By Hailey Salvian, Shayna Goldman and Sean Gentille
We waited greater than a 12 months for correct PWHL nicknames and logos. Now that we’ve got 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 remaining measure up?
GO DEEPER
PWHL unveils workforce 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: The whole lot 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 title brings, and utilizing cream over white provides a basic contact. The navy completes the look and accents the emblem. I’ve nitpicks right here or there with the remainder of the groups, so the mix of the title and brand makes this a straightforward No. 1 for me.
Hailey: I used to be stunned at how a lot I favored Montreal, contemplating I wished the league to return to Les Canadiennes from the CWHL days. Regardless, Montreal has one of the best mixture of title and brand, which is why it will get the sting over New York and Toronto for me. There’s extra element to understand within the Montreal brand particularly, with the fleur-de-lis and the hidden M towards the underside. “Victoire” can also be only a cool title to have for a workforce with probably the most clutch participant within the historical past of the ladies’s recreation.
Sean: I virtually really feel dangerous having them at No. 3. Shayna and Hailey are appropriate about every thing. I actually admire the freshness of the bundle — if this one isn’t groundbreaking, it’s fairly shut. Additionally, the emblem seems like a diamond! No person else mentioned that!
2. Toronto Sceptres
Hailey rank: 3
Sean rank: 2
Shayna rank: 2
Hailey: If you happen to requested me instantly after the PWHL announcement, I’d in all probability 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 brand is likely to be my favourite of the six and the title is admittedly rising on me – if nothing else it’s definitely distinctive. The colours look nice, and I do assume a workforce like Toronto – with followers who dressed up as spoons and nurses final season – may have lots of enjoyable with this. Sarah Nurse actually has a model with the motto “Queen Vitality Solely.”
Shayna: Completely sure to the emblem and to the colour scheme. The title simply … I want a while with this one. The Toronto teaser tweeted out the opposite day made me assume “Royals” or “Monarchs” was the path right here, and I feel both of these would have slapped. Sceptres isn’t a nasty title and it’s distinctive to a sports activities workforce, it simply doesn’t roll off the tongue but.
Sean: I didn’t just like the nickname initially — like, in any respect — but it surely grew on me fairly rapidly … if we’re grading on a curve. I don’t love a monarchy; Canadian cash bothers me because of this. Nonetheless, factors for creativity, the originality of a navy-light blue-gold combo and one of the best brand of the bunch. It’ll promote effectively with Taylor Swift followers.
Hailey: I didn’t even think about that. Sean is likely to be the most important Swiftie of the group!
3. New York Sirens
Hailey rank: 2
Sean rank: 1
Shayna rank: 6
Sean: I’m laborious to please on the subject of workforce 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 immediately than the Sirens. The emblem isn’t my favourite — one thing about the way in which the wordmark halves the Y — however I feel it’ll pop as a middle crest.
The primary cause I’ve them in my prime spot: I don’t assume any name-logo combo is extra cohesive. “Sirens” works as a reference to hockey, sure, but additionally 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 entire bundle.
Hailey: I used to be Workforce New York Sirens till my last-minute swerve to the Montreal bandwagon. I feel the title Sirens is my favourite, however the Montreal brand was the tie-breaker in my rating. The colours are nice, and the synergy with ladies’s sports activities within the tri-state space is a pleasant contact. This workforce has lots 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 line with the Liberty and Gotham FC. However the title is a no from me. I do know it’s in all probability a reference to the water, however my instant thought was: “We get it, New York’s loud with lots of sirens.” I really would like the Sound, which was a type of unique logos leaked final 12 months. That made sense for a workforce that bounced amongst New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. As for the emblem – keep in mind the Superman S you in all probability sketched in your pocket book in center faculty? This appears 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 prime three and backside three — half the manufacturers appear to be going for one factor, and half one other — and Boston was one of the best of the second batch primarily based largely on the emblem. It helps that the letter ‘B’ seems a lot like a fishhook, however credit score the place it’s due. I additionally spy a little bit of a Hartford Whalers reference, if you happen to look from the aspect. Is that me projecting? Maybe. In any case, it’s positive. A bit of uninspired, however positive. As for the title, 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 one of the best of the remaining for me. The emblem is way superior to Ottawa and Minnesota – the main points contained in the B and the anchor form – although I just like the “Cost” title greater than “Fleet.” I can’t think about it’s simple creating a sports activities model in a metropolis with the Purple Sox, Bruins and Celtics, however this can be a good entry.
Shayna: Boston might 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 rejoice New England hockey within the post-Connecticut Whale period. The title I used to be initially bitter on, but it surely’s not that dangerous. It’s a pleasant nod to Boston’s historical past and general being a serious 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 path. The Minnesota Frost is truthfully a fairly sick title that makes lots of sense for a hockey workforce with out being too tacky and literal. The rationale they don’t rank increased isn’t as a result of the opposite groups are all so unimaginable that it was a means of elimination. The emblem simply falls brief and drags your complete 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 damaging house creates a mountain, which … it’s one thing. Factors for purple.
Hailey: Greater than the opposite groups, Minnesota appears like a sufferer to the authorized course of on the subject of naming sports activities groups in 2024. The Ontario Reign exist already within the AHL, and the league clearly wished new names it may absolutely personal. I truthfully don’t dislike the Frost – or any of the names for that matter – and I really like the colours, however I can’t cease fascinated with the F being on a cartoon superhero. I believed it was Frozone, however he doesn’t put on purple.
6. Ottawa Cost
Hailey rank: 6
Sean rank: 6
Shayna rank: 4
Shayna: Ottawa could be very middle-of-the-road for me. I feel the extra I take a look at it, the extra I discover flaws with it. The colour scheme doesn’t reinvent the wheel, however red-yellow-white is vivid and crowd pleasing on the ice which I can admire. However I second what Sean mentioned earlier on collective nouns for workforce names. And the emblem (plus the colour scheme) is giving knock-off Calgary Flames. I do love the Flames look and brand, so it’s not essentially a nasty factor. It simply isn’t my favourite!
Hailey: I truthfully don’t have sturdy emotions about Ottawa: The title works effectively sufficient for me, and the emblem is ok. The entire electrical cost vibe would have been cool if Daryl Watts was nonetheless on the workforce. Too quickly! I’m sorry!
Sean: “Go Cost Go” goes to be an excellent area chant, however the remainder of it seems means too near a software program firm brand from, like, 1997 for my style. Sorry.
(Photographs courtesy of PWHL)
