Howlin' Hockey
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Hockey the Hard Way? Nah, There is Reason for Hope!

By Chris Donovan

Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Arizona Coyotes is one of the center pieces in the franchise rebuilding. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Arizona Coyotes is one of the center pieces in the franchise rebuilding. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Goodbye Gila River Arena. The Coyotes will relocate to Tempe for the 22/23 season. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Goodbye Gila River Arena. The Coyotes will relocate to Tempe for the 22/23 season. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

3. Goodbye to Glendale, Arizona

For too many seasons the team has had to face the impending offseason drama with the city of Glendale. What started off as a marriage that would keep the team in the desert forever, quickly turned into a nasty divorce that finally ended this year.

The Coyotes broke free from their controlling partner, and found their new home, entering a relationship with Arizona State University and cohabitating with the Sun Devils until their new stadium build gets sorted out.

They say that the first relationship you have after a divorce tells you what you were missing in your previous relationship. Moving to Tempe brings the team closer to younger fans and the die-hards that reside in the East Valley. Majority of hockey fans in Arizona live in Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Paradise Valley. All the Coyotes were looking for was some attention, now they will get it.

That is not saying that the West Valley does not have hockey fans. There are a lot of great fans who reside on that side of town, just not enough of them.

The ugly conversation of money and revenue between the team and the city of Glendale ultimately led to both sides deciding to part ways for good.

However short lived this situation with the Sun Devils is, the team will be much better off in the long-term. This move does have the feel of moving from a house and into an apartment, but at least the chaos with Glendale is over. The team can now move forward, without the distractions and focus on hockey. The games will be much more intimate as the ASU multipurpose venue holds 5000 seats.

This is the cost of your freedom, Coyotes.

If you do not think that the drama was an issue for the team, ask Shane Doan about his experience being the captain of the Coyotes. Sure, there are some really awesome memories at Gila River Arena/Jobing.com, but it’s time to move forward.

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