By Hailey Salvian, Shayna Goldman and Sean Gentille
We waited greater than a yr for correct PWHL nicknames and logos. Now that now we have 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 crew 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 power that the title brings, and utilizing cream over white provides a traditional 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 title 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 most effective mixture of title 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 be only a cool title to have for a crew with essentially 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 thing. I actually admire the freshness of the package deal — 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: In case you 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 residence. However Toronto’s emblem may be my favourite of the six and the title is actually rising on me – if nothing else it’s actually distinctive. The colours look nice, and I do assume a crew like Toronto – with followers who dressed up as spoons and nurses final season – might have a variety 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 title simply … I would like a while with this one. The Toronto teaser tweeted out the opposite day made me assume “Royals” or “Monarchs” was the route right here, and I believe both of these would have slapped. Sceptres isn’t a foul title and it’s distinctive to a sports activities crew, it simply doesn’t roll off the tongue but.
Sean: I didn’t just like the nickname initially — like, in any respect — however 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 most effective emblem of the bunch. It’ll promote nicely with Taylor Swift followers.
Hailey: I didn’t even contemplate that. Sean may be the most important Swiftie of the group!
3. New York Sirens
Hailey rank: 2
Sean rank: 1
Shayna rank: 6
Sean: I’m exhausting to please on the subject of crew 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 best way the wordmark halves the Y — however I believe 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 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 entire package deal.
Hailey: I used to be Crew New York Sirens till my last-minute swerve to the Montreal bandwagon. I believe the title 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 crew has a variety 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 title is a no from me. I do know it’s in all probability a reference to the water, however my quick thought was: “We get it, New York’s loud with a variety of sirens.” I truly would like the Sound, which was a type of authentic emblems leaked final yr. That made sense for a crew that bounced amongst New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. As for the brand – keep in mind the Superman S you in all probability 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 prime three and backside three — half the manufacturers appear to be going for one factor, and half one other — and Boston was the most effective of the second batch primarily based 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, for those who look from the facet. Is that me projecting? Maybe. In any case, it’s high-quality. A bit of uninspired, however high-quality. 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 beneath Montreal, New York and Toronto, it’s additionally the most effective 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 growing a sports activities model in a metropolis with the Purple Sox, Bruins and Celtics, however it is 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 technique to have a good time New England hockey within the post-Connecticut Whale period. The title I used to be initially bitter on, however it’s not that unhealthy. It’s a pleasant nod to Boston’s historical past and total 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 foul route. The Minnesota Frost is truthfully a fairly sick title that makes a variety of sense for a hockey crew with out being too tacky and literal. The rationale they don’t rank greater isn’t as a result of the opposite groups are all so unimaginable that it was a technique of elimination. The emblem simply falls quick and drags your entire 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 assume the damaging 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 on the subject of naming sports activities groups in 2024. The Ontario Reign exist already within the AHL, and the league clearly needed new names it might 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 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 could 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 attention-grabbing on the ice which I can admire. However I second what Sean mentioned earlier on collective nouns for crew 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 foul factor. It simply isn’t my favourite!
Hailey: I truthfully don’t have sturdy emotions about Ottawa: The title 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 crew. Too quickly! I’m sorry!
Sean: “Go Cost Go” goes to be an amazing area chant, however the remainder of it appears to be like method too near a software program firm emblem from, like, 1997 for my style. Sorry.
(Photographs courtesy of PWHL)
