I Didn't Want it to Come to This, Winnipeg.

Dear Winnipeg,

I really didn’t want it to come to this, but in light of the latest round of Coyotes-back-to-Winnipeg rumors, I’m afraid there are some things that must be said. Let me start this off by saying that I am a counselor by profession and you need to know that this obsession you still possess for your long lost team simply isn’t healthy. I can certainly sympathize with you, having almost lost and still may lose; that very same team you are still mourning the loss of. However, here’s the difference between you and I: If the NHL feels the need to again move this team, regardless of whether it goes to Hamilton, back to Winnipeg, Kansas City, Vegas or Timbuktu, I won’t start a “Bring Back the Coyotes” campaign. Nor will I spend the remainder of my days harassing the team’s new fans on the internet. I will move on, adopt a new team and hope that the Phoenix area is able to get another NHL team some time in the future. But in no way will I make it my whole life to get a team back. That doesn’t make me less passionate about the game or my team than you are, that makes me sensible. I understand how businesses are run and I realize that it sometimes isn’t about me. It’s about the business; the leases, arena sizes, corporate sponsorships, television markets, etc. It's now been well over 10 years. It's past time to move on.

There’s another issue I’d like to address with you as well. It’s the issue that has come up from some who think the players want to go back to Winnipeg because the fans are better there. No hockey fan is any better than another. This is a strange thing to me. Perhaps it is because I am fairly new to the world of sports fandom but I simply cannot grasp the fan on fan hatred. Really, no fan is better than any other. In fact, no person is any better than another. Have you listened to any of the player interviews lately? Shane Doan will tell you that the team has been playing hard to prove that they want to be in this city and they want to remain in this city. Besides, no one wants poor Alex Burrows to have to eat at anything less than a five-star restaurant when he’s playing in an opposing team’s city… right…? Or any other player for that matter. It would be far too brutal for them.. Heh… (that's sarcasm there people, in case you couldn't tell.)

So as a fellow hockey fan Dear Winnipeg, I sympathize with your plight. I know you worked hard to keep the team in the first place but it simply was not meant to be. That doesn’t make it any easier on you, I know that as well. Having said all this, I think it would be healthier for you if you’d move on now. Stop resurrecting the Jets with the latest rumors. Stop harassing the fans in Phoenix. Move on. Go watch the Moose; they need your support too. If life in Winnipeg is so horrible without NHL hockey, then my advice to you would be to move. You’ve got 6 other Canadian cities that have NHL teams you can support. And if you’re really up for a change, there are 24 in America and we’ve got plenty of room down here for you.
 
<3 - The Diva

O Captain, My Captain...

Coyotes Captain Shane (Papa) Doan will be featured in the NHL Network's "Captains Driven By Bridgestone" series this Thursday November 27th at 8pm. This is a 20-part original series on the NHL Network. You can also vote for Shane as the greatest NHL Captain and enter to win a trip to the 2009 NHL All*Star Game in Montreal! And hey, while you're at it; cast your vote for him to play in that All*Star Game here.

*Disclaimer* This was my shameless Shane Doan promotion, because I think he deserves it....

