IceHL North: Final Names

The final names for the IceHL's North Division are in! Hundreds of you made your voice heard by rating the finalists for each franchise. So here are the winners.

• Calgary CAVALRY
  average rating 3.36/5 by 303 people


• Edmonton KODIAKS
  average rating 3.74/5 by 312 people


• Regina RENEGADES
  average rating 3.6/5 by 286 people


• Saskatoon SHARPSHOOTERS
  average rating 3.24/5 by 258 people


• Winnipeg WINTERHAWKS
  average rating 3.81/5 by 298 people

Based on these names, your task — should you choose to accept it — is to brand the franchise. You choose the color scheme and design primary, secondary and script logos around that. Additional logos may or may not be included in the voting process.

Submit your logo art by email to me at icethetics@gmail.com. Do not post links to artwork in the comments. They will be deleted and not considered for use in this project. I'm also outlining guidelines for submissions below. I'm taking them a little more seriously than I did for the IHA. If you don't follow them, your work will probably not be included.

North logo submission deadline: October 25

If you want your submission included, follow these instructions:

• DO NOT STEAL ARTWORK. Logos copied or adapted from professional trademarked logos will not be permitted.


• Submit three (3) logos: primary, secondary and script. Use a white background. If your logo requires a white outline (think Lightning or Capitals), then use a gray background with the white outline included. ALL 3 LOGOS will be used in the voting process. If you leave out one, your work may be disqualified.


• Submit vector art if possible. I will accept .ai, .psd and .pdf files. If you cannot submit vector art, you must be able to provide high quality images in .jpg or .png files ONLY. All other file types may be disqualified.


• You must include your credit within the graphic itself as well as the email. This can be your real name or a pseudonym. I need them in both places so I can easily search my email to find your artwork and email address. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.


• By submitting your own original artwork to any Icethetics email address, you agree to grant permission of its use for online or print publication by Icethetics. Do not watermark your logos or they will be disqualified.


• No jersey concepts, please. That will be a later step in this process.

I tried to be specific here but I'm happy to answer any additional questions you may have via email. I was very clear about this but keep in mind that if you do not properly follow the instructions above, your work will likely be disqualified. So read them carefully.

Just so everyone is aware, when it comes time to choose a logo for each team, the process will work basically the same as the name ratings. Logo rating pages will be posted for each team and up to 20 logo submissions will be available to rate. I'm sorry I can't include more but this assures that all worthy submissions will get a fair shake.

The difference here is that once the rating period has ended, there will be a vote on Icethetics of the top 3 rated logos for each team. This assures that we choose the logo everyone wants.

Start submitting your logos!

Brief IceHL Update

Believe it or not we're now seven weeks into the process of creating our fictional hockey league — the IceHL. Just wanted to keep everyone up to date on where we are. The name nominations are now complete and we're starting the name ratings for our third division. You'll find links in the pollbar, off to the left, to rate the names available for the North Division. Next week will be the Northeast.

Logo submissions have started to trickle in since the final names were announced for the Pacific Division last week. Remember, the deadline is still two weeks away but I thought I'd point out that the only team I haven't received a single submission for is the Portland Pioneers. So if you're still contemplating which team to design for, that would be a good one.

Submissions begin this week for Central Division logos with the final names having been revealed yesterday. For each division, you'll have three weeks to get your logos created and sent in.

As always, any questions will be answered by email.

IceHL Central: Final Names

The final names for the IceHL's Central Division are in! Hundreds of you made your voice heard by rating the finalists for each franchise. So here are the winners.

• Chicago HITMEN
  average rating 3.53/5 by 403 people


• Detroit MOTORHEADS
  average rating 2.88/5 by 328 people


• Milwaukee LAGERS
  average rating 2.92/5 by 312 people


• Minnesota MAMMOTHS
  average rating 3.53/5 by 327 people


• St. Louis ARCHERS
  average rating 3.85/5 by 376 people

Based on these names, your task — should you choose to accept it — is to brand the franchise. You choose the color scheme and design primary, secondary and script logos around that. Additional logos may or may not be included in the voting process.

Submit your logo art by email to me at icethetics@gmail.com. Do not post links to artwork in the comments. They will be deleted and not considered for use in this project. I'm also outlining guidelines for submissions below. I'm taking them a little more seriously than I did for the IHA. If you don't follow them, your work will probably not be included.

Central logo submission deadline: October 18

If you want your submission included, follow these instructions:

• DO NOT STEAL ARTWORK. Logos copied or adapted from professional trademarked logos will not be permitted.


