From The Ground Up: Central Names
The five markets with the most votes, to be included in the Central Division of our fantasy hockey league are final. Almost 10,000 individual votes were cast in the poll.
In this post, I'm outlining those markets (alphabetically) along with the acceptable locators (listed below) for your team name nominations — which I'll begin accepting today by comment only.
- CHICAGO, Illinois
Illinois | Chicago | Joliet | Rockford - DETROIT, Michigan
Michigan | Detroit | Troy | Dearborn - MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin
Wisconsin | Milwaukee - MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota
Minnesota | Minneapolis | St. Paul | Bloomington - ST. LOUIS, Missouri
Missouri | St. Louis
DO NOT SUBMIT NAME NOMINATIONS VIA EMAIL. THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Submit your team name nominations by leaving a comment below. Email submissions will be discarded. I will accept nominations for one week at which point new comments on this post will be closed. All name submissions that fit within the following parameters will be included in the name selection process which will begin next weekend.
If you want your submission included, DO NOT:
• use the name of any current or past NHL or WHA team.
• use the name of any current AHL or ECHL team.
• use the name or close variation of any current or past professional sports team within the same market or geographical area.
• use the name of any team from Project: IHA.
• use any name that would be considered vulgar, obscene or in any way inappropriate. (Sorry, this is my call.)
If you decide to use a locator not already on the list above, be prepared to have it discarded. I'm not setting that in stone as a restriction, but I'm also not guaranteeing I'll include anything not on the list. Sorry for all the restrictions but sometimes you have to "guide" originality.
Late addition: I'll also probably be weaning out some of the more ridiculous and absurd names. I don't mind fun ones, but I think you guys know what I mean.
It was suggested that when submitting names you also submit a short reasoning for that name. I won't require that but I will recommend it since it might help your submission get votes later on if folks know where you got your idea.
Don't forget to make your submissions for the Pacific Division. You have until September 13.
Start submitting!
fantasy, fantasy central, info, project 
Reader Comments (153)
Maybe Chicago Slice instead of Slicers...
Chicago Breeze
Detroit Dynamo
Milwaukee Frost
St. Louis Sky Captains
St. Paul Brooks
Chicago Storm
Michigan Militia (For Fruvous Fans, mostly)
Milwaukee Monsters
St. Louis Gatekeepers
Minneapolis Moose
most of the names seem so echl
how about
St. Louis River Kings (Because of the Missouri River)
Chicago Vikings (Large Swedish population in Chicago)
Detroit Torjans (They could have their rink in TROY)
Milwaukee Quakers
Minnesota Maroons
Detroit Trojans***
Chicago Spires
Detroit Automatics
Milwaukee Sturgeon
Minneapolis Iceburn
St. Louis Rapids
Chicago Bats
Detriot Diesel
Milwaukee Foxes
Minneapolis Dakota
St. Louis Royals
St. Paul Warriors
Michigan Shift
Chicago Typhoon
St. Louis Knights
Milwaukee Rhinos
minneapolis millipedes haha
Illinois Lions
Troy Red Rovers
Milwaukee Pint
St Paul Saints
Missouri Miles
Can someone please tell me why so many people are using names from the IHA?
So far I've seen:
Generals
Spirit
Saints (3 times)
Royals (2 times)
Bears
Brigade
Knights
Dynamo
Chicago Red Clouds
Detroit Motor Monsters
Milwaukee Mashers
St. Louis Smashers
Minnesota Lake Snakes
Chicago Speed
Detroit Motorheads
Milwaukee Steins
St Louis Spirit
Minnesota Ramapge
Chicago - Falcons
Detroit - Motorheads
St.Louis - Saints
Minnesota - Blue Waters
Detroit Wheels
Chicago Harbor
Milwaukee | Wisconsin Rails
Chicago Skyliners
Detroit Factory
Milwaukee Alcohol
(Minneapolis/St. Paul) Twin Cities Paradox
Monster Trucks of St. Louis
St. Louis Bigfoots
Chicago Mafia is great or
Chicago Elements( weather related)
Detroit Ignition( Auto Industry) or Snow Tigers(to keep the cat theme though i realize it is the baseball team)
Milwaukee Tri-Waters ( The three rivers that coverge in the city) or Red Ships ( Depicted on the cityfag representing it as a port city)
St. Louis Explorers ( Being the gateway to the west) or Arch Angels ( For the arch obviously)
Minnesota Ice ( The glaciers that carved out the landscape and lakes of Minnesota) or Meltdown ( Refering to the meltdown that formed the lakes)
How about picking names that have never been pick in any sport before...
Ice - Indy
Chill & Checkers - Columbus
Spirit - Pittsburgh
Monsters - Lake Erie(Cleveland)
Lumberjacks - Cleveland
Cyclones - Cincinnati
Saints / Falcons / Lions / Vikings / Bulls / Brewers / Wolverines / Giants / Warriors / Royals - Come on!
