New Look Coming for Crunch
Wednesday · Jun 27 · 2012 | 10:55 AM PDT
Say goodbye to this logo. The AHL's Syracuse Crunch will unveil a completely new look on Monday, July 2, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.
The rebranding efforts apparently come as part of the Crunch's new affiliation agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning. So presumably, the Crunch will start wearing blue next season and my tongue-in-cheek recolor from the weekend is looking less ridiculous.
Specifically, the article says, "The Lightning deal allows Syracuse to rebrand its look, starting with a new logo and colors it will unveil on July 2." Meaning along with the new colors, we will see a new primary mark. That's probably the best news of all.
But then it may not be all that new. I'm told the Crunch could be looking at something from their history. The franchise began life as the Hamilton Canucks in 1992, moving to Syracuse, New York in 1994. At that point, they introduced the comic book-style logo seen here in purple, gold and green.
Obviously, my crudely recolored version of that logo won't be what we get. But it will probably be the basis. I imagine the new look will be a modern update that looks less like it came off the pen of a cartoonist. But I'm just guessing. I've also been told the new colors are blue, white and silver.
Now the history lesson. I've already mentioned Hamilton and the 1994 relocation to New York. Five years after that, on Sept. 30, 1999, the Crunch entered into an affiliation agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets and changed their logo and colors to match their new parent club — a full season before the Jackets would ever hit the ice, by the way. That was also the introduction of the abominable snowman ice gorilla.
In 2010, the Crunch hooked up with the Anaheim Ducks and changed their colors again. So this rebranding shouldn't surprise us. The Crunch have a track record of taking on the look of their NHL affiliate.
Elsewhere in the AHL, the Hershey Bears are apparently getting new uniforms with a redesigned logo. Can't tell you much about the source of this info, so take it for what it's worth. Also expecting a new third jersey for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (no surprise there), so we should certainly keep an eye on these teams throughout the summer for any news.
Reader Comments (6)
Going to School in Syracuse, I was always hoping they would change their jersey logo from that damn Showbiz Monkey...let's hope they don't go in the Superhero direction either. There has got to be something better out there that signifies a Crunch, besides the cereal. Please...get someone awesome to rebrand.
Why don't we have icethetics readers offer some fantastic designs? We could vote for the best and try to get the crunch to take on the mark. Crazier things have happened when an Internet group comes together for a cause
"The Lightning deal allows Syracuse to rebrand its look, starting with a new logo and colors it will unveil on July 2."
doesn't say 'crunch' in there, so maybe its a new name as well as logo / jerseys??
I would not be at all surprised if we see a return to the "superhero" look... Right now, superhero franchises are raking in the cash. I hear that Avenger's movie did decently in the box office... and there might be another Batman or something? Just rumors, you know... Anyways, since that genre is pretty popular right now, I could see the executives there thinking it is a good idea. I'm not saying it is, but I can hear how the conversation would go.
Are any other AHL teams changing up? I know for 2013-14 there will be a few moves...
As long as they don't get lazy and use the same uniform template as the Bolts I'll be happy.