FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Jukka Nieminen

Wednesday, October 6, 2010Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that Coyotes players will wear the initials "JN" on the back of their home and away helmets this season to honor Jukka Nieminen.Nieminen, who passed away on June 11, 2010, served 17 seasons (1993 - 2010) as the massage therapist for the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes."Jukka was a very special person and an important member of our training staff," said Maloney. "We were all deeply saddened by his sudden passing this summer and we are proud to honor him by having our players wear his initials on their helmets this season."The Coyotes coaching staff will also wear the initials "JN" on the left arm of their training jackets to honor Nieminen.Coyotes players will wear the initials "JN" for the first time when they play their final preseason game Friday against Dinamo Riga in Riga, Latvia.