NHL Playoffs 2011: Phoenix Coyotes Are Done

At the end of last night's elimination game, CBC cameras panned the faces in the Phoenix Coyotes crowd while the game caller commented on the irony of Detroit perhaps ending the last Coyote game ever in Phoenix as they had the last Jet game in Winnipeg, 15 years earlier.

It is perhaps fitting that the maybe the last Phoenix Coyotes game was played on "Spy Wednesday," the start of Judas Iscariot's betrayal.

Because when you looked in many of the faces, the word "betrayal" was apt, along with the words "confusion," "shame" and "sadness"

Certainly for the fans who had become genuine hockey followers and had supported this team for its 15 years with season tickets and paraphenalia, their hopes and dreams may have died, just as they had died for their predecessor fans in Winnipeg, 15 years ago. 

For them, there was betrayal.

Beyond the walls of the arena, were children and adults—who knows how many—who had started and enrolled in hockey programs that had sprung up during the Coyotes 15 year tenure.

Perhaps many have been growing up becoming fans of this team, hoping to play for it when they become adults. 

Now their dreams may be dead. They too have been betrayed.

Of course in the crowd were the fly-by-nights, those who purchased their first hockey tickets because it was the playoffs, traitors wearing Detroit uniforms and even those with Winnipeg Jet logos, but there was little sense of gloating.

On the ice, the players remained and saluted the fans who stayed. For them, there was betrayal, confusion, shame and sadness too.

Many of them felt that they had betrayed their fans, going out in four games against Detroit, instead of moving on or at least putting up a seven game fight as they had a year ago.

Many also showed the strain of betrayal of not knowing what the future will bring, where they will live and play in the future, of not having a proper owner for over a year, the added pressure of having to win at least one round in the playoffs to try and ensure the survival of the franchise.

Under such circumstances, their own abilities and concentration must have be strained and sapped with confusion and betrayal.

During an on-ice interview with the CBC, Shane Doan refused to comment on the off-ice distractions, but everything showed in his face and tone of voice.

The story has other betrayals.

There are the taxpayers of Phoenix, those who paid to put up an expensive hockey arena in an area few felt inclined to travel to. 

Now their tax dollars may be written off in a general waste.

There are the people in Hamilton, Ontario who got their hopes up so high during the Jim Balsillie episode, who had built an NHL size arena and were willing to put tax dollars into upgrading it further.

All they are left with are memories of how the NHL, Toronto and Buffalo fought to the death to keep them out of the league.  

How their arena which has been sold out many times for Canada Cup and other international games and is bigger and newer than those in Edmonton and Long Island, and is at least the equivalent in size of other arenas in many NHL markets including Phoenix, has been labeled old and unsuitable.

After 20 years, they are still waiting for a team.

There are the few NHL owners, who behind closed doors opposed Gary Bettman's policy of spending their money to keep a dying franchise afloat, when Balsillie's generous offer was turned down and seeing their money spent in vain.

They are stuck with losses and legal bills.

There maybe more betrayals.

Unless there is a secret prior deal, there is no guarantee that the Coyotes will return to Winnipeg. If the NHL throws open the bidding to any owner who will cover their losses, any city can make a claim on the team.

How does Las Vegas Gamblers or a revived Houston Aeros sound?

If the Coyotes go elsewhere than Winnipeg or Quebec, there will be more betrayed, angry Canadian fans besides those in Hamilton.

So much for Gary Bettman vowing to rectify "something that should never have happened."

On this sad night, there was little sentiment of rejoicing and gloating.

Just sadness, shame, confusion and betrayal, as it was 2,000 years ago.