Phoenix Coyote finds enjoyment in Valley golf

By Elizabeth Porreca,
Contributing Writer

With thirteen years in the National Hockey League, you would think of Phoenix Coyotes' starting center Mike Stapleton has hard-checking, rough and tough guy whose first love is cruising the ice.

Hand him some irons and you will probably see him racing for the fairways in The Valley.

He's been playing golf since the age of 14. The starting center for the Phoenix Coyotes is definitely a green-goer. It all started back home on the farm in Sarnia, Ontario when former NHL defenseman Pat Stapleton handed his son a club and set him loose in the front yard. As the 32 year-old recalls, "He said, 'if you can hit a nine iron, you should be able to hit any other club in your bag and that's how I learned, by hitting a nine iron around the front yard.'"

He's been playing ever since and although he hasn't practiced much since the arrival of his son, he still tries to get out once or twice a week. You will most likely find him and fellow Coyotes Dallas Drake, Jeremy Roenick and Rick Tocchet on the course at Scottsdale's Kierland Golf Club.

"I play Kierland a lot, it's a nice little track," says Stapleton. He has also played and enjoyed the courses at Desert Mountain, also located in Scottsdale. Although he has a few desert favorites, Stapleton has had many opportunities to play courses while on road trips. Perhaps the out-of-state experience that sticks with him most vividly occurred while playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

"During the year they'd take us out to Pebble Beach for three days and we'd play two rounds of golf and former President Ford would actually come and play with us," he added. "Listening to the former president speak was certainly impressive even though I am not an American citizen."

You would think golf would be a bit difficult for a full-time hockey player to master. Not so. This guy's good. Stapleton notes that there are quite a few comparisons between hockey and golf. For example, "the swing, we transfer our weight the same way like when we're taking a shot. I shouldn't speak for pro golfers but I think it's similar just from my experience with casual golf," he explained.

Although this iceman wouldn't give up his pads for plaids permanently, he said he enjoys the way in which golf allows him to meet new and different people. In fact, this Coyote often ventures to a course alone intending to find a game and make a few new acquaintances. Who knows? Maybe he's hoping to run into a much-admired Fred Couples. Stapleton admitted, "he's a real graceful player."

When asked which pro golfers Stapleton would most like to see out on the ice in a face-off, he answered automatically, "Ernie Els. Because he's 6"4 and would make a pretty good left winger. I'd also like to see what kind of player Craig Stadler would be. He's a big hockey fan."

As for now, Stapleton will continue making a living and scoring goals for the Coyotes. No need to worry Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Tiger Woods. Golf is not yet ready to become a contact sport by Mike Stapleton's means, this guys on the ice for good.