NHL History: how the names of the clubs came to be – Part 1

Terms like Bruins, Rangers, Sabers or Blackhawks are familiar to every hockey fan today. But few people know how these names of now famous hockey brands came to be. Many of them have their origins in ancient history, long before the clubs themselves were formed. In the first part of our article, we’ll take a look at the first ten.

• Arizona was inspired by the Looney Tunes series
• Carolina was named after the local natural elements
• Dallas took its name in part from the Minnesota North Star

Anaheim Ducks

The team originally known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, founded in 1993, took its name directly from the popular series of The Mighty Ducks movies. When the Walt Disney Company, which produced the films and owned the NHL team, sold the franchise in 2005, the name was shortened to the Anaheim Ducks. This put an end to the iconic Ducks logo for a long time, which has only now returned to Anaheim.

Arizona Coyotes

After considering names in 1996 such as Mustangs, Outlaws, Wranglers or Freeze, the competition resulted in the name Coyotes. The name was originally inspired by Wile E. Coyote from the Looney Tunes animated series. Another key reason was the fact that coyotes originated in Arizona.

Boston Bruins (Bears)

Founded in 1924, the Boston Bruins were the first American NHL team. Art Ross, who was credited with designing the modern hockey puck, was also given the honor of naming the team. The league granted permission to Charles Adams, who hired Ross as general manager.

He was tasked with finding a nickname inspired by a wild and cunning animal. He chose the Bruins, synonymous with the brown bear. The team’s original brown and yellow colors matched Adams’ grocery store colors at the time.

Buffalo Sabres

In 1970, the Knox brothers wanted a name that included a buffalo or bison. They held a contest in which they received 13,000 entries and ultimately chose Sabres, which was suggested by only four entrants. It stood out against variations such as Mugwumps, Buzzing Bees or Flying Zeppelins. The Sabres name was chosen as a sharp and effective weapon in both offense and defense.

Calgary Flames

Atlanta got the green light to expand the league in 1971. The competition resulted in the name Flames. Tom Cousins, the franchise’s first owner, chose the name to honor the burning of Atlanta by Union soldiers during the Civil War. When the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, the new owner held a contest and ultimately decided to keep the original name. He only changed the logo from a flaming “A” to a flaming “C”.

Carolina Hurricanes

This franchise moved to North Carolina from Hartford. If it weren’t for Hurricanes Bertha and Fran, which hit North Carolina in 1997, this name might not have even come about. It was the memory of these powerful storms that influenced owner Peter Karmanos Jr. to name the team the Hurricanes before their debut in the 1997-98 season. Historically, the eastern part of North Carolina has often been hit by hurricanes during tropical storm seasons.

Chicago Blackhawks

Owner McLaughlin served as a commander in the 86th Infantry Division during World War I in 1926, when the famous club was founded. This division was nicknamed the “Blackhawk Division” after the Black Hawk, a prominent Native American nation. McLaughlin named his new hockey team in honor of the military unit.

Unlike the military division, the team’s name was initially spelled “Black Hawks.” This changed in 1986 when the club officially changed its name to the Blackhawks. This name also appeared in the original franchise documents.

Colorado Avalanche (Avalanche)

After moving from Quebec in 1995, the new owners initially considered naming the franchise Rocky Mountain Extreme. However, due to public disapproval, the idea was abandoned. At least that’s how the Denver Post puts it.

When a list of potential names was subsequently drawn up, the paper says fans chose the Avalanche over options such as the Black Bears, Rapids, Cougars, Outlaws, Renegades, Storm and Wranglers.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets name was chosen from 14,000 entries in a contest for the Columbus franchise, which joined the league in the 2000-01 season. At that time, they won out over the other name, Justice.

The name honors the blue coats worn by Union soldiers during the Civil War. Columbus was a major manufacturer of those coats, and Ohio contributed nearly 320,000 soldiers to the Union Army, more than any other state. The name and logo reflect the region’s pride in its historical significance.

Dallas Stars

This franchise was originally known as the Minnesota North Stars before moving to Dallas for the 1993-94 season. There, it dropped the term North from its name. The name North Stars was chosen to reflect the motto of the state of Minnesota, “L’Étoile du Nord”, which means “Star of the North” in French.

Related articles:

NHL History: How each club’s name came to be – Part 2 (not yet released)

History of the NHL: How the names of the clubs came to be – Part 3 (not yet released)

Source: X SDZegras