Ducks Change Name, Uniforms

The following entry contains material copied from a web page that no longer exists. It has been posted here for informational purposes only.

On June 23, 2006, the Anaheim Ducks officially unveiled their new name, logo and uniforms. Here is the press release posted on the team's official website.

Anaheim Ducks Officially Take Flight

Ducks unveil new uniformsANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks today unveiled the club’s new logo and jerseys at a press conference held at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. At the same time, the club officially changed its name from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, to the Anaheim Ducks.

“We’re both proud and excited to bring hockey fans in Southern California a new look and new name,” said Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli. “We think the new logo and jersey portray the same passion and energy our players and fans bring to the building every night.”

The new look and identity of the Ducks were a collaborative effort, mixing opinions of fans as well as Ducks players, ownership and management. After sports branding firm, Frederick & Froberg Design Office developed dozens of concepts in an exploratory design phase, all parties involved unanimously decided to go beyond simply altering the original concept of an aggressive duck character.

In shaping the new design, the focus was sharpened to create an overall image that expressed excitement, speed and a competitive edge. In addition, a classic color palette of black and metallic gold was developed, with an accent of orange as a metaphorical link to the teams’ Orange County home.

“As area residents, we felt it important the jerseys in some way represent our home,” added owner Susan Samueli. “And, we believe this new look serves as a fantastic way to update the franchise’s growing tradition.”

The result is a strong, typographic mark anchored by a stylized “D” that echoes the image of a duck’s foot or footprint. The custom typography has a powerful forward momentum and is made up of metallic gold letters with orange drop-shadows and a black holding shape. The new uniforms are an evolution of the earlier sweater design but with gold, white and orange sweeping stripes influenced by the curves of the “D” in the Ducks’ logo.

The overall look is a distinctive departure from the original design, introducing a more sophisticated, powerful and timeless identity.

“I really love the new look and thank the Samuelis for giving me a chance to have input on the design,” said Ducks winger Teemu Selanne. “I can’t wait to hit the ice with it this fall.”

ABOUT THE DUCKS

Since their inception in 1993, the Anaheim Ducks have earned four trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a trip to the Finals in 2003 and the Western Conference Finals this past season.

Just over a year ago, on June 20, 2005, the Ducks’ franchise was purchased by Orange County residents Henry and Susan Samueli. In the Samueli’s first year of ownership, the Ducks went on to break franchise records for overall wins (43) and standings points (98). Entering the 2006 Playoffs as the Western Conference’s sixth seed, the Ducks upset the third-seeded Calgary Flames in a thrilling seven-game series and went on to sweep the Colorado Avalanche before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.

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Reference Posted 3/20/10
Original URL: http://www.anaheimducks.com/press/release/topstory.php?dir=200604&id=1364

Atlanta Thrashers Unveil Logo

The following entry contains material copied from web pages which no longer exist.

Thrashers Unveil Logo Tonight

April 23, 1998

The Atlanta Thrashers will unveil their little brown songbird with an attitude tonight. The NHL team, which opens play in the fall of 1999, will release its five-color logo in the atrium at CNN Center. It depicts the Georgia state bird, although it's one with a slightly nasty attitude.

Ceremonies begin at 5:45 p.m., with the actual logo unveiling scheduled for 6:15, and will be shown on the team's Internet site (www.atlantathrashers.com).

Excerpt from article published in Atlanta Journal-Constitution (page C5)

Atlanta Thrashers Unveil Logo Live on the Internet

April 23, 1998

The Atlanta Thrashers, Atlanta's National Hockey League (NHL) expansion franchise have unveiled their official team logo simultaneously from CNN Center in Atlanta and live on the internet, announced team President Harvey Schiller. The cyberlaunch, an NHL first, took place via the team's web site at www.atlantathrashers.com.

Summary of article published on Thrashers' official website

Atlanta Thrashers Unveil Logo

April 24, 1998

ATLANTA (AP) — The brown thrasher is a tiny bird that forages in leaves and has been known to flee from a fight. Needless to say, that's not the impression suggested from the logo unveiled Thursday by the Atlanta Thrashers, who will join the NHL in 1999.

The Thrashers' logo is a fierce-looking bird with a scowl on its face, a tornado-like whirlwind for a body and a hockey stick brandished menacingly from its tail feathers.

Ted Turner came up with the name for his new NHL team after learning that the state bird of Georgia is the brown thrasher, a creature that measures about a foot from the tip of its beak to the end of its tail feathers.

AP wire report

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Reference posted 3/21/10

Nordiques Become Avalanche

The following entry contains material collected from various news services.

Colorado Avalanche to Debut

Adrian Dater
August 10, 1995

The story that wouldn't die — what the name, logo and colors of Colorado's new National Hockey League team would be — finally does today.

After almost three months of speculation, rumors, polls and focus groups, the franchise will be named officially and logos unveiled at 11 a.m. at the Westin Tabor Center.

