Advertisement

Max Domi ready to propel Coyotes to next level

Max Domi isn’t concerned about the possibility of a sophomore slump.

The Arizona Coyotes forward finished sixth in Calder Trophy voting after scoring 18 goals and 34 assists in his rookie campaign. His 54 points were good for second in team scoring, behind only defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Domi is more concerned with helping the franchise end its four-year playoff drought.

“Realistically, sports there are huge,” Domi said of Arizona. “It's just like anywhere: if you win, you're going to get the outcome you want, if you don't win, then it's not going to be as much (support) as you want.

“For us, and the hockey side of things, we're out there in Glendale and we're all very happy out there. It's a great facility, great people in the organization. We've just got to find a way to put together some wins next year, and then go from there.”

Off the ice, despite the seemingly constant chatter of relocation and issues with the arena lease, Domi, who grew up in Toronto, is enjoying life in the desert.

“Honestly, it was so much fun and I wouldn't want to play anywhere else,” Domi told Yahoo Canada Sports. “The lifestyle there, the people, how good of people they are, all the good, healthy restaurants, it's so healthy. You can go hiking on your off-days.”

Domi’s off-season has been a busy one.

In addition to his usual training, the 21-year-old recently spent time with family friend Mark Wahlberg on the set of Transformers: The Last Knight.

This week, Domi, diagnosed with type-1 diabetes at the age of 12, teamed up with CONTOUR Next to launch a website helping raise awareness about the disease. Domi is working as the website’s “head coach” sharing his own story and answering questions and concerns others may have about the disease.

“The whole point of it is to spread awareness and just to show people what I do on a day-to-day basis whether it's a game day, practice or workout day,” Domi said. “There's a lot of ways you can interact with me: send me a question and you'll get a response in a couple days with what I would do in that situation. There's a bunch of cool videos on there and all that good stuff.”

Soon after being diagnosed, Domi had an opportunity to meet Philadelphia Flyers legend, and fellow type-1 diabetic, Bob Clarke. The encounter provided Domi with the motivation to give back and help raise awareness.

“Just him being there and saying 'hi' to me and my whole team was the coolest thing and I'll never forget that, ever,’ Domi recalled. “What that did, just to show me and my team, it was like 'Wow, this guy played in the NHL for a long time, and he was a type-1 diabetic, too. So I'm going to do that just like him'.

“I changed my number to 16 right then and there and the rest of the story is history.”

Arizona Coyotes' Max Domi celebrates his goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period during a an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 (Kyusung Gong/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Arizona Coyotes' Max Domi celebrates his goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period during a an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 (Kyusung Gong/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

The 5-foot-10, 198-pound forward was originally the 12th selection by the Coyotes at the 2013 NHL Draft and he's looking forward to playing along side the plethora of talent the organization has coming, including fellow Ontario Hockey League alumns Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak.

“The younger guys that we have coming in, these prospects are unbelievable, I think we have the best prospects in the league and there's just so many of them too,” Domi said. “They can all step in to the NHL and make a difference too. It's fairly exciting for all of us. I played against Dylan, I played with Christian and I've been to development camp with most of those guys.

“I got to meet a bunch of them when I was down there the last couple weeks. They're all unbelievable players and even better guys, which is what you like to see in any of your teammates.”

Domi is also excited to have his captain back for a 21st season. The former London Knights’ star admitted Shane Doan played a large role in easing the transition from major junior hockey to the NHL.

“He's helped me more than anyone in the sense you watch what he does anytime he's at the rink and there's a reason he's been in the NHL for 21 years for the exact same team,” Domi said. “The pride and loyalty he has to Arizona and that state, that team and organization is unbelievable. He's a special guy and great family and it's great to see him get rewarded and have the year he did last year.”

After finishing the 2015-16 season with a 35-39-8 record, fourth in the Pacific Division, and nine points back of the final wild card in the Western Conference, Domi and the Coyotes were forced to watch the playoffs on television.

For Domi, who spent the previous four seasons in the OHL, qualifying for the playoffs with the Knights, the experience of missing the postseason has him motivated for his second year in the NHL.

“I just watched every game and was like, 'I want to be in that game so bad'. You get that kind of itch, that feeling and that hunger, next year hopefully that translates into our game,” Domi said. “When you watch it, it's just so thrilling and so exciting. Everything is on the line so that's the best time of year and we want to be a part of that next year.”