This is the best..."Minneapolis Vikings, Minnesota has a rich Scandinavian history" AND A FOOTBALL TEAM NAMED THE VIKINGS!!!
"Minnesota Skeeters (as in mosquito), there was alot of underground talk of naming the Wild this when we were awarded the franchise" - Nice tidbit! The Original Columbus NHL team...by original I mean that when Hartford was moving Columbus was a possible site...were going to use the name X-Plorers - The "underground" name that people were pushing for instead of the Blue Jackets was "The Mad Cows"...Columbus is also known as Cow Town
Detroit Firebirds
Milwaukee Overlords
Chicago Blizzard
St. Louis Explorers
Minnesota Wolverines
Chicago L (named after the transit system)
Chicago Gangsters/Mobsters
Detroit Phoenix (city motto mentions rising from the ashes)
Detroit Revolution (based on the industrial revolution)
Troy Trojans (reference to the Trojan Wars)
Wisconsin Badgers (the badger state)
Minnesota Lakers (land of 10,000 lakes)
St. Louis Explorers (a tribute to Lewis and Clark)
Chicago Commanders
Detroit Guardians
Milwaukee Ice Demons
Minnesota Mammoths
St. Louis Strikers
Chicago Loansharks
Chicago Borgata (slang term for a mob family)
Dearborn Stags (as in male deer)
Chicago Surge (as in storm surge from water and storms and wind.)
St. Louis Aviation (the spirit of St. Louis comes to mind)
Detroit Gearheads (cars)
Minnesota Freeze (it's f'n cold up there)
Wisconsin Brewbusters ( I think of beer and i think it sounds kinda neat.)
St. Louis Gateways
Milwaukee 40's (beverage)
St. Louis Barge (river boats)
Minnesota Superior (lake Superior)
Just going through the list of names suggested here. Some have been already noted, but here are some names that can't be used:
Minnesota Lakes- similar to Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
Minnesota 10,000- similar to Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
Minnesota Wolverines- similar to Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)
Minneapolis Vikings- similar to Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
St. Louis Royals- similar to Kansas City Royals (MLB)
Milwaukee Alcohol- very negative connotation
I also agree with the, St.Louis Spirit (Spirit of St.Louis aviation theme), and also the St.Louis Gateway, both work well to me!
St. Louis Gateway?
Detroit Skyline
Chicago Inferno
I agree with Minnesota Lakers
It hasn't been 24 hours and it looks to me like we're already running out of good ideas. Good being the operative word there. To cut down on superfluous posts, let me make a few suggestions.
Read the rules before posting names. If you post an ineligible name, you're just wasting my time and your own.
Don't post a comment just to second someone else's idea. If it follows the rules, it'll be included. You can show your support by voting for it when the time comes.
If you're not sure whether your idea has already been posted and you don't want to read through ALL the suggestions, do a quick search of the page. Almost every browser has some sort of page search feature. Try the menu under Edit > Find. Works wonders.
Also, because of the incredible response in less than a day, I'm going to have to set a new limit on these naming nominations, unfortunately. We're probably averaging about 30 to 40 eligible names for each team. That's absurd.
I'm going to have to set a limit on the number of names available in the selection process. I'm thinking I'll pick the 20 or 25 names that seem to have the best chance at being finalists and you can pick from those.
I hate to do that because I said I'd include them all but I wasn't expecting so many submissions — and just within the first 24 hours. This would be an insane amount of work for me and I just simply don't have the time for it.
Chicago Tempest - Chicago IS the windy city.
Milwaukee Lagers - Should be obvious.
St. Paul Freeze or Minnesota Voyageurs - Freeze because of the record low for mainland USA, Voyageurs for Grand Portage, and the fur trade.
Cleaned that up for you Chris.
Detroit Mustangs
For those doing the Minnesota Lakers or St. Louis Spirits
***Cannot*** use the name or close variation of any current or past professional sports team within the same market or geographical area.
The LA Lakers started in Minnesota
The Spirit of St. Louis was an old ABA team
Chicago Thirty-Sevens - The year of the city's incorporation
Michigan Superiors - After the largest great lakes
Milwaukee Grange - Named after the agricultural combines
Minnesota Red Rivers - The name of the river valley that divides Minnesota from the Dakotas
St Louis Clarkes - Wordplay off of Louis and Clarke
Detroit Riot
Chicago Surge - represented by a powerful locomotive surrounded by a whirling airstream, the name surge also typifies the mighty winds that blow thru the city off Lake Michigan
Missouri Madmen - I like the aggressive sound and alliteration, plus I think it represents the area better than St. Louis
Detroit Boxers - named for the boxer (car) engine, and also tribute to Joe Louis who was from the city
Milwaukee Machine - for the machinery and automation utilized in their beermaking history
St. Paul Skyline - I struggled with this one -- too many M names in the division already to use Minneapolis or Minnesota. the city has a distinctive skyline with several skyscrapers which it is known for.