By now, most know the team will be called the Avalanche. And after several apparent flip-flops over the first name, the team will be known officially as the Colorado Avalanche.

Excerpt from article published in Denver Post (page D2)

Denver enters second ice age with Avalanche

August 11, 1995

DENVER — Since nobody could manufacture drama for the occasion, Shawn Hunter tried humor instead.

Nice try, but most of the sports world knew what would take place Thursday at a downtown hotel, as Comsat Video Enterprises finally announced the name of its National Hockey League franchise — just 60 days before the first regular-season game.

Along with the nickname, Hunter unveiled the Avalanche's appealing logo, which includes the colors of burgundy, silver, blue and black. Burgundy, as Hunter put it, "will be the next great color in sports."

Excerpt from article published in Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph (page C1)

Joe Sakic poses with new logoNordiques Become Avalanche

August 11, 1995

DENVER (AP) — Colorado's new pro hockey team disclosed its new name Thursday — the Colorado Avalanche — and publicly displayed the team's burgundy, blue, and silver logo for the first time.

Officials of the NHL team revealed the team name and logo in a video played for reporters. The logo is an A with a silver snowstreak through its left side. The colors are burgundy, blue and silver with a black hockey puck.

The announcement followed weeks of market research by the new owners, Comsat Video Enterprises. Among the names discarded were Black Bears, Cougars, Ice and Storm.

"The name was something we always thought we'd wait with and do right," said vice president of marketing, Shawn Hunter. "You have to remember, this franchise is still just two months old."

The team is the third Colorado sports organization to have the nickname "Avalanche." A professional paint-ball team in Denver also calls itself the Avalanche, as does Vail's junior A-league hockey team. The Colorado Rockies have a minor-league affiliate in Salem, Va., named the Avalanche.

Denver's new hockey team used to be the Quebec Nordiques. It moved here in May when the former owner couldn't work out a new lease with Quebec officials.

AP wire report; AP photo as published in Spokane Spokesman-Review (page C2)

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Reference posted 3/21/10

Panthers Unveil Uniforms, Logo

The following entry contains material from various news services.

Panthers Unveil Uniforms, Logo

June 15, 1993

MIAMI — Team uniforms and logo were unveiled Monday by the Florida Panthers, the newest franchise in the NHL.

The logo features a panther baring claws and teeth, preparing to pounce. The team's home uniforms will be white with red, gold and navy blue trim. The road uniforms will consist of a red shirt, navy blue shorts, and red, white and gold leggings.

The uniforms feature a shoulder patch with a palm tree criss-crossed with a hockey stick over a backdrop of the sun.

AP wire report, as published in the Gainesville Sun (page 3C)

Panthers' Logo Makes Its Debut

David J. Neal
June 7, 1993

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will unveil drawings of the logos of the NHL expansion Florida Panthers and Anaheim Mighty Ducks on NBC's Today show at 7:15 this morning. The Panthers will release their full uniforms at a news conference next Monday, Bettman said.

The Mighty Ducks will reveal their uniforms today.

Excerpt from article published in Miami Herald (page 1D)

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Reference posted 3/21/10

Wild Unveil Name, Logos

The following entry contains material collected from various news services.

Come and meet Minnesota Wild

January 25, 1998

Nice touch, the new Minnesota franchise calling a news conference to unveil its new name — Wild — and logo and including Neal Broten in the ceremony. If anyone has done more for hockey in Minnesota than Broten, name him.

But on to the logo, described as iron range red, forest green, harvest gold and Minnesota wheat. Was Minnesota wheat in your box of Crayolas? The Wild, by the way, beat out the Polars, Voyageurs and Blue Ox in fan balloting.

Excerpt from article published in Deseret News

Wild shows its new colors

John Millea
November 19, 1999

When Minnesota's NHL expansion franchise announced in January 1998 that it would be called the Wild, the obvious question was, "What's a 'Wild?'" The team's response: "Whatever you want it to be."

The Wild's home sweater, unveiled Thursday at the Roseville Skating Center, is dominated by the head of a beast that might be a bear. Or maybe it's a mountain lion? A wolf? A very angry gopher? Who really knows?

And again, that's precisely the point.

"It's a wild picture," chief executive officer Jac Sperling explained. "People will see what they want to see. It's intended to be a wild animal."

Excerpt from article published in Star Tribune

Wild look has some teeth in it

November 19, 1999

It might be the head of a bear, or maybe a cougar. Whatever it is, the reaction to the Minnesota Wild's new icon is better than the last time they tried it.

The National Hockey League's newest expansion team introduced its home sweater just in time for the holiday shopping season. With a brass band blaring and Neal Broten, the North Stars' favorite star, skating at the Roseville Skating Center on Thursday, team officials showed off the...

Excerpt from article published in St. Paul Pioneer Press (page 1D)

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Reference posted 3/21/10