• Submit three (3) logos: primary, secondary and script. Use a white background. If your logo requires a white outline (think Lightning or Capitals), then use a gray background with the white outline included. ALL 3 LOGOS will be used in the voting process. If you leave out one, your work may be disqualified.


• Submit vector art if possible. I will accept .ai, .psd and .pdf files. If you cannot submit vector art, you must be able to provide high quality images in .jpg or .png files ONLY. All other file types may be disqualified.


• You must include your credit within the graphic itself as well as the email. This can be your real name or a pseudonym. I need them in both places so I can easily search my email to find your artwork and email address. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.


• By submitting your own original artwork to any Icethetics email address, you agree to grant permission of its use for online or print publication by Icethetics. Do not watermark your logos or they will be disqualified.


• No jersey concepts, please. That will be a later step in this process.

I tried to be specific here but I'm happy to answer any additional questions you may have via email. I was very clear about this but keep in mind that if you do not properly follow the instructions above, your work will likely be disqualified. So read them carefully.

Just so everyone is aware, when it comes time to choose a logo for each team, the process will work basically the same as the name ratings. Logo rating pages will be posted for each team and up to 20 logo submissions will be available to rate. I'm sorry I can't include more but this assures that all worthy submissions will get a fair shake.

The difference here is that once the rating period has ended, there will be a vote on Icethetics of the top 3 rated logos for each team. This assures that we choose the logo everyone wants.

Start submitting your logos!

IceHL Pacific: Final Names

The final names for the IceHL's Pacific Division are in! Hundreds of you made your voice heard by rating the 20 finalists for each franchise. So here they are.

• Alaska HUSKIES
  average rating 3.69/5 by 417 people


• California WAVE
  average rating 2.87/5 by 337 people


• Portland PIONEERS
  average rating 3.76/5 by 363 people


• Seattle AVIATORS
  average rating 3.56/5 by 346 people


• Vancouver LUMBERJACKS
  average rating 2.91/5 by 313 people

Based on these names, your task — should you choose to accept it — is to brand the franchise. You choose the color scheme and design primary, secondary and script logos around that. Additional logos may or may not be included in the voting process.

Submit your logo art by email to me at icethetics@gmail.com. Do not post links to artwork in the comments. They will be deleted and not considered for use in this project. I'm also outlining guidelines for submissions below. I'm taking them a lot more seriously than I did for the IHA. If you don't follow them, your work will probably not be included.

Pacific logo submission deadline: October 11

If you want your submission included, follow these instructions:

• DO NOT STEAL ARTWORK. Logos copied or adapted from professional trademarked logos will not be permitted.


• Submit three (3) logos: primary, secondary and script. Use a white background. If your logo requires a white outline (think Lightning or Capitals), then use a gray background with the white outline included. ALL 3 LOGOS will be used in the voting process. If you leave out one, your work may be disqualified.


• Submit vector art if possible. I will accept .ai, .psd and .pdf files. If you cannot submit vector art, you must be able to provide high quality images in .jpg or .png files ONLY. All other file types may be disqualified.


• You must include your credit within the graphic itself as well as the email. This can be your real name or a pseudonym. I need them in both places so I can easily search my email to find your artwork and email address. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.


• By submitting your own original artwork to any Icethetics email address, you agree to grant permission of its use for online or print publication by Icethetics. Do not watermark your logos or they will be disqualified.


• No jersey concepts, please. That will be a later step in this process.

I tried to be specific here but I'm happy to answer any additional questions you may have via email. I was very clear about this but keep in mind that if you do not properly follow the instructions above, your work will likely be disqualified. So read them carefully.

Just so everyone is aware, when it comes time to choose a logo for each team, the process will work the same as the name ratings. Logo rating pages will be posted for each team and up to 20 logo submissions will be available to rate. I'm sorry I can't include more but this assures that all worthy submissions will get a fair shake.

The difference here is that once the rating period has ended, there will be a vote on Icethetics of the top 3 rated logos for each team. This assures that we choose the logo everyone wants.

Start submitting your logos!

From The Ground Up Is Now... IceHL

I've settled on a name for the league we're building here at Icethetics from the ground up. From here on out, I'll refer to it as the IceHL. You can take that however you prefer. Icethetics Hockey League... Icethetics Continental Elite Hockey League (submitted by Vic DiGital)... or whatever else fits that name.

By the way, I'll post the final teams names and begin accepting logo submissions for the Pacific Division shortly.

The IceHL. What do you guys think? Let me know how you feel about it by rating this post. Five stars if you love it! One if you want it to rot.

From The Ground Up: Southeast Names

The five markets with the most votes to be included in the Southeast Division of our fantasy hockey league are final. Over 4,000 individual votes were cast in the poll.

