By Hailey Salvian, Shayna Goldman and Sean Gentille
We waited greater than a yr for correct PWHL nicknames and logos. Now that we’ve them, courtesy of Monday’s official unveiling, we’re not going to waste any extra time.
Which of the six new combos — the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Cost and Toronto Sceptres — is our No. 1? How do the remainder measure up?
GO DEEPER
PWHL unveils group names and logos: ‘We simply couldn’t be extra thrilled’
The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian, Shayna Goldman and Sean Gentille teamed up for the definitive rating.
1. Montréal Victoire
Hailey rank: 1
Sean rank: 3
Shayna rank: 1
Shayna: Every part about Montreal’s look and branding simply clicks. Victoire simply feels contemporary relative to different names related to Montreal hockey up to now (and current, actually). It’s one thing that works for each French and English audio system, too. The maroon of the colour scheme feels grand sufficient to match the vitality that the identify brings, and utilizing cream over white provides a basic contact. The navy completes the look and accents the brand. I’ve nitpicks right here or there with the remainder of the groups, so the mixture of the identify and emblem makes this a simple No. 1 for me.
Hailey: I used to be stunned at how a lot I appreciated Montreal, contemplating I needed the league to return to Les Canadiennes from the CWHL days. Regardless, Montreal has the perfect mixture of identify and emblem, which is why it will get the sting over New York and Toronto for me. There’s extra element to understand within the Montreal emblem particularly, with the fleur-de-lis and the hidden M towards the underside. “Victoire” can also be only a cool identify to have for a group with probably the most clutch participant within the historical past of the ladies’s sport.
Sean: I virtually really feel unhealthy having them at No. 3. Shayna and Hailey are appropriate about every part. I actually admire the freshness of the bundle — if this one isn’t groundbreaking, it’s fairly shut. Additionally, the brand appears to be like like a diamond! No one else mentioned that!
2. Toronto Sceptres
Hailey rank: 3
Sean rank: 2
Shayna rank: 2
Hailey: When you requested me instantly after the PWHL announcement, I’d most likely have “Sceptres” decrease than No. 3 and possibly I used to be simply being a choosy native as a result of I can see Coca-Cola Coliseum from my condo. However Toronto’s emblem is likely to be my favourite of the six and the identify is absolutely rising on me – if nothing else it’s actually distinctive. The colours look nice, and I do suppose a group like Toronto – with followers who dressed up as spoons and nurses final season – might have a number of enjoyable with this. Sarah Nurse actually has a model with the motto “Queen Vitality Solely.”
Shayna: Completely sure to the brand and to the colour scheme. The identify simply … I want a while with this one. The Toronto teaser tweeted out the opposite day made me suppose “Royals” or “Monarchs” was the course right here, and I believe both of these would have slapped. Sceptres isn’t a nasty identify and it’s distinctive to a sports activities group, it simply doesn’t roll off the tongue but.
Sean: I didn’t just like the nickname initially — like, in any respect — nevertheless it grew on me fairly rapidly … if we’re grading on a curve. I don’t love a monarchy; Canadian cash bothers me for that reason. Nonetheless, factors for creativity, the originality of a navy-light blue-gold combo and the perfect emblem of the bunch. It’ll promote nicely with Taylor Swift followers.
Hailey: I didn’t even think about that. Sean is likely to be the largest Swiftie of the group!
3. New York Sirens
Hailey rank: 2
Sean rank: 1
Shayna rank: 6
Sean: I’m exhausting to please relating to group names. I don’t like collective nouns (i.e., “Kraken”), however I’m additionally not searching for extra Panthers or Vikings. That’s a small candy spot, and no one hit it extra instantly than the Sirens. The emblem isn’t my favourite — one thing about the best way the wordmark halves the Y — however I believe it’ll pop as a middle crest.
The primary motive I’ve them in my high spot: I don’t suppose any name-logo combo is extra cohesive. “Sirens” works as a reference to hockey, sure, but in addition Lengthy Island Sound, and I proceed to like that shade of teal, particularly in live performance with the New York Liberty and Gotham FC. It’s the overall bundle.
