In the 28-year history of the Arizona Coyotes, there have been nine lives lost, close calls, well-laid plans undone, finger-pointing, and more.
But that 10th life seemed like too much of a challenge for a team that ended up playing outside of the university's facility after countless problems at the arena.
And now there is no NHL in Arizona. Some people can just go on with their lives without thinking too much about it. But there are others, like me, who are devastated to see the NHL leave.
There are complex reasons why the coyotes left. I agree, but it's heartbreaking for hockey fans.
Kids won't be able to grow up watching their favorite players on the ice. No more throwing pucks or sticks into the hands of waiting kids. Older fans can't rekindle their hometown memories even when their lifelong team comes to town.
It all turns into a road trip or flight to see your favorite team.
I didn't grow up in Arizona, but as someone who grew up in Southern California who loves hockey, I can relate to the fans. I've always been comfortable investing in sports that aren't the norm in your environment. It's not the easiest thing to do when there's no hockey on the restaurant TV or the sports store has very little merchandise. Arizona State will be even worse now that the team is gone.
I know there's some anger in certain parts of North America from fans who think the Coyotes are trying too hard to succeed. Some of those fans traveled in droves to Arizona to watch the game. And some of those same fans were willing to pay hundreds of dollars or more for the visiting team at Mallett Arena.
And while fans can applaud the over-the-top statement that hockey doesn't belong in Arizona, there's a lot to be lost.
Youth hockey programs and ice rinks will be hit hard, as the NHL provides $500,000 a year through the Industry Growth Fund. Many people, like Olympian and Chandler native Lindsey Frye, quickly stepped up to save these programs at the foundation, but there is still work to be done to replace what the NHL gave to the rink. A lot.
All the tourism comes from snowbirds from the northern states and Canada. Games against the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, or Calgary Flames are often derisively referred to as home games, but these fans have a huge presence in Arizona, and you'll never see their team again. I don't think you can.
At this point, it's still possible that there will be an expansion team within five years, but there's a long way to go to secure it. A lot can happen in those few years. And Arizona has a lot to lose.
The Coyotes were on the brink of rebuilding, and with Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther performing at a high level, an exciting future awaited them. It was casually cruel considering many said Arizona's future was bright with these players since they became Utah's future in such a short period of time.
Today's best players could be retired by then, or well past their prime within the next five years.
Arizona native Auston Matthews may not be able to fulfill the dream many Coyotes fans have of playing for his hometown team. It gets even worse when you learn that Matthews picked up a hockey stick because he went to Coyotes games as a kid. And now his hometown crowd can't watch him play.
Even if Arizona hockey fans saw their team leave, there was no way they could fully prepare for the devastation it would cause. Especially if everything falls apart within a week.
