There had been room for one more date on the Arizona Coyotes preseason schedule, until Wednesday's announcement that the Coyotes will play the Dallas Stars on Oct. 3 in El Paso, Texas.
The game is a reward for the west Texas city, the winner of the Kraft Hockeyville grand prize in 2020 after totaling the most online votes for the most spirited hockey community in the U.S.
Other finalists for a civic celebration and six figures in facility upgrades included East Grand Forks, Minnesota, Wichita, Kansas and River Falls, Wisconsin.
Due to the pandemic, the planned preseason game at El Paso County Coliseum Events Center last year did not take place, and was moved to this year.