Hailey: I used to be Group New York Sirens till my last-minute swerve to the Montreal bandwagon. I believe the identify Sirens is my favourite, however the Montreal emblem was the tie-breaker in my rating. The colours are nice, and the synergy with girls’s sports activities within the tri-state space is a pleasant contact. This group has a number of potential with in-arena activations, too. Can we get a large siren?
Shayna: I completely love New York leaning into teal to remain in step with the Liberty and Gotham FC. However the identify is a no from me. I do know it’s most likely a reference to the water, however my speedy thought was: “We get it, New York’s loud with a number of sirens.” I really would like the Sound, which was a type of unique logos leaked final yr. That made sense for a group that bounced amongst New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. As for the brand – bear in mind the Superman S you most likely sketched in your pocket book in center college? This looks like a dressed-up model of that.
4. Boston Fleet
Hailey rank: 4
Sean rank: 4
Shayna rank: 3
Sean: I had a fairly outlined high three and backside three — half the manufacturers appear to be going for one factor, and half one other — and Boston was the perfect of the second batch based mostly largely on the brand. It helps that the letter ‘B’ appears to be like a lot like a fishhook, however credit score the place it’s due. I additionally spy a little bit of a Hartford Whalers reference, should you look from the facet. Is that me projecting? Maybe. In any case, it’s wonderful. A bit of uninspired, however wonderful. As for the identify, I don’t like “Fleet,” however I additionally dislike it lower than the opposite (Anglo) collective nouns.
Hailey: Whereas Boston is a tier under Montreal, New York and Toronto, it’s additionally the perfect of the remainder for me. The emblem is way superior to Ottawa and Minnesota – the small print contained in the B and the anchor form – although I just like the “Cost” identify greater than “Fleet.” I can’t think about it’s simple growing a sports activities model in a metropolis with the Pink Sox, Bruins and Celtics, however it is a good entry.
Shayna: Boston could have one of many coolest logos right here, which actually boosts its rating. The anchor-like B is simply so sharp. If that W is an intentional reference to the Whalers, I prefer it much more as a option to have fun New England hockey within the post-Connecticut Whale period. The identify I used to be initially bitter on, nevertheless it’s not that unhealthy. It’s a pleasant nod to Boston’s historical past and general being a significant seaport.
5. Minnesota Frost
Hailey rank: 5
Sean rank: 5
Shayna rank: 5
Shayna: I used to be actually rooting for the “Reign” right here with the purple scheme as a nod to Prince, however this isn’t a nasty course. The Minnesota Frost is actually a fairly sick identify that makes a number of sense for a hockey group with out being too tacky and literal. The explanation they don’t rank larger isn’t as a result of the opposite groups are all so unimaginable that it was a means of elimination. The emblem simply falls quick and drags the whole branding down. The ‘F’ is a promising begin, however feels so incomplete.
Sean: This feels extra like a create-a-team template than any of the others. I suppose the unfavorable house creates a mountain, which … it’s one thing. Factors for purple.
Hailey: Greater than the opposite groups, Minnesota looks like a sufferer to the authorized course of relating to naming sports activities groups in 2024. The Ontario Reign exist already within the AHL, and the league clearly needed new names it might totally personal. I actually don’t dislike the Frost – or any of the names for that matter – and I like the colours, however I can’t cease enthusiastic about the F being on a cartoon superhero. I assumed it was Frozone, however he doesn’t put on purple.
6. Ottawa Cost
Hailey rank: 6
Sean rank: 6
Shayna rank: 4
Shayna: Ottawa may be very middle-of-the-road for me. I believe the extra I have a look at it, the extra I discover flaws with it. The colour scheme doesn’t reinvent the wheel, however red-yellow-white is vibrant and crowd pleasing on the ice which I can admire. However I second what Sean mentioned earlier on collective nouns for group names. And the brand (plus the colour scheme) is giving knock-off Calgary Flames. I do love the Flames look and emblem, so it’s not essentially a nasty factor. It simply isn’t my favourite!
Hailey: I actually don’t have robust emotions about Ottawa: The identify works nicely sufficient for me, and the brand is okay. The entire electrical cost vibe would have been cool if Daryl Watts was nonetheless on the group. Too quickly! I’m sorry!
Sean: “Go Cost Go” goes to be a terrific area chant, however the remainder of it appears to be like means too near a software program firm emblem from, like, 1997 for my style. Sorry.
(Pictures courtesy of PWHL)
