Utah's first game reminds us of what could have been in Arizona

SALT LAKE CITY — Watching the Utah Hockey Club's home opener unfold was like living in a dual reality. These realities could not have been more different.

At the northern end of this reality, politicians from both sides of the ballot gathered to celebrate the arrival of their new team. Business leaders, community representatives and fans were in attendance as owners Ryan and Ashley Smith joined NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on stage for a celebratory press conference on the plaza in front of the Delta Center.

Six hundred and fifty miles to the south, Coyotes fans watched the celebrations with a mixture of sadness and anger. Anger at the array of ownership groups responsible for Arizona's demise. Anger at the politicians who refused to support and fight for the right to vote. Sadness at the thought of this up-and-coming team and these beloved personalities finding success in another city.

As soon as the press conference ended at the Delta Center, ESPN went live from the Plaza with a GameDay-style set for the NHL's tripleheader games with host Steve Levy and analysts Mark Messier and PK Subban.

It was a party.

There was live music. There were free games. There were UHC items. There were food trucks and a beer garden. There was a flyover of jets and there were large screens on the field for those who couldn't secure tickets to the team's first NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“If you don’t feel like supporting this team,” Ryan Smith said, “I don’t know if sports are for you.”

In Arizona the atmosphere was more like a funeral.

On one hand, it was refreshing to see how hard the team was rooting for Salt Lake City. It was encouraging to hear how supportive the Smith ownership group was of the team – a point underscored by GM Bill Armstrong, coach Andre Tourigny, the coaching staff, the support staff and players like Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther , Logan Cooley and Sean Durzi.

As one hockey ops employee put it, “We keep asking for things and so far they haven't said 'no.'

On the other hand, it reminded you of what could have been in Arizona if an owner of the same type had shown up in the last 25 years. They wondered what would have happened if Richard Burke hadn't sold the team. They wondered what would have happened if Steve Ellman had stayed in Scottsdale instead of moving to Glendale to build his prized mall.

You wondered what would have been if IceArizona had cared about its product as much as its bottom line. They wondered what would have happened if Andy Barroway had had anywhere near as much money as the league told us. You wondered what would have happened if Alex Meruelo hadn't burned every bridge in the city using bullying tactics and then ruined the Tempe campaign when he was so close to the perfect arena setting.

The scene at the Delta Center transported me to 1996, when the Coyotes first arrived from Winnipeg. The energy I felt on Tuesday was just like the energy I felt at America West Arena.

The Utahns didn't care about the arena's inadequacies or a still-developing team. They didn't care that the team didn't have a name or that their jerseys didn't have a logo. They just wanted to watch their new team. They just wanted to watch NHL hockey.

It reminded you of what sport can be when freed from the clutches of greed, incompetence and ego, but also the burden of the past.

When I looked at the Delta Center's obstructed view seats, it reminded me of the man who sat in the front row of the AWA's flawed north end at the Coyotes' first home game – back when they didn't have nets around the rink to protect fans. I remember his baseball glove and his statement, “I'm going to catch a puck.” I remember thinking he had no idea of ​​the mortal danger he had put himself in.

I didn't want to ruin his parade that day, and I didn't want to ruin Utah's parade on Tuesday either. I wanted them to enjoy the game. I wanted them to enjoy their first win. I wanted them to enjoy the arrival of their new team, but as I watched, I couldn't stop thinking about the thousands of Coyotes fans back home who were still grieving and for whom this game undoubtedly caused even more pain.

In fact, it was difficult to witness this game in person. I wanted this trip to be therapeutic. I wanted to overcome the pain of losing a team that I had invested so much equity in and built so many relationships with. I wanted the joy of a new fan base and the long-deserved happiness of the people on this team to be enough for me – and for all of us.

But life is not that easy. No healing either.

Until Coyotes fans get what they deserve after nearly 30 years of dedication and suffering, this story simply won't feel complete.

Until I can write them a happy ending, this story will never be right.

Top photo of players featured in Utah home opener via Getty Images

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