Here, 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.

• ATLANTA, Georgia
  Georgia | Atlanta | Macon


• BALTIMORE, Maryland
  Maryland | Baltimore | Columbia


• CHARLOTTE, North Carolina
  North Carolina | Carolina | Charlotte | Asheville


• TAMPA, Florida
  Florida | Tampa | Tampa Bay | St. Petersburg | Sarasota


• WASHINGTON, District of Columbia
  D.C. | Washington | Chesapeake

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. Up to 20 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 any name that has already been selected for this project.
• 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.

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 South Division. You have until September 27.

Start submitting!

From The Ground Up: South Names

The five markets with the most votes to be included in the South Division of our fantasy hockey league are final. Over 4,000 individual votes were cast in the poll.

Here, 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.

• DALLAS, Texas
  Texas | Dallas | Fort Worth | Irving


• DENVER, Colorado
  Colorado | Denver | Boulder


• HOUSTON, Texas
  Texas | Houston | Beaumont | Galveston


• NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana
  Louisiana | New Orleans | Baton Rouge | Shreveport


• SALT LAKE CITY, Utah
  Utah | Salt Lake City | Salt Lake

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. Up to 20 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 any name that has already been selected for this project.
• 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.

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 Southeast Division. You have until September 27.

Start submitting!

IHA Final Art: Central

Two weeks ago I began unveiling the winning logo sets for each team in Project: IHA. You saw the final artwork for the Atlantic, West, Northeast, Pacific and Great Lakes Divisions. Last week you voted on logos for the Central Division. The polls are now closed and this is officially the final step of the project.

Below are the logos you selected for the IHA Central. On the left is the team's primary logo. To the right is the secondary and the wordmark is beneath it. Under the graphic is the designer's credit.

Chris S.

Chris S.

Chris S.

A. Thompson

Roccot

I wanted to mention that the designer of the Tigers, Thunder and Crusaders logo is not me — despite sharing my name. I'm was impressed that these were the first designs he submitted for the project and all of them won their respective votes. Because of that, I thought I'd show you guys a logo he submitted late for the Great Lakes Division. Click here to see his Buffalo Bison design.

To all the winning designers: If you would like your credit changed or a link added, please don't hesitate to let me know. Since you aren't being compensated in any other way for all your work, the least I can do is offer a link to your web site, blog or online portfolio — just in case certain eyes are looking. You never know. However, if you would like to remain anonymous, that's fine too.

And so ends Project: IHA. It was fun, if not controversial at times. We got to see some incredible artwork. I look forward to seeing more from our talented designers for the next project!

From The Ground Up: North Names

The five markets with the most votes to be included in the North Division of our fantasy hockey league are final. Over 7,000 individual votes were cast in the poll (which is strange since its sister poll had more than 3,000 more.)

Here, 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. This is interesting because we're staying squarely in Canada for this entire division.

• CALGARY, Alberta
  Alberta | Calgary | Lethbridge


• EDMONTON, Alberta
  Alberta | Edmonton | Red Deer


• REGINA, Saskatchewan
  Saskatchewan | Regina


• SASKATOON, Saskatchewan
  Saskatchewan | Saskatoon


• WINNIPEG, Manitoba
  Manitoba | Winnipeg

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. Up to 20 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.

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 Northeast Division. You have until September 20.

Start submitting!

I've been reading some of the submissions and it's a little pathetic. I think a lot of you are trying too hard to find a name that "means something" to the point where you're losing sight of the fact that we're trying to name sports teams. Forget about trivial nonsense and suggest some names you'd want to chant in an arena of 20,000 people. Just something to think about when making your nominations.

From The Ground Up: Northeast Names

The five markets with the most votes to be included in the Northeast Division of our fantasy hockey league are final. Over 10,000 individual votes were cast in the poll.

Here, 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.

• BOSTON, Massachusetts
  Massachusetts | New England | Boston | Worcester


• MONTRÉAL, Quebec
  Montreal


• NEW YORK, New York
  New York | New York City | New Jersey | Long Island


• QUEBEC CITY, Quebec
  Quebec | Quebec City


• TORONTO, Ontario
  Ontario | Toronto | Hamilton | London

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. Up to 20 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.

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 North Division. You have until September 20.

Start submitting!

I've been reading some of the submissions and it's a little pathetic. I think a lot of you are trying too hard to find a name that "means something" to the point where you're losing sight of the fact that we're trying to name sports teams. Forget about trivial nonsense and suggest some names you'd want to chant in an arena of 20,000 people. Just something to think about when making your nominations.