After taking control of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes franchise after the team filed for bankruptcy back in May, the league has sold the team to Ice Edge Holdings, an investment group who has announced that it has no plans to relocate the team to Canada and keep the team in the Valley of the Sun. The group is perfect for the NHL, who wants to expand and grow the game cities who couldn’t care less about it in southern United States cities.

This came has a huge surprise to fans in the Phoenix area, mostly because they were unaware that an NHL franchise even existed in Phoenix.

“The Coyotes?” questioned Mark Stacey of Glendale, AZ, “What sport do they play? Never heard of them. I’m going golfing.”

The group is hoping that it can push the team’s season ticket sales past ten people, starting in the 2010-11 season.

“Oh wow its a hockey team? I thought when they said the Coyotes are leaving, that the city had figured out away to make the animals leave so I wouldn’t have to worry about them killing my dogs or cats anymore” said Kelly Phillips of Peoria, AZ.

The players on the Coyotes were most excited by the announcement. “You mean I don’t have to go up to Canada and live and travel in that fucking freezing weather and snow? Sweet! I love Phoenix its always Sunny!” said Left Winger Taylor Pyatt.

Fans in Hamilton, Ontario however were severely disappointed upon learning that no franchise would be coming to the great white north. “All I do is hockey,” said a tearful Ryan Teklak. “I eat it, I drink it, I sleep it. I just wish I had a home team to support.”

Phoenix currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference.