 The Coyotes award a wrestling-inspired belt to the teammate they consider to be the team's top player after each win. (Phoenix Coyotes) |
The Phoenix Coyotes have their own championship title. Can the Stanley Cup be next on the list?
Several Coyotes players have come up with a new wrestling-inspired belt to award to the teammate they consider to be the team's top player after each win.
Coyotes goaltender Jason LaBarbera, a big wrestling fan, helped come up with the design along with defenceman Keith Yandle.
"It's just something different," Yandle told the Coyotes website. "Obviously the media does a great job with picking (the three stars). Sometimes it might not be a guy who scores a goal. Sometimes it's a big blocked shot or something that changed the game."
The player-of-the-game custom began with head coach Dave Tippett in 2009, awarding the best player following each win with the game puck.
"I think a lot of teams do something similar," said LaBarbera. "I've seen teams with shovels or hats or something. We have a belt and I think it's pretty cool."
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