The Arizona Coyotes served trays at the annual "Celebrity Waiters Gala," where they donned aprons instead of jerseys to serve up support for local charities. According to ABC15, the event, held at Gila River Resorts & Casino on Tuesday night, saw the likes of Clayton Keller and teammates engaging with fans and locals to raise much-needed funds.
The gala's proceeds were directly funneled into the Arizona Coyotes Foundation, aiming to assist nonprofit organizations in the area. Decked out in their finest, these players traded laying checks for dropping checks, all in the name of charity. "It's a special night, it really is," gushed Xavier Gutierrez, the Coyotes president, in a statement obtained by The Hockey News. “We get to celebrate really all the impact we make in the community and to raise money for all these incredible organizations that we want to be a platform for. Our players get to be involved, they are the true stars of this community. Their commitment towards making a difference in terms of using their powerful voice is always just so impressive.”
While the Coyotes are used to the chill of the rink, the gala provided a warm atmosphere where athletes and attendees could mingle. “As players you want to be involved as much as possible and the Arizona Coyotes Foundation makes it pretty easy for us to pick and choose and be at different ones,” added Gutierrez.
The camaraderie was palpable as the Coyotes players, always seen competing fiercely, were laughing and sharing a moment of respite from the competitive pressures of professional sports. They goofing around, and having a good time was a side seldom seen by the fans. Coyotes player J.J. Moser shared in an interview with The Hockey News,It’s a great opportunity to just spend time with each other away from the rink, off the ice and just having a fun time pretty much,”
