COYOTES' KIDS DAY A HOWLING SUCCESS; TEAM MAY DO IT AGAIN

          The Coyotes defeated the Sharks 3-2 yesterday in front
     of 16,000 schoolchildren at America West Arena in what was
     billed as a kids-only "Cool Coyotes Field Trip."  In
     Phoenix, Bob McManaman writes that "bus load after bus load
     of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders began arriving as early
     as" 9:30am PT for the 11:00am PT start, and the event "was
     every bit as energetic as a Coyotes home playoff game." 
     McManaman notes that this was the first trip to downtown
     Phoenix for many of the children and that the Coyotes "hope
     to make this an annual event" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/28). 
     Also in Phoenix, Patricia Biggs writes that the game "was
     cool.  It was exciting.  It was deafening."  Biggs adds that
     the field trip was "promoted as mixing hockey excitement
     with grade-school curriculum," as students were given
     worksheets and asked questions such as, "How do you spell
     the last name of [Coyotes D] Teppo Numminen" and, "The
     outdoor temperature is 98 degrees; the arena temperature is
     57.  What's the difference?" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/28).