Coyotes get second class treatment for home schedule in ASU Arena for 2022-23

Arizona State University's Sun Devils have released their schedule for the 2022-23 NCAA season and Arizona Coyotes fans are NOT happy with how things are shaking down.

The Coyotes, of course, will share facilities and a home rink with the Sun Devils in the brand new 5,000 capacity ASU multipurpose arena, but it looks like the Sun Devils will be the team with priority scheduling. You can view the entire Sun Devils' schedule here, but all you really need to know is that the Coyotes will have exactly zero home weekend games in the months of October, January and February.

Add to the fact that the Sun Devils will play more home games than ever before and Coyotes fans are asking what so many of us have been asking for years... "WTF?"

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devil Hockey released its 2022-2023 schedule for the inaugural season at the new Multi-Purpose Arena on Monday morning. The schedule boasts a record 24 home games, including the return of the Desert Hockey Classic tournament.

I mean... come on.

It's a joke that this team is moving to a 5,000 capacity building in the first place, but add to that that they get second priority in a minor-league building... again... come on. That's the literal definition of bush league. Just move this sad sack franchise already.

The worst part of it, from an on-ice perspective, is that the Coyotes' players are going to get absolutely clowned on by opposing players through no fault of their own. I mean, imagine you work your whole life to make it to the NHL. You train everyday, you take care of your body, you sharpen your skills... and then you end up playing for a franchise that plays in what's essentially a minor-league building. Take prospective 2023 1st overall pick Connor Bedard for example, he's an absolute star for the WHL's Regina Pats and plays in a 7,000 seat capacity building in front of rabid Canadian hockey fans every home game. There's a VERY real chance that the Coyotes will be in the running to draft Bedard and he'll be taking a literal step backwards in terms of big league vs minor league facilities if/when he moves on to the NHL from the WHL.