NAZ Today » NHL

Phoenix Coyotes Sold to NHL

NAZ Today — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:55:17 +0000

File photo of Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes arriving at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in May 2009. (Photo: Associated Press)

PHOENIX (NAZ Today) – A federal bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to the NHL today. Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes took the team into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and tried to unsuccessfully sell the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie. The NHL would not allow the sale from Moyes to Balsillie as they felt it was circumventing the rules.

If the sale had been successful, it would have moved the team from Glendale to Hamilton, Ontario. The judge threw out Balsillie’s bid on grounds he could not overrule the NHL board of governors vote of 26-0. Moyes decided to take the NHL’s bid. As a result, the league will reduce the amount Moyes owes them.

The creditors will be paid from the acquisition, but team owners Moyes and Wayne Gretzky will not be paid.

Though there have been a few offers from Ice Edge and the owners of the Toronto Argonauts, but the league plans to resell the team, specifically to a buyer who will keep the Coyotes in Glendale.

Balsillie would keep Coyotes in Glendale this year

Veronica Padilla — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:53:53 +0000

FILE- In this Sept. 2, 2009, file photo, Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie arrives at Federal Court in Phoenix for the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy hearing. Balsillie has pledged to keep the Coyotes in Glendale this season if he wins an auction for the financially troubled club. His attorneys say the club would play in Glendale this season, which opens Oct. 3, but Balsillie still intends to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, as part of his $242.5 million bid. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

PHOENIX (AP) — Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie has pledged to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale this season if he wins an auction for the financially troubled club.

His attorneys say the club would play in Glendale this season, which opens Oct. 3, but Balsillie still intends to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, as part of his $242.5 million bid.

The revised offer came during an emergency hearing Wednesday before bankruptcy Judge Redfield T. Baum, who called Balsillie’s proposal “a fairly significant change.”

The judge called the hearing on owner Jerry Moyes’ request to force the NHL into mediation over contentious issues surrounding the club’s sale. Baum was expected to rule on the mediation issue later in the day.

Coyotes’ owner pleads with Glendale to take deal

Veronica Padilla — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:25:19 +0000

Jerry Moyes, majority owner of the Phoenix Coyotes hockey club arrives Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 at Federal Court in Phoenix for the Coyotes bankruptcy hearing. (AP Photo/Matt York)

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Phoenix Coyotes’ owner Jerry Moyes pleaded with Glendale council members Tuesday night to take a deal and let the bankrupt NHL team leave town.

The Glendale resident and trucking magnate used two 1/2 minutes allotted him to plead with Mayor Elaine Scruggs and council members to take a $25 million offer from billionaire Jim Balsillie.

The Canadian businessman wants to pack up the team and move it out of Glendale.

Council members were unable to respond to Moyes because his comments were not on the agenda.

City spokesman Gary Husk reiterated confidence that a local owner will be found and will keep the team in Glendale.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

Halpern’s two goals lead Lightning past Coyotes

Veronica Padilla — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:11:17 +0000

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Mike Smith, left, deflects the puck as David Hale (21) looks on and Phoenix Coyotes' Scottie Upshall moves in in the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in Everett, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Jeff Halpern had two goals for Tampa Bay and James Wright added two assists as the Lightning defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 on Tuesday night.

After a scoreless first period, the Lightning were able to strike twice in just under 3 minutes in the second. Eight seconds after Adrian Aucoin picked up a roughing penalty for Phoenix, Jeff Halpern was able to bang in a rebound past Ilya Bryzgalov for the power-play goal.

Halpern scored again just minutes later. Halpern and James Wright broke into the Phoenix zone, Halpern crossed the puck to Wright, who gave it back to Halpern and he beat Bryzgalov to the near post to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead.

Petr Prucha got the Coyotes on the board at 10:35 of the second period.