Team Canada Needs A New Logo
Tuesday · Nov 4 · 2008 | 9:14 AM PSTThe International Olympic Committee doesn't allow national sports federation logos from team uniforms at the Olympics but now they're getting down to business and enforcing the rule. This means Team Canada won't be able to use this symbol in 2010 in Vancouver.
;)
Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
If you'd like to read more, TSN.ca has more details.
This has led numerous people to email in suggesting that we hold our own contest here at Icethetics to design a new logo for Team Canada — and by extention, other countries around the world. However, this isn't really a factor for most other countries.
It sounds to me like the IOC is trying to reduce the commercial element from what was originally meant to be an event featuring amateur athletes. Corporate sponsorship is one thing, but branding a national team doesn't really make a whole lot of sense.
Still, I'm up for it. If you guys want to create new logos and uniforms for Team Canada, Team USA, even Team Lithuania, I'll set up a page to display them (I can do that with a web site now, you see).
Reader Comments (59)
Wont even let the host country use a specific logo...wow
This frustrates me greatly. I purchased the new white edition of the team canada the other jersey in toronto (i live in vancouver so can't return it) and the next day this news comes out! Canadian hockey in my generation at least is recognized by this logo. I don't understand why they had to do this. Like does sweden get to keep its logo cause as far as i can tell its no flag. I just dont want the jerseys ending up like those crappy EA sports ones in NHL 08/09 tpe thing cause those are brutal. Not having the real jerseys to look at in that game turn me off from playing in the international modes. I'm really hoping hockey canada can appeal this decision or something
This seems to be a bit of a drastic move, I've always been a fan of Team Canada's look and appearance over the years. Does this mean Team USA will have to change its logo??
In any case, they could always go the EA Sports NHL 08/09 look and use each county's flag. Its boring, but it works.
They should go back to the Canada Cup jerseys - which is definitely a top 10 jersey design ever.
Simple solution in my opinion. Hockey Canada could just change their own logo and keep the current logo for national teams.
"Branding a national team doesn't make a whole lot of sense."
You truly don't understand Canadian hockey. For the last 10 years, Hockey Canada has made the logo a symbol of pride. That logo is a good portion of the current NHL players were raised, especially the younger ones. It symbolizes the progress of their career. It's what has turned them into hockey players. From the age of 4 and up, Hockey Canada plays a huge part in the development of hockey players.
That logo means a lot to Canadians, almost as much as the Canadian flag. The logo was introduced in '98, so for the better part of the league, the players were raised by the program.
Right after I typed the above, I did a search on it. Yzerman basically says the same thing.
http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081103.whockey03/GSStory/GlobeSportsOther/home
the Nichollson supports the statement.
"I tried explaining it to Steve Yzerman," he added. "It's like you wear your jersey all season long but when you get to the Stanley Cup playoffs [NHL commissioner] Gary Bettman says you can't wear it. I don't understand."
this is a great move and am glad the IOC is actually standing up to these organizations. its not a loss at all for canada, just Hockey Canada.
the only teams affected on their primary logo other than canada are USA, Finland, Japan, and Norway
most everyone else uses their hockey federation logo on the chest or shoulder.
although lithuania is mentioned, they just use their coat of arms - that said, this is a great idea chris :)
I don't mind this at all. I love the new Team Canada jersey but that corporate logo should not be used on it. Its a company much like the Canucks putting an Orca on their jersey for Orca Bay... oh wait...
Why can't they put this logo on their current jersey?
http://memorabiliamaniac.com/shop/images/large/gretzky-jersey-2002canada-nike-red-thumb.jpg
I also like the Toronto Marlies style leaf with CANADA written across the front.
http://www.explace.on.ca/DigitalPics/marlies.jpg
not the end of the world. The logo wasn't iconic yet.
Its a shame that they have to change it. Whenever I think of Canadian Hockey, I think of that logo.
When I was in college there was a girl that played on our women's D-I team who had that logo tattooed on the small of her back. It was really cool and unique. Its a shame.
Personally, I won't miss it much. I agree with Dandy - that logo was too corporate-looking for my tastes.
