Phoenix Coyotes: Done In The Desert? Sure Hope So......

The Phoenix Coyotes are currently up against two major challenges. On one hand, they are facing a 3-0 deficit to the Detroit Red Wings and on the other, trying to find a way to close a sale with Matthew Hulsizer that would signal the survival of the team in Glendale.

The players can't do much about the latter challenge but defenceman David Schlemko believes that the resolve among his teammates in not broken when it comes to staging a comeback against the Red Wings.

"I'm sure there's not a lot of hope outside of this room but we've battled through a lot of adversity this year so we're just taking it one game at a time," said Schlemko.

It has been 15 years since the Winnipeg Jets were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings, and in the process, said goodbye to the city they called home, moving to Phoenix to become the Coyotes.

Unlike that tearful goodbye when the Jets departure was already set in stone, the Coyotes future remains uncertain as they prepare for what could be their final game in Glendale.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan is not prepared to concede the Western Conference first-round series to the Red Wings and believes his team can still find a way back despite the fact they trail by three games.

"I'll always bet on us, we've responded as well as we always can," said Doan. "When you're in a situation where it seems like you have no hope, you have to count on that response. We've done it over and over again and no matter the situation, we've always found ways to do something when we've needed it and we need it now."

Fans, however, are having a harder time blocking out the uncertainty of the Coyotes future. Having lived this soap opera for 24 months, they're struggling with the notion that Wednesday night could mark the end of a bumpy era of NHL hockey in Arizona.

Heather Schroeder, president of the Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club, says the constant speculation and the fact that people believe the move is a foregone conclusion, are both wearing on the fan base.

"It is so stressful, depressing and infuriating," said Schroeder. "Listening to the radio, they were talking about the end of the season and when the Coyotes move. It's not when, it's if; it's all if."

Off the ice, it appears the city of Glendale will meet later this week with the Goldwater Institute, the group that has halted the team's sale with its threat of a lawsuit.

Glendale appears prepared to meet Goldwater's demand that the meeting be in a forum open to the media.

However, barring a quick resolution between those parties, the only way NHL hockey will be played in Phoenix after Wednesday night is if the Coyotes can extend this series to six games.

With files from TSN's David Naylor.

Category:

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Tags:

• winnipeg
• jets
• phoenix
• coyotes
• nhl
• gary
• bettman
• manitoba
• moose
• mark
• chipman
• teemu
• selanne
• mts
• centre

[joshr838]

I'm from Arizona and I think they suck. Haha. I do like the logo though.

[baseballkidmw2]

@Sithlord703 they might play in a stadium in queens for a while so they could build it

[WindsorSpitfiresRock]

@theicnerd1 yeah, can't win with Bettmen... I hope Quebec gets an NHL team back... they have a beautiful arena and could get a good crowd!

[jasonscfr]

Ah, can't wait till this joke of hockey in Phoenix is over. Oh, it's "when" not "if" got that! Saskatoon can sell out that stadium ten times more than Phoenix could. This is some sort of joke right. Can someone please tell me that Gary Bettman is one day going to say "hee hee! tricked you!" or something like that. I mean this is a joke right? It's funny but not "haha" funny.

[theicnerd1]

gary bettmen wants ONLY 8 teams in canada, now canada got the jets, probably one more team comes north, I hope more com though, and im expecting it to go to quebec city , who got robbed of a cup in 1995.. probably going to be phoenix.

[Sithlord703]

Phoenix Sucks, I despise that team, I think their logo sucks, I think their Players suck, and I think they suck in total, get rid of them, as for NYI, the NHL should relocate the Islanders, wait till Uniondale gets a New Arena, then as an Expansion bring the NYI Back to Uniondale or somewhere in the New York metro, because the only reason they have poor attendance is because of how old it is.

[fishingguru76]

@evanrox1 can't always trust wikipedia

[yoda482]

Winnipeg now has a hockey team, the Atlanta thrashers. 

[mazdaman1982]

well get ready i herd from City Counsel that they are planing to close Portege and Main in winnipeg for the Announcement :) the NHL is come home and the second they do the very first i hear them giving the team the name i am Buy a Jersey asap

[evanrox1]

I saw on Wikipedia that hockey might return to Winnipeg for an NHL Expansion. Gary Bettman planned on doing that.

Coming from a Stars Fan.