College Times - November 2022

Josh Doan looks to shine for ASU and Coyotes

contents student life

Steve T. Strickbine

Michael Hiatt

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Caleb Jones Annika Tomlin

Shannon Mead

Aaron Kolodny

Nadine Whitehead

Courtney Oldham

STUDENT LIFE

COOL FAMILY AFFAIR

JOSH DOAN LOOKS TO SHINE FOR ASU AND COYOTES

CALEB JONES • COLLEGE TIMES

The name Doan is synonymous with hockey excellence in the Valley.

Shane Doan retired after an all-star career with the Arizona Coyotes, for whom he now works in the front office. His son, Josh, looks to continue that legacy by captaining the Sun Devils hockey team before moving on to the Yotes, who drafted him 37th overall in 2021.

Shane is Josh’s biggest inspiration.

“He’s been a huge figure for me on and off the ice,” Josh says. “Most importantly, he keeps me grounded and in the loop of what I need to do to maintain focus on the ice and off the ice. Any time I have a question I go to him and he’s ready to answer.”

Josh and Shane dropped the ceremonial first puck during the Coyotes’ home opener at Mullett Arena on October 28. With the impact of his father’s legacy felt in the Coyotes organization, Josh will look to carve his own story.

Hockey presents a unique opportunity for athletes, as it is one of the only sports where they can be drafted and still play for a

college team. For Josh, it is exciting to be affiliated with his father’s team.

“That part is really cool. There are not a lot of people who get the opportunity — especially to be drafted by the team that your dad played for,” he says.

While Josh is looking forward to playing for the Coyotes, he’s not overlooking his current experience as a Sun Devil.

“You can’t look into the future because you’re going to miss the time you are having right now,” he says. “If I were to look past this, then I would miss all the memories of being in a Division I sport and playing at Arizona State University, which people would die to do. It’s probably the best time I’ve had so far in my life. It is something that, a couple years down the road, I’ll cherish.”

It’s a new day for Josh and the Sun Devils, as they recently moved into Mullett Arena. Ironically, the Sun Devils share the state-of-theart 5,000-seat venue with the Coyotes, who agreed to play there until 2025, with an option to stay until 2026.

In his short time there, Josh has made history by scoring the first goal in the arena on October 14 in a

2-0 win against Colgate.

“It was cool,” Josh says. “There were a lot of guys who played in

this organization for years before me who never got an opportunity to do so. So, just to be put in the position where I got the chance to do that was obviously special. It’s definitely exciting, but there are a lot of guys who came before who could have deserved that goal as well.”

The Sun Devils may be off to a slow start to the season — 4-4-0 as of October 28 — but Josh says the Sun Devils can turn it around. The season runs through mid-March.

“This team is a team that’s going to mesh,” he says. “We are a younger team that has a lot of guys from all over the world coming together.”

Nevertheless, the buildup to the Coyotes has been great.

“It’s been awesome,” he says. “Making it to the NHL has been my dream.” CT

Sun Devils Hockey

The next game is 7 p.m. Friday, November 11, at Mullett Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe thesundevils.com

PHOTOS • ASU ATHLETICS

Josh Doan has made history by scoring the first goal at Mullett Arena.

PARTY IN THE FRONT AND BACK

Mullett Arena holds only 5,000 seats, as opposed to Desert Diamond Arena, formerly Gila River Arena, which seats 18,300. This makes it the smallest facility in the NHL.

CALEB JONES COLLEGE TIMES

Arizona Coyotes’ player Christian Fischer told ESPN+ that ASU’s new Mullett Arena has as much — if not more — energy than any other NHL venue.

According to Mullett Arena general manager Joe Sheridan, that was the goal in hosting college hockey and, for at least two years, the NHL.

“I think both will feel a little different,” Sheridan says.

“ASU, being a college program and being new to a big arena like this is very exciting for them, the students and fans. For the Coyotes, this will also be new for them, and they will use their resources to make it a great experience for their fans. It will be similar, though, in the sense that the same bells and whistles will be used by both teams.”

“We only have one seating bowl, whereas other arenas have multiple levels,” Sheridan says.

“The best part is that there is not a bad seat in the house. Everyone is close to the action.”

The Coyotes and Sun Devils games feature a student section and all the amenities fans can expect in other venues.

“It really has all the amenities that other major arenas have, just on a smaller scale,” Sheridan says.

Concessions include Big Chicken, Venezia’s Pizza, and Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers. Club seat holders can enjoy the Coors Light Club Chill on the second level, which boasts a full-service bar and buffet station.

The arena features 20 standard size suites and two group party suites on the third level, which houses the Dos Equis Double Deck.

“It can be used for private events and private groups with its own

catering functions, and it is a standing-room-only hospitality area,” he says.

Mullett Arena is slated to host concerts and shows as well, making it a multipurpose facility, Sheridan says.