Sirhofh - my understanding (and this only comes from hearing a host on Montreal's Team 990 station talk about it) is that the former Summit Series players own the rights to that jersey (the 1972 one, at least). Team Canada at the World Juniors wore it for one game either last tournament or the one before, and that was only because they worked out a special deal with the 1972 alums. And those 1972 alums guard everything about that year very tightly, since it's their income.
You truly don't understand Canadian hockey. For the last 10 years, Hockey Canada has made the logo a symbol of pride. That logo is a good portion of the current NHL players were raised, especially the younger ones. It symbolizes the progress of their career.
That's my point, Wade. Kids are growing up with a corporate icon symbolizing the progress of their career — since 1995. That's fine because it's Hockey Canada but the IOC is trying to differentiate that organization from Team Canada at the Games. And I completely agree. Let Hockey Canada be its own thing but the Olympians shouldn't be confused with that.
And when I said it doesn't make sense to brand a national team, I meant that from a marketing perspective. You're not marketing individual teams (in other words nations) at the Olympic Games. You're marketing the event and the spectacle of everybody coming together, if anything.
This is one design contest that actually makes sense to do. Unlike that IceHL. Which is dumb may I add.
wow i loved this logo
and its wierd, i was asked to design the logos and jerseys of the portugal ball hockey team
I'm all for a new logo submission contest. Start with a Canada re-brand, including jerseys, and continue with the major countries...US, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Chech Rep., Slovakia. Who cares about the others. It'd be fun and a great way to design something a little more "real". Kind of like the NHL re-brand.
Plus...telling Canada, or whoever, not to use a particular logo is BS. This is the IOC trying to flex it's muscles and remind everyone that they are in charge. Amazing they let Canada use this logo in international competion for the past decade, but are only now "enforcing" the rule. Lame.
I'm really pi**ed about this news. Not about the logo of Team Canada, but about the logo of Team Finland. The logo is holy to every finnish hockey fan. It symbols our courage, toughness and teamwork.
I'm pi**ed and confused, but at the same time a bit hopeful. I hope the team will change their uniforms, for the olympics only, to this:
http://img.mtv3.fi/mn_kuvat/mtv3/urheilu/arvokisat/mmlatka/2008/527048.jpg
They used it this year in the World Championships. Theyre from 1965.
Boo-hoo, Canada. I'm sure if they lose in the Olympics, they'll blame it on not having their precious jerseys exactly how they should be.
C'mon Canada...play the IOC's little game. Change the Hockey Canada corporate logo soon. Then you can use these uni's that you love so much. Then after the Olympics, change the corporate logo back to what it is today.
kind of disappointing...the canadian maple leaf might be a little bland for a hockey jersey...have to see what they come up with. they should at least keep that logo on the shoulder.
we should definetely try our hand at redesigning the international teams...sounds fun
What wrong with useing this logo from the Black Jerseys?
http://www.icejerseys.com/images/olympics/canada_2006_jersey_black_big.jpg
This is so stupid. Everyone knows that logo as Team Canada's logo, and when I see it, the company Hockey Canada doesn't even pass through my mind. What Hockey Canada should do is change their logo so the IOC can't deny Canada from using their real logo.
Why hasn't the NHL said that the Canucks can't use their logo? Because it's stupid.
Exactly, just use the secondary logo that's been on the jersey for a while (the maple leaf with the scroll "Canada" under it) as the primary logo, just like on the old black alternate. Problem solved.
this logo isn't a symbol of a greedy "corporation". hockey canada is a brand but the funds generated don't go into somebody's pocket they go into keeping minor hockey alive in this country and ensuring coaching education. by the way this is not the end of this logo it's still our official logo as far as the iihf is concerned so it doesn't apply to world tournaments just the olympics which i'm sure is also frustrating. i don't like the fact our olympic committee didn't at least try and help and explain our case the sad thing is they were probably looking for a kick back from hockey canada. it's sad cause the only event most people care about at the games on our home soil is the hockey tournament.
