Auston Matthews drove by the Arizona CoyotesB次元官网网址� new home this summer.

The 5,000-seat rink tucked into a college campus is a temporary solution B次元官网网址� for at least the next three seasons B次元官网网址� as the franchise continues working on a proposed long-term arena.

Matthews, who grew up in the Phoenix area, wants to see the franchise that sparked his hockey obsession B次元官网网址� long before the Toronto Maple Leafs sniper scored 60 goals in a season and won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP B次元官网网址� succeed in the desert.

HeB次元官网网址檚 also curious what that first trip to Mullett Arena will look like.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檒l be pretty fun B次元官网网址� the atmosphere and everything,B次元官网网址� Matthews said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be kind of funny and interesting being in the NHL, playing in a rink like that.B次元官网网址�

The Coyotes begin life at Arizona State University on Friday when they host the Winnipeg Jets following a six-game road trip to open the schedule.

The team played at Gila River Arena in Glendale beginning in 2003, but attendance issues plagued the Coyotes almost immediately before the suburban city cut ties with the organization at the conclusion of last season.

The CoyotesB次元官网网址� old home was on the Phoenix metropolitan areaB次元官网网址檚 west side, while ASUB次元官网网址檚 campus and where the club hopes to build are in Tempe B次元官网网址� closer to the majority of its fan base.

B次元官网网址淓verythingB次元官网网址檚 brand new,B次元官网网址� Arizona winger Clayton Keller said of Mullett ArenaB次元官网网址檚 cosy confines. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l just go from there. The atmosphere will be cool B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 standing bleachers behind the net, which no NHL team has.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unique and brings a different aspect.B次元官网网址�

There were inevitable jokes made when ArizonaB次元官网网址檚 move to an arena B次元官网网址� which is named for a prominent ASU donor family B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 a fraction the size of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 other 31 venues was announced, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said it will benefit the franchise both now and in the future.

B次元官网网址淔ull building every night,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t could help the team and player performance when you have that type of environment.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a permanent solution B次元官网网址� could never be a permanent solution B次元官网网址� but as a short-term solution itB次元官网网址檒l work fine.B次元官网网址�

There have been moments when it appeared the Coyotes would be leaving Arizona after originally relocating from Winnipeg in 1996.

Daly, however, said when the league commits to a market, B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檙e committed.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he myriad of things that have gone wrong for this franchise over time contribute to why people want (it moved),B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣one of (the issues) were really within their control and none of them proved the market wasnB次元官网网址檛 capable of supporting the team.B次元官网网址�

As for playing in a 5,000-seat facility, NHL stars have mixed feelings.

B次元官网网址淐ertainly gonna be different,B次元官网网址� Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. B次元官网网址淣ot really too sure what to expect. Definitely hope it works out.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� Colorado centre Nathan MacKinnon added with a smile. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see, I guess.B次元官网网址�

Players with ties to the U.S. college game sound the most enthused about being back on campus.

B次元官网网址淔ired up,B次元官网网址� Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said.

B次元官网网址淐ollege barns are some of the best atmospheres in all of hockey,B次元官网网址� Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger said. B次元官网网址淗opefully they pack it out and have cheap drinks.B次元官网网址�

Columbus defenceman Zach Werenski, another NCAA alum, is looking forward to his teamB次元官网网址檚 only trip. He also wonders what it would be like to play in a rink smaller than most junior or college facilities 41 times a season.

B次元官网网址淟iving in Arizona probably doesnB次元官网网址檛 get old,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut going into that rink everyday might.B次元官网网址�

Max Domi, who was drafted by the Coyotes and played three seasons in Arizona, said if the organization can get the arena situation sorted, the desert will become a destination.

B次元官网网址淕ame over,B次元官网网址� said the Chicago forward. B次元官网网址淓veryoneB次元官网网址檚 going to be wanting to play for the Yotes.B次元官网网址�

Matthews, who was raised in nearby Scottsdale, wants to see the franchise thrive.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e the reason I started playing hockey,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檇 be here if that team wasnB次元官网网址檛 in Arizona B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 hopeful that it all works out.

B次元官网网址淎nd you never know when weB次元官网网址檒l get the next kid coming out of Arizona.B次元官网网址