“We encourage people to come

early (to games) so they can experience a band, or a DJ, food and beverage offerings, and the games,” Sheridan says.

“I think fans can expect to have one of the greatest event experiences at Mullett Arena.” CT

MULLETT ARENA IS ONE OF THE ‘GREATEST EVENT EXPERIENCES’

PHOTOS • ASU

Mullett Arena is the smallest facility in the NHL and holds only 5,000 seats, as opposed to Desert Diamond Arena, formerly Gila River Arena, which seats 18,300.

A HOUSEWARMING PARTY

ASU AT MESA CITY CENTER FETES

GRAND OPENING

COLLEGE TIMES STAFF

ASUat Mesa City Center in Downtown Mesa celebrated its grand opening with a two-day event bringing together community members; Mesa city leaders; and ASU faculty, students and staff.

ASU at Mesa City Center is a joint project between the city of Mesa and ASU, which includes two buildings, the MIX Center and The Studios, and outdoor plaza space.

The new Media and Immersive eXperience Center (MIX Center) officially opened its doors to students in the fall.

The October 28 event included presentations from ASU President Michael Crow; Mesa Mayor John Giles and Vice Mayor Jenn Duff; Cheryl Boone Isaacs, founding director of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; and Regent Lyndel Manson.

The following day was dedicated to family, with performances, demonstrations, food and an evening screening of Disney’s “Coco” on the outdoor 100-foot movie screen.

“Arizona State University is committed to collaborations that support student success while also meeting the needs of the broader communities we serve,” Crow says. “We are proud to see ASU at Mesa City Center come to life as a vanguard facility for learning and creativity, and we appreciate the city of Mesa’s vision and confidence in advancing opportunities for generations to come.”

The weekend’s events were a celebratory culmination after many years of joint work between the city and ASU. The city invested $63.5 million toward the project and managed the design and construction of the building while ASU contributed $33.5 million, which included interior work and high-end equipment. ASU will pay all operation and maintenance costs for the MIX Center; costs will be shared with the city of Mesa for The

Studios.

“This world-class facility is a significant puzzle piece in the evolution of our city’s central core, and further solidifies Mesa’s Downtown Innovation District as a destination for education, entrepreneurship and community collaboration,” Giles says.

“The strong partnership between ASU and the city of Mesa is attracting new businesses and bringing educational programs that

will prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.”

MIX CENTER

The MIX Center hosts hundreds of students who will be making films, designing virtual worlds and creating immersive media experiences. It is capable of producing anything from blockbuster superhero movies to VR video games — and teaching students the skills they need to

PHOTOS • ASU Dr. Michael Crow, ASU president, speaks at the grand opening. Behind him are Mesa Mayor John Giles and Arizona Board of Regents Chair Lyndel Manson.

succeed in a digital economy.

“It’s an exciting time at The Poitier School, and our new home in Mesa is a huge part of that excitement. We pride ourselves on fostering spaces that help empower our students, so they feel confident enough to tell their stories,” Isaacs says.

“At the MIX, whether that story is in film, AR/VR/XR, shortform video or any other type of experiential media, our students will find the state-of-the-art tools they need. And their stories will enrich the cultural life of the university, the state, the region and beyond.”

The MIX Center houses The Sidney Poitier New American Film School’s production and post-production programs, plus classes in digital media technology,

worldbuilding, experience design and gaming from The Design School and the School of Arts, Media and Engineering (both, like the Poitier Film School, part of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts), as well as from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the College of Global Futures.

“The MIX Center and the larger ASU at Mesa City Center complex are just at the beginning of their long-term benefits to our students and the Downtown Mesa community. We are thrilled to have this chance to celebrate how far we have already come — a celebration of the good that a university and a city can do together,” said Jake Pinholster, associate dean for enterprise design and operations in

the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

THE STUDIOS AT MESA CITY CENTER

The Studios at Mesa City Center is a repurposed midcentury building that houses programming and support services for local community entrepreneurs, facilitated by the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute. The Studios will help develop entrepreneurs, innovators and small businesses at every stage.

“We are excited that we have the opportunity to connect with more of Mesa’s local entrepreneurs and

the family and friends that support them. This celebration will provide an opportunity to highlight local entrepreneurs and showcase the ways in which the community can engage with the resources offered,” says Nyasha Stone Sheppard, community manager for The Studios.

The Studios is housed on the ground floor of a building that was originally the Mesa Public Library and has since been renovated by Mesa in support of ASU’s entrepreneurship programs. The Studios and many of the spaces in the MIX Center are fully open to the community, including the fabrication studio. CT

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PHOTOS • ASU

ASU at Mesa City Center is a joint project between the city of Mesa and ASU, which includes two buildings, the MIX Center and The Studios, and outdoor plaza space.

PHOTOS • ASU

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, founding director of the Sidney Poitier New American Film School, speaks at the grand opening of ASU at Mesa City Center in Downtown Mesa.