had 68 points. He was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2006 Olympics which drew some controversy from people as he had allegedly uttered insulting comments to Francophone officials in a recent game. This was denied and the NHL cleared Doan of any racist slurs. The Canadian Olympic Committee allowed Doan to be part of Team Canada.

Doan's parents operate Circle Square Ranch (Halkirk, Alberta), a non-denominational children's summer camp, and year round activity center. Shane's sister Leighann is a professional basketball player currently playing in France. Shane is married and has children. Shane's cousin-in-law, Catriona LeMay Doan is a former Olympian and gold medalist in women's speed skating.