I like the logo we have but a new logo is always an interesting thing, and an international rebranding sounds like a great idea, sounds like what i used to do in my freetime haha i'll have to try and work on my computer skills to see if i can submit something for this
the ones that say its a corporate logo... its not. Its a non profit organization, and one that has spread this game we all love to millions of kids... Not letting Team canada wear that logo is like not letting the new york yankees wear their iconic logo. And by the way, technically all nhl logos are corporate logos, so the nhl shouldnt let the montreal canadiens wear their logo. this shouldnt even be an argument
ajwilson55, you obviously don't live in Canada if you think everyone here said we should've won last time. Get your facts straight before trying to insult someone or something or somewhere.
Last Olympics, where Canada played extremely poorly, no one said we should've won because of blah blah blah. We actually talked about how horribly the players represented us. They weren't playing like a team, but rather individual Canadians playing in the same coloured jersey.
Speaking about the jersey, I honestly have never liked this logo. The font is too modern, there should be no black inside of the logo, and I find the overall design rather cheesy. It screams NBA/MLB logo. I'd much rather a more detailed leaf, maybe in a circle just to clean it up, and add "CANADA" somewhere inbetween the lines of the circle.
1) Haven't they already released the sweaters for the 2010 Olympics? It'd be one thing if the IOC did this before they unveiled the new sweaters, but there are going to be a lot of angry people who purchased a jersey thinking they could wear it for a little while.
2) "Corporate sponsorship is one thing, but branding a national team doesn't really make a whole lot of sense."
If the Hockey Canada logo (which is from a non-profit corporation that oversees most youth leagues in Canada, much in the same way USA Hockey does in the states) goes, then there shouldn't be logos at all on team-consistent apparel.
As in, get rid of the f**king swoosh from the jersey and socks. It's one thing if you have a Sher-Wood stick, Graf skates, a Nike/Bauer helmet- all of that is fine, but the fact that companies like Nike and Reebok get away with slapping logos all over sweaters in almost every league is just disgusting (it's really bad in the minors- the Houston Aeros actually have a break in the coloring of their shoulder yolk, just so you can see the CONTRASTING Reebok logo more easily).
i bet we will use this logo and it will be fine
It's not corporate logos that they are banning - it's logos of national sports federations. It doesn't seem to make sense that we'll still have an RBK or Nike logo on the jersey, but we can't have our Hockey Canada maple leaf logo.
Josh, you're comments about the 1972 team owning the right to the Canada Cup jerseys seems to be off. The jereseys worn in the 72 Summit Series are different than those worn in the Canada Cup's of the 80's and early 90's (and maybe the 1976 summit series too, but I'm not sure if that's right).
What a load of crap, that logo is Canada Hockey through and through.
just use this
http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=6523
Here is something I said about this on SportingNews.com, starting with a quote from the article, followed by my comment: (http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=481298)
"I can't believe that they're taking a chunk of history, especially when we're hosting it in our country," Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said. "They're putting Team Canada at a disadvantage in its own country."
How is this putting Canada at a disadvantage? Tell me how the emblem on a team's chest makes any difference in the team's performance. A team isn't as good as how they look, or else the Ducks wouldn't have won the 2007 Stanley Cup.
I understand that the Leaf symbolizes the nation, but I honestly think the COC is making a mountain out of a molehill. There are rules, and everybody does have to play by the same rules, whether you agree with them or not. If you are breaking it, don't complain about it. Just comply with it.
That sure sucks. I've always loved that logo and I hope that it manages to stay on Canada's jersey. But it would be cool to see other guys design new team Canada jerseys Chris, I really like your idea!
Yeah, Mykl. i saw the thing about ball hockey on your site. You do good work!
"Just use this
http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=6523 "
I totally agree. That logo goes along with old school look the new Team Canada jerseys seem to be going for anyways. Just swap this logo to the chest and move the other to the sleeves. It's not like they weren't wearing jerseys with this setup lately
http://www.rivercitysports.com/product_shots/large_pics/101168.jpg
I agree with almost everyone here by saying this is a shame... Like most Canadians, I've always loved this logo and it is certainly my favorite. Not to get off topic, but I wouldn't be too sad to see the new jersey style go though. I absolutely LOVED the jerseys worn in 2002, and the 1998 and 2006 jerseys looked sharp too, but these more recent jerseys are kind of awful.