Keeping up with my boys version 2.0

HOLY JUMPIN': YANDLE, JOVO PLAYED WELL IN LOSS
Darren Pang

Nov 22, 2008, 1:58 AM EST

Wayne Gretzky and his Phoenix Coyotes played the first game of a four-game swing that takes them from Carolina to Columbus.He had to be happy with certain parts of the team's performance on Friday night, as the 5-2 loss didn't tell the whole story. The Hurricanes scored late to make it 4-2 and into an empty net to finish it off at 5-2.He wanted more scoring from his second tier, needing to take pressure off of Olli Jokinen and especially Shane Doan. Doan did score his 11th goal in another strong game, while Kevin Porter notched his fourth of the season. Derek Morris only played 7:54 before leaving with an undisclosed injury, Gretzky saying after the game he has been "banged up" and had a previous ankle injury, to go along with a finger injury.Gretzky found a solid pairing iin Keith Yandle and Ed Jovanovski, who had a strong game, especially down the stretch when they were needing to get on the board and tie the score.Yandle continues to make great strides. He is strong on the puck, making plays in both ends and has a presence about him. He grew up idolizing Ray Bourque, he picked up a few things along the way. All of them good. Like taking pucks off the boards, bringing it to a better angle and getting pucks to the net. He has great hockey sense.Jovanovski needs to just play the game, move his feet, get in on the play, get a good hit in early and then let the game come to him. He is too good of a player to be playing the way he has in most games this season. This was a game that he had legs, and that is everything in this day and age.As a whole, Gretzky's squad has to read situations better in the defensive zone, and be stronger on loose pucks. They were loose in front of their net on this night, and saw Eric Staal snap out of an eight-game goal-scoring drought, with three goals. He wanted pucks in the net more than the Coyotes were willing to defend.The Coyotes did create plenty of good chances and never gave up, in fact they should have had a power play with around five minutes to go, as Staal got his stick between the legs of Porter, clearly an infraction, and the score 3-2 in favor of the 'Canes. Enver Lisin was recalled from the AHL and is likely to be in the lineup in Philly on Saturday.The Coyotes can't score goals and could use a spark, even if it is short term. Mikael Tellqvist will be in goal against the Flyers as he played a great game last year there in a win.From there, it is on to NY for a rare Monday game for the Coyotes and the second game coached by Gretzky at MSG, as he got a win in his first game there last season.

Panger (article)

Game Day Recap: Blackhawks @ Coyotes

My Coyotes were the last team in the NHL to go into overtime this season. The effort from the Coyotes last night was much improved, as opposed to the rest of the games they've played as of late. I would've preferred a win, but I'll take that one point instead right now. The boys were down by two early, then managed to get their proverbial shit together and tied it up, sending us into OT and eventually a shoot out. Here's some of the Diva's reflections on the game & more:

Zybnek Michalek got his first goal of the season last night, getting the scoring started for the Coyotes with a wrister at 6:08 of the 2nd. The goal was assisted by my boy Keith Yandle Mikkel Boedker. Way to go guys, that was a sweet goal. And I'm fairly certain that I heard Z4dfense screaming in our section of the arena, from all the way over in my temporary seat upgrade at center ice.

Captain Coyote Shane Doan played in his 900th game last night. He even made a "Doan-ation" to the cause by scoring his 10th goal of the season at 5:57 of the 3rd.

• BULLET POINT RANT: To all you Doan haters out there who say our Captain is "over rated" or should be traded and that would solve all the team's problems, I say SHUT THE HELL UP! I tire of listening to it/reading your comments. Our Captain has simply reached a level of greatness in which no other player on the team has yet to reach. He is waiting for everyone else to catch up. When they do, they will blossom into the glorious Stanley Cup champions they were born to be! And guess who will lead them to that glorious victory... none other than SHANE DOAN! You'll see; the dump n chase, the mindless turnovers; this is all part of a grander plan devised by The Great One of whom you all criticize so harshly. It's ugly sometimes, oh yes. But when they win, you'll be the first to jump on the bandwagon and say "OH! The Great Coyotes! I knew they could do it!" But when I see you, I will push you off that bandwagon because those of us who have been here all along will not stand for your nonsense!

OlliCoyote got in a FIGHT!!! OOOOOOO!!!! Bad Colin Fraser, you made OlliCoyote MAD!!!! I have no idea what he was mad about... if anyone knows, please feel free to let me in on it. Another interesting thing to note is that immediately following Olli's fight (which occurred at 19:43 of the 3rd) Brian McGrattan received a 10 minute misconduct penalty (at 20:00 of the 3rd). I didn't see what for but after inquiring with the hockey friends, it seems that McGrattan was seen on the ice "chirping" at the Blackhawks on the bench. The ref allegedly told him to hit the road and he wouldn't go... Thus the penalty. But I digress.... here's Olli's fight:

While we're discussing fighting, another rare occurance happened last night. Martin (he's so hot right now) Hanzal got in a fight too! But why did we have guys like OlliCoyote and Hanzal handling the dirty work when McGrattan, Fridge & Carcillo were in the line-up last night? I'll tell you why... McGrattan and Carcillo tried to go with two particular blackhawks (who shall remain nameless) but the Hawks wanted to pick on someone they might have a chance of beating. That's right, I went there... Not that Olli and Marty aren't tuff. They are! But McGrattan's not really the kind of guy you wanna fuck with. If your going to fuck with a Coyote, don't choose McGrattan. Wait until McGrattan, Carcillo and Fridge are not on the ice. That would be your best bet. Just FYI........

