Delay Of Game: Judge’s Order May Mean We Won’t Know About Hamilton Coyotes For Another Month

At first it seemed like the fate of the  Phoenix Coyotes would be decided on Tuesday, as the case for control of the team landed in an Arizona courtroom.

Then it appeared it would wait until Wednesday, when a decision was apparently delayed for 24 hours.

But now we may not know whether Hamilton – or southern Ontario – will get a team until June 22nd after Judge Redfield T. Baum decided to send the NHL and majority owner Jerry Moyes to mediation to settle who actually controls the franchise.

If Moyes wins, it will mean he has the right to sell it to whoever he wants – including would-be owner and billionaire  Jim Balsillie.

The NHL is insisting it took over control of the bankrupt Coyotes and under its rules, it has the final say on where any club is located.

The judge wants a progress report by May 27th. He’s scheduled a hearing on a possible relocation for the end of next month. Until then, the Coyotes remain in limbo – and in Phoenix.

On Monday, the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball filed statements in support of the NHL, asking the court to respect the league’s ownership and location rules and warning any ruling to the contrary could set a “dangerous precedent.”

Court filings also included an email from Commissioner Gary Bettman confirming a preference for a team in Winnipeg rather than Hamilton and citing an aging Copps Coliseum as the reason.

A sworn affidavit from Bettman also alleges he’s been “completely responsible” for the Coyotes’ ownership interest since Jerry Moyes signed a proxy agreement in November.

But Moyes has made statements to the contrary, giving fodder to Balsillie as he aggressively seeks support north of the border by launching the Make It Seven website in an effort to increase Canada’s number of NHL clubs.

But insiders argue a ruling against the NHL is highly unlikely.

“The National Hockey League is a private industry,” says Fan 590’s Norm Rumack. “People in Canada are putting forth the argument that it’s Canada’s game and it is but the National Hockey League is a private entity … by precedent they do have a right to choose their partners and locations.”

Meanwhile, many folks in Hamilton remain cautiously optimistic, hopeful the arrival of an NHL team could spark an economic resurgence in Steeltown.

“I think Mr. Balsillie has demonstrated his passion for hockey,” said Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “We’re hopeful, but we’re also realistic that this is in the hands of the courts in Phoenix.”