Phoenix Native Matthew Knies Addresses Coyotes Leaving Arizona
It was revealed yesterday that the Arizona Coyotes will be relocating to Salt Lake City Utah. Today, Toronto Maple Leafs rookie and Phoenix, Arizona native Matthew Knies made a statement about the team being moved.
The Coyotes have dominated the NHL newscycle over the past 24 hours with news that their relocation could be imminent. As such, players around the league have chipped in with their thoughts on the situation. However, this move means more to some players, including Leafs rookie Matthew Knies, who grew up in the Phoenix area and was a Coyotes fan. Today he shared some of his thoughts on the move.
"Not really too happy about the situation, but it is what it is. I hope they can stay there, but it's out of my control."
His comments go much further than that as well. He talked about how he grew up rooting for the team and attending their home games, crediting them for why he got into hockey himself. Players like Knies and fellow Leaf Auston Matthews are proof that bringing the game to places like Arizona can improve the quality of the league overall as new talent is found in unlikely places.
"Its pretty unfortunate. The Coyotes did a lot for me growing up, and I loved going to their games. It was a big reason why I got into hockey. But that kind of situation is out of my control. I'm hopeful that they can stay there, because it meant a lot to me, but I guess we're just going to have to see what happens."
The Coyotes may not have worked out the way the NHL hoped they would, but at the very least we got to see Auston Matthews play because of them. Like Knies, he likely would never have played hockey had the team not existed. For that, hockey fans should be eternally grateful.
Never forget that without the Arizona Coyotes, Auston Matthews probably isn't even a hockey player right now
Source: HockeyFeed
Leafs rookie Matthew Knies gives a heartbreaking statement on Coyotes' situation
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