Raleigh Gets All-Stars in 2011

The Carolina Hurricanes will host the next NHL All-Star Weekend, January 29-30, 2011 in Raleigh, N.C., which will include the 58th NHL All-Star Game.

The NHL made the announcement today in front of fans outside the RBC Center, where the event will be held. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the Hurricanes beat out 14 other team applications but didn't say which clubs applied.

Many assumed the league would award the big event to the Phoenix Coyotes, who