Dear Shane,

You don't know me but I want to say just one thing- thank you.

Since the day I was born, I've known who you were, looking up to you and admiring you for the last 19 years of my life. I have signed pucks and sticks and helmets with your autograph and number sitting on my shelf. Your jersey hangs above my bed and your posters cover an entire wall of my room. You have been a positive role model in my life since before I could even talk, and for that, I thank you.

I've been around for it all. Your first hat trick and when you led the team to their first ever Western Conference title. I have watched you play 1,403 games, and seen you score 323 goals. I have seen you set records for career goals, points, games played, shots on goal, and everything in between. I've watched you play in two All-Star games, the Olympics, and at the World Championships. I've seen you do it all, Doan, and I am so proud to know you as my Captain.

But besides all of the numbers and statistics, your dedication to Arizona and the community is something that is unthinkable. You have given back more to the community than most professional athletes, which says a lot about you as a person. You take the time to meet every fan, sign every jersey, and shake every hand with smile. When I first met you at the staff holiday party you pulled me in for a hug like you had known me forever. When I told you how long I had been a fan you grinned from ear-to-ear and said, "Well why did it take 16 years for us to meet?"

You have been the backbone of this organization for 21 years now and I cannot thank you enough.

You have encouraged, motivated, and inspired the youth of Arizona. Whether that be at a hockey camp, visiting them in the children's hospital, or making an appearance at their school. You are not only a role model on the ice but also within the community. You have inspired me and ignited the love that I have for the sport of hockey. I don't think you realize that what you do is so much more than play a sport. You have created a growing culture and fanbase.

So here's to you, Shane Doan. Your faith and dedication to this organization is something that most players only dream of having. You have no Cup to show for it, but personally, I don't think you need one. What you do is so much more than that. Most people would argue that you wasted your time in Arizona, that the only reason to play the sport is to win the Cup. But I think you have won so much more than a Cup.

You have won the hearts of the entire state of Arizona, and quite possibly, the entire league. Every person I meet has nothing but high praise for you, Captain. Your unshakable dedication to the team and community has created a legacy that will live on forever. Every hand you've shook, every kid who has caught your puck, and every poster you have signed has left a lasting impact on those lives you have touched. You created a name for yourself that will live in infamy and is one that nobody will ever be able to speak against.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you, Captain Coyote, for being apart of my life and creating my love for this sport. Whether you continue to play another year or retire and live out the rest of your life with your family, I hope you know how much you mean to every Coyotes fan. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Here's to you, Captain!