PWHL reveals names, logos for all 6 franchises ahead of second season
They are no-names no longer.
In a process nearly a year in the making, the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Monday unveiled the nicknames and logos for each of its six franchises entering its second season.
There will be Victoire in Montreal, a Charge in Ottawa and the wielding of Sceptres in Toronto. For teams south of the border, there’s a Fleet sailing into Boston, a Frost settling in Minnesota and Sirens in New York.
The long-anticipated names and logos arrive after time constraints — the league was founded in late June 2023 and began play on Jan. 1 — led to the PWHL spending its inaugural season referring to each team with a PWHL prefix, such as PWHL Minnesota, which won the first Walter Cup championship in May.
“We heard loud and clear from the get-go that fans wanted traditional kind of nicknames and logos,” said PWHL vice-president of brand and marketing Kanan Bhatt-Shah, who led the naming process. “We wanted to move mountains and do whatever it took to give them that and names and logos that felt like they were evocative of their communities.”
This past May, league executives Amy Scheer and Kanan Bhatt-Shaw officially signed off on the results in meeting a 10-month deadline to have the names and logos delivered to the PWHL’s suppliers to be printed in time for Season 2, set to open in early December. The regular season will increase to 30 games from 24.
“Daunting for sure, but an absolute labour of love,” Scheer, the league vice-president of business operations, told The Associated Press. “I think anybody who has worked in sports or is a marketer or brand person would look at this as an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Just don’t ask them to pick a favourite.
“I love all my children equally,” Scheer said with a laugh.
Hundreds of possible names
“I’m going to echo that,” added Bhatt-Shaw, VP of brand and marketing. “In real life, I only have one child, and it feels really nice to have seven now.”
Calling the process both stressful and rewarding, the two were tasked with filtering through hundreds of possible names — many of which were eliminated because the PWHL was unable to obtain rights holdings on both sides of the border — designing the logos and finding the right fit to capture the spirit of each market.
Another caveat was carrying over each team’s colour schemes from Year 1 for continuity so fans who purchased previous merchandise didn’t look out of place.
As for the nicknames, Scheer and Bhatt-Shaw believe they speak for themselves.
- The Fleet represents Boston’s maritime tradition, with a logo featuring a forward-leaning “B” in the shape of an anchor.
- The Minnesota Frost, the PWHL said, “embodies the State of Hockey’s deep-rooted love for the ice,” with the “F” logo featuring sharp icicle-like points.
- The Victoire name pays tribute to the team’s French-Canadian home, with the logo featuring a blue “M” for Montreal and a fleur-de-lis, a national symbol of Quebec.
- The Sirens are an ode to the New York’s vibrant sights and sounds, and alluding to the goal horn, while the logo features the angular design of the letters “NY” to portray the Big Apple’s skyline.
- The Ottawa Charge reflects the Canadian capital’s motto, “Advance — Ottawa — En Avant,” with a logo featuring a large unfinished letter “O,” that also resembles the letter “C.”
- The Sceptres, the PWHL said, “embody Toronto’s regal history and commanding presence,” and reflect the Ontario capital also being known as the Queen City. The logo features a large scepter with the letters “T” and “S” incorporated into the handle.
WATCH: What to expect in PWHL’s 2nd season:
The league’s inaugural season is done and the PWHL’s 2024 draft has wrapped up. Now teams are preparing for next season.
The PWHL worked with New York City-based creative agency Flower Shop to assist in the process. Scheer and Bhatt-Shaw also bounced ideas off a group of PWHL employees, who would vote on potential names, and the two spent last season consulting with fans to get a feel for each market.
Proud and connected as they are of each name and logo, both are aware their choices will spur debate, and criticism among fans.
“Everybody’s going to sit behind their computers and they’re going to type good, bad and ugly. And that’s OK,” Scheer said. “I feel the process we went through was very thorough. We feel very confident that we’ve got six great names that are bold, they’re confident, they’re strong, competitive and, I think, they resonate with the markets that they’re in.”
She took exception when informed the Fleet “B” logo could also resemble a “W” when turned on its side in what some might perceive as an homage to the NHL’s former Hartford Whalers.
“That `B’ is a sideways anchor and only a sideways anchor,” Scheer said.
Jerseys will be released in late October or early November.
The PWHL, a first-of-its-kind women’s league with deep-pocketed investors, shattered women’s hockey attendance records in a short-notice first year.
View original article here Source
TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse - Icy Mint | Fights Bad Breath | Certified Vegan, Gluten-Free, & Kosher | 473ml
$11.99 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Fruit of the Loom Mens EverSoft Fleece Full Zip Hoodie JacketShirt
$19.64 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Huggies Natural Care Sensitive Baby Wipes, Unscented, Hypoallergenic, 99% Purified Water, 15 Flip-Top Packs (960 Wipes Total)
$23.99 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
BOSTANTEN Men's Leather Ratchet Dress Belt with Automatic Sliding Buckle
$16.74 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Eyelash Mascara Makeup, Volumizing, Lengthening, Defining, Curling, Multiplying, Buildable Formula, Blackest Black, 7.2 ml
$11.96 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Luluadorn Rose Gold Heart Initial Letter Bracelets Engraved Alphabet 26 Letters Charms Cuff Bracelet Stainless Steel Expandable Personalized Name Jewelry
$8.50 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Norton 360 2024, Antivirus software for 5 Devices, 1-Year Subscription - Includes VPN, Password Manager and PC Cloud Backup [Download]
$29.99 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Bitdefender Total Security 2024 - 5 Devices | 1 year Subscription | PC/Mac | Activation Code by Mail
$44.99 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Sunzel Workout Leggings for Women, High Waisted Tummy Control Yoga Pants for Workout Gym Running 28" Inseam
$37.99 (as of October 16, 2024 16:35 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)