In the end, I hope there will end up being some type of compromise. Or maybe (just maybe) the new logo will be better than the old one. Here's hoping!
?And when I said it doesn't make sense to brand a national team, I meant that from a marketing perspective. You're not marketing individual teams (in other words nations) at the Olympic Games. You're marketing the event and the spectacle of everybody coming together, if anything.?
Again, it's a Canadian thing you will never understand. We waited years for the Olympics to come back to Canada. All of us feel part of that team, and that symbol is what makes us feel we're part of that spectacle... we feel like we were a part of growing Canadian hockey.
That logo can leave after the Olympics, as far as I'm concerned... but to go this long with it and then the HOST country is FORCED to ditch an iconic logo before the Olympics - for what is the most important event in Canadians eyes, is highway robbery.
Canadians don't view that logo as a corporate symbol, they view it as a sense of community and pride. They say it takes a whole village to raise a child - Hockey Canada is our child, and that logo is the symbol of what we helped create and grow.
Also, that isn't the brand for the National Team. That brand is ALL of Canadian hockey. It's the symbol that 4 year olds see when they first put on the skates - and it's the same way for teenagers, CHL players, and NHL players.
That symbol represents a culture.
http://www.1972summitseries.com/photos/1980scanadajersey.jpg
http://image59.webshots.com/759/3/43/48/2916343480100337552mbKtzJ_ph.jpg
http://geoffsanderson.com/images/canada_1993_world_champsrs_-_front.jpg
http://shop.gohabs.com/images/shop_canada_v1972r_b.jpg
http://www.hollywoodcollectibles.com/autographed/memorabilia/sports/collectibles/authentic/Hockey/Wayne-Gretzky-Unsigned_jersey.jpg
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06vHeHj1sV6ST/610x.jpg
here are some options of older canada jerseys
This is an unneeded rule.
So the finger is being pointed at Canada yet no mention whatsoever is made towards, oh, say, the US team for doing the exact same thing?
What bullshit. If you're going to enforce something do it universally.
Not shocked the IOC is doing this at all...
They did the same thing in Beijing during the soccer tourney where just about everyone had to remove their respective federation badges off the kits.
So, am I the only one who doesn't like the Hockey Canada logo? It's just so boring and corporate. D: I've actually been thinking for a while that they need a new logo.
I love the people who say this logo, iconizes Hockey Canada. Are you kidding me? Its been in place for a little over 10 years. Just stop complaining and follow the rules.
Finally, the IOC is making Canada ablige by the rules and not get special treatment.
Oh and the USA should go back to the 1980's jersey, they are awesome. Especially with the blue name plates on the back.
backburner
you are not the only one who doesn't like the team canada logo.
as far as using older jerseys for canada - one i like is the 1976 canada cup jersey. modifying the 72 jersey so it has a better looking 'top of a leaf' would work also.
almost anything looks better than the current one.
don't agree with nick about the usa 1980's jersey; find it kind of bland. like their 1976 jersey - especially the white jersey (with the blue shoulder with white stars, the eagle crest with usa in the chest, and red and white stripes below). some may find it tacky, but i don't.
This is absolute CRAP.
How about the logo that Hockey USA's been using since 1987? (it simply just had a circle placed around it in 2002)..... or how about the 3 crowns that Sweden's used since 1976? This Team Canada logo has been in place since 1995. It's not our fault that Hockey Canada can sell the team easier to fans and sponsors than others might be able to.
Do they not realize that the next logo will just end up becoming the exact same thing? If anything, new logos and jerseys are only going to bring in more money to our national hockey team than they would have if you'd left them alone.
@Wade Little - Don't give Bettman any ideas. He might do something like that.
Careful where many are pointing the finger here!!
First, it is the Canadian Olympic Committee that has decided not to sign an exemption letter for Hockey Canada this year, not the IOC getting tough. Although they have starting upping their enforcement, the IOC is not directly to blame for what is happening here.
Second, Canada has not been receiving "special treatment" as there was this simple rule in place where a specific sports federation from a country could apply for an exemption to be allowed to use their logo. Well within the rules.
You can slag my NHL team, but as a Canadian you start pointing fingers at Team Canada and someone will quickly come to their defense...