"Milwaukee Machine (power tool companies, plus blue-collar history)"
I did not read any of the other submissions before making mine - but I find it great that someone else already came up with the exact same name as me (though different reasoning).
therefore if not acceptable, my alternate name for this team would be Milwaukee Millers (for milling, not for the beer named Miller)
Milwaukee Fuel (it's not gasoline, but it still burns pretty good)
Detroit Blackjacks - The casinos in the area that stimulate the crappy economy.
Chicago Wind/Broadway - Either of, (Windy City) (the broadway play)
Milwaukee Tundra - Greenbay Packers reference I believe for their field.
Minneapolis Rapids - Mississippi River reference.
St. Louis Sting - They're state insect is the bee.
again, i went for similar constanant sounds for team name, sorry if i repeat any former posts:
Michigan Motorheads (motors, michigan, no explanation needed)
Milwaukee Wolfpack (thought it sounded cool)
Chicago Chinook (chinook=wind current. chicago=windy city)
Minnesota Militia (again, sounds decent and can prolly produce a cool logo)
Chicago Cyclones - "windy city" get it? no? aww.
Detroit Automatics - Gun violence. I'd love to use Michigan Wolverines, but that's illegal.
Milwaukee Tundra - Lambeau Field, baby. (not a Packers fan, but still.
St. Paul Trappers - for the fur trade, as well as an allusion to Nicklas Backstrom's glove hand.
St. Louis Gateway - for the Gateway Arch, gateway to the west. Best I could do.
Rockford Rocketeers
Minnesota Frostbite
Minnesota Northerns (as in the fish and the northernly location)
Chicago Scream- Honouring screaming wind through the streets.
Milwakee Masters- Suggests power
St. Louis Twist- Could mean tornadoes or twisting to some jam
Minnesota Maul- What happens to you if you get lost in the forest, via a bear
Detroit Drift- Sounds cool and some people drift through motor city streets
HNcreature...Just so you know, 4 of your ideas have already been hockey franchises!
The Indinapolis Ice, Cleveland Lumberjacks, and Cincinnati Cyclones were old IHL franchises and the Erie Monsters are a current AHL team!
The only suggestion I have now are the Milwaukee Bradleys. You could use the military vehicle for the logo, but the name references the Bradley/Petit family that helped with so many projects around the area.
Chicago Gust
Michigan Lakers (Great Lakes, for the one person who isnt going to get it)
Milwaukee Cheeseheads
St. Louis Archers (Clever, no?)
St. Paul Freeze
Chicago Red Stars (based on the rich history and heritage depicted on the city flag -- each star represents a major aspect of the city (great chicago fire, fort dearborn, columbian exposition, century of progress)
Detroit Griffons (the ship that the French used when they 'discovered' Detroit as a place for settlement)
Milwaukee -- nothing comes to mind. I did like the suggestion '40s. the NFL and NBA have a team that's just a number. (SF 49ers, Philly 76ers)
Minnesota Sioux (they were the original habitants of the Minneapolis area for several centuries)
St. Louis Misery (it's a play on words for their state, Missouri.. i figure not all names need to have a historical reference to them. some of them just need mean/tough name.. having to face this team would be miserable)
this wouldn't be eligible, but 'Motor City Machine Guns' just sounded coool. (too bad it's already being used though in TNA)
Ok all legitimate team names end in "S". Sorry but if the name soesnt end in "s" it sounds and is minor league.
St. Louis Archers is freaking awesome!!! I wish I thought of that!
I was gonna say Milwaukee Brew Masters which would be shortened to just Milwaukee Masters....alliteration and all, but someone beat me too it. Milwaukee has to have something to do with beer.
Detroit Wheels
Minnesota Lumberjacks- Paul Bunyan thing
Chicago Sticky Bandits- Maybe just Bandits....you know Home Alone? Almost all the John Hughes movies happened in Chicago?
Chicago Mob - reflecting the city's history with organized crime.
Detroit Straits - referring to the topography.
Wisconsin Muskies - famous monster fish.
Minnesota Walleyes - I see a huge Wis./Minn. rivalry here.
Missouri Ozarks - what an original name!
Chicago Untouchables!
Wisconsin Kielbasa Kings
The Milwaukee White-tails - after the most popular game in the state, the white-tailed deer
The Detroit Hunters - Not planned with Milwaukee, but now i see a big rivalry. Named for the area having the 3rd highest number of registered hunters in the U.S.
The Chicago Illinois - XD lame, i know. Named for the Native Illinois (Illiniwek) who gave the state its name, and supported the American Cause during the American REvolution
The Minnesota Waters - Names for all the lakes and bodies of water in Minn. Originally Minnesota Lakers, but decided not to, b/c of the LA Lakers
Agree with J.K.E. - The Missouri Ozarks, after the Ozark Mountains.