Courtesy of The PWHL
In the words of Taylor Swift, “it’s been a long time coming,” but the names and logos for the PWHL Inaugural Six teams were unveiled on Monday, Sept. 9 ahead of the league’s second season. Prior to the announcement, all six teams changed their profile pictures on social media to plan black logos and posted teasers that held clues for each of the team names. Now with the much-anticipated names and logos released, fans could not be more excited about the upcoming campaign where this branding will be on display.
The criteria for selecting the names for each of the teams were: the name should inspire pride of place, fan connection, identity possibilities, and a name that was unique to PWHL. Now, let’s dive into what the new names are for the six teams, their logos and reactions from the players themselves.
Boston Fleet
Courtesy of The PWHL
The Fleet logo and name pays homage to Boston’s spirit and maritime history. In the logo, you can see the letter B which is made up of a sideways anchor which is meant to signify the city’s identity and nautical heritage. The team’s color scheme remains the same deep green and white as it was in the inaugural season, making the unique logo stand out among the other PWHL teams.
“I absolutely love that there’s an anchor in the B. The logo really embodies the passion and attitude of what it’s like to represent the city. It’s really going to set us apart,” said Hilary Knight, captain of the Boston Fleet.
Minnesota Frost
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The first ever Walter Cup champions are now known as the Minnesota Frost. The team’s logo and name is a call to the State of Hockey’s deep history and love of ice, especially since the state has been the home of ice hockey for many generations. Minnesota maintains that same core purple as last season as the team’s color, making the sharp logo look even sleeker.
“It’s such a strong and bold logo. The word that comes to mind is just excitement,” said Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne-Schofield.
Montreal Victoire
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Montreal is well known for its hockey and history which was taken into consideration when naming the team. Victoire was chosen as it shows off the city’s competitive spirit and stands as proof that there is always more to achieve. The logo is easily the most intricate of the six, including wing-like shapes in the team’s signature burgundy while alluding to the Goddess of Victory and paying respect to Greater Montreal. It’s also to be noted that there purposely is not an English translation to uphold the French history of the team’s city.
“Obviously very excited. Our league worked so hard to make this happen for us. Every day, you want to perform and bring out your best. Love the logo, love the name.” said Marie-Philip Poulin, Montreal Victoire captain, about her feelings around her team’s new logo and name.
New York Sirens
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New York arguably got the most unique name of the six squads, being deemed the Sirens. It’s an ode to both the city that never sleeps and the goal horn that always goes off when the puck finds the back of the net in hockey. The logo features the team’s liberty teal color, an interpretation of the New York skyline and the echoing S resembles the sound waves that are always reverberating from the city.
“I think the fact that we’re all repping a version of this teal. We’re all feeding off each other. It’s great to be a part of that. It’s cool to feel tied to the other teams,” said New York Sirens captain Micah Zandee-Hart when asked about how all the women’s sports teams in the New York area all wear a similar teal color (WNBA’s New York Liberty and NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC).
Ottawa Charge
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Ottawa’s motto “Advance – Ottawa – En Avant” so the team was given the name Charge in tribute to the city’s constant growth and progress forward. The logo is an O designed to look as if it’s carrying a sense of energy (like the team does on the ice) and that it’s in motion forward with spikes radiating from the back. The team keeps the same color scheme like the other clubs as well, making the logo one-of-a-kind.
“I think it’s really exciting for our fanbases. To see our jerseys in the stands, it’s the next step in the growth of this league. This jersey is a reflection of the electric energy our fans brought every day,” said Brianne Jenner, Ottawa Charge captain.
Toronto Sceptres
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Last, but not least, Toronto is often referred to as the Queen City as the city holds plenty of regal history within its streets. So it isn’t surprising that Toronto’s team was named the Sceptres. A sceptre is a symbol of power and strength which is reflected in Toronto as the city is known as the place of hockey royalty. The logo is a simple intertwined T and S in royal blue and bright yellow.
“I think it’s awesome! The league did a great job in selecting the name. There are a lot of tie-ins to the city and the team. Overall, it’s a very fitting name,” said Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull.
Although jerseys won’t be released until the end of October, fans could not be more excited to see the new logos and names in action when the puck drops on the 2024-25 season. It will be incredible watching the PWHL’s Inaugural Six skate out onto the ice with their official names and branding for the first time all while continuing to build a fanbase and creating excitement online.
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