NHL History: how the names of the clubs came to be – Part 3

Do you know the story of your favourite NHL team and how its name came about? That’s the topic we’re exploring in our three-part miniseries. From the traditional clubs that have been in the NHL since the beginning, to the newest addition from Utah, which is still working on its final name.

• Pittsburgh’s name was inspired by the shape of an igloo-like arena
• The name refers to sharks in the nearby Pacific Ocean
• Utah does not yet know the final design of its organization

Ottawa Senators

The original Ottawa Senators were founded in 1883. Between 1917 and 1934, the NHL won the Stanley Cup eleven times. When Canada’s capital city acquired an expansion franchise in 1990, it was by all accounts the best idea to revive a name synonymous with such historic achievements.

Philadelphia Flyers

In 1966, the franchise’s ownership group held a contest to name the team that was to debut the following year. The grand prize was a twenty-one inch color television, which at the time cost about $400.

Other prizes included season tickets and single-game tickets. Owner Ed Snider’s sister suggested the name Flyers, which meant speed. The contest was won by Alec Stockard, a nine-year-old from Narberth, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, which no longer exists, nicknamed “The Igloo” because of its distinctive dome shape, opened five years before the city was granted the opportunity to expand the NHL in 1966.

Given the arena’s nickname, the Penguins became the obvious choice for the name of the new team, which would begin play in the 1967-1968 season. The naming contest had 26,000 entries, with more than 700 participants suggesting the Penguins.

San Jose Sharks

In 1990, San Jose was awarded an NHL expansion franchise. Fans named the team the San Jose Sharks because of the seven species of sharks in the region. Management chose this name over other options such as the Blades, Breakers or Condors. The name is meant to reflect the wild and agile nature of the team near the North Pacific Ocean.

St. Louis Blues (music genre)

Sid Salomon Jr. acquired the NHL franchise on February 9, 1966 and immediately chose the name St. Louis Blues, inspired by WC Handy’s famous 1914 song “St. Louis Blues”.

Tampa Bay Lightning (Lightning)

In Florida, the Tampa Bay area is referred to as the “Lightning Capital of North America”. President Phil Esposito got the idea for the name during a storm in 1990. This was approximately two years before the club played its first NHL game.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Conn Smythe, after whom the playoff MVP award is also named, bought the Toronto St. Pats in 1927. He immediately chose the team name Maple Leafs as a tribute to the Canadian soldiers who wore maple leaves while fighting in World War I.

Vancouver Canucks (Killer Whales)

In 1970, Vancouver was awarded an expansion franchise and the Canucks name was an immediate obvious choice. The Vancouver Canucks had been in existence since as early as 1945. They initially competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and later in the Western Hockey League.

Vegas Golden Knights

Team owner Bill Foley, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where athletic teams are called the Black Knights, announced that his team would be named the Golden Knights. “Gold” was included in the name because gold is, as Foley said, “the No. 1 precious metal.” Nevada is also the largest gold-producing state in the country.

Washington Capitals

After Washington was awarded the opportunity to expand the NHL on June 9, 1972, owner Abe Pollin held a contest to name the club. He decided to name the team primarily to represent the capital of the United States. The term Capitals seemed like the perfect choice in this regard.

Seattle Kraken (sea monster)

Through a fan-influenced voting process, officials wanted a name for the new team that resonated with Seattle’s maritime culture. Kraken immediately emerged as a popular choice and reflected the city’s connection to the sea, which is fitting for a team based in the Pacific Northwest. The name was announced in July 2020.

Winnipeg Jets (Fighters)

When the Atlanta Thrashers were moved to Winnipeg in 2011, fans decided to stick with the original NHL team name, Winnipeg Jets. The owner of the original WHA franchise in the 1970s, Ben Hatskin, was a big fan of the New York Jets American football team.

Utah Hockey Club

Utah is the last team so far to be awarded an expansion franchise in 2024. It was announced shortly after that the team would go by the name Utah Hockey Club for its inaugural season.

Currently, fans are selecting the final name through a vote. The six finalists are the Blizzard, Utah HC, Mammoth, Outlaws, Venom and Yeti. Utah’s new name will take effect with the 2025/2026 season.

Follow-up articles:

NHL History: How each club’s name came to be – Part 1

NHL History: How each club’s name came to be – Part 2

Source: X SDZegras