And now let's talk about my boy Danny for a moment. "Still-no-goal-Danny" as I (affectionaltey) refer to him as for the moment. I've been sensing some strange vibes coming from him since the first time I saw him at training camp this summer. Something's just not right. He's playing like his girlfriend broke up with him or his beloved family pet died and he just can't get past it. At first I thought it was the short leash that he'd been put on or perhaps the heap of expectations that have been mounted upon him. But the leash is loose now and no one expects him to do anything but fight (which isn't good, BTW). So I don't think that's it, I think something big went down in Carcillo's life this summer; life changing even. And its affecting his playing ability. He'll get past it. It will just take time. Whatever it was... I'm a counselor when I'm not doing hockey things and I would be happy to volunteer my services to my boy to help him through his "slump". :D He IS still fighting; and I am definitely a fan of his fighting abilities. In fact, that's one of the things that drew me to him in the first place. That and his passion. But being the complete fan that I am, I watched closely after deciding to become a Carcillo fan and quickly discovered that my boy has more than just fists of fury, he has mad skills. I still want him to fight because that is how he plays the game but his inability to score a goal this far into the season is messing with his head. He needs a goal...

• BULLET POINT RANT: Why is it that when Danny takes a penalty at a"crucial" point in a game, the fans want his head on a platter? But when Jovo takes a stupid penalty at an EXTREMELY crucial time during OT last night, no one says a word ??? But you people certainly do stand and applaud Danny when he wins a fight... this irritates me.

So there you have it folks... today's good, bad & ugly of Phoenix Coyotes Hockey straight from the Diva. The Boys are now headed out of town for a 4 game road trip. They start on Friday and will be taking on the Hurricanes. Saturday they take on the Flyers. Next week, they will see the Rangers (ewwww) on Monday and Blue Jackets (again) on Wednesday before returning to Jobing.com Arena next Friday to take on Kurt Sauer's old team, The Avalanche. God (or whomever your Higher Power is) speed, boys!

Let's Go Coyotes!

****photo credits****

http://www.azcentral.com/

http://www.phoenixcoyotes.com/

The Diva's Coyotes @ Canucks Preview

Ok, so according to all of the research I have done; we are going into tonight's game having only won 1 of our last 13 match-ups against the Canucks. OUCH! That might even be worse than our record against Calgary??? Regardless... the boys played a great game Tuesday night and tonight needs to be the night we prove we can keep that momentum going.

The Diva's Game Day Pep Talk:

YOU GOT THIS BOYS!!! You're SO gonna own those Canuckleheads tonight! It's time to prove that you are no longer anyone's bitches!

Danny: That first goal of the season is comin' tonight baby, I FEEL IT!

Olli: We're really gonna need you to go in there and be the Olli we all know you can be. That is YOUR PUCK!! You OWN that puck! You let no one take that puck from you! You are Olli Coyote HOWWWWWWWWWWWL!!!!

Papa Doan: Feel free to go in there and smack around as many Canuckleheads as you please. DOAN THEM!!!

Murray: you lil shit, get out there and do your thing! PARTY ON GARTH!

Jovo: We need JovoCop tonight, K? Love you... no, really...

I feel sick... Alright... now.

LET'S GO COYOTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I am going to boycott... something... until they bring back Yandle...
BRING BACK YANDLE!!!

*photo courtesy of Q at davidaebischer.net

Diva Terminology: Part 1

I enjoy making up my own names for things. As a result, you may not always understand what I am saying. So I am dedicating a section of my blog to Diva Terminology. These terms are either my brain-children or the combined efforts of myself and my Hockey Friends.


DOANED!: To be hunted and smashed by Captain Coyote Shane Doan. This can be done in the form of fighting, checking, hitting etc. Normally due to your prior on-ice behavior and/or ill-treatment of our Coyotes rookies.

This phrase was born during the last Coyotes preseason home game a few weeks ago. It came to be as a result of LA Kings Big Bully Wayne Simmonds' behavior during two rookie exhibition games played prior to the start of the preseason. But what Simmonds didn't know; is that Papa Doan is always watching; and Papa Doan never forgets. Papa Doan also believes that revenge is a meal best served cold. So during the final preseason game, Doan smashed Simmonds with a clean-hit, laying him out on the ice and sending a clear and precise message:

DON'T FUCK WITH US!

[Cue "Bad Boys" song... :D]

*photo courtesy of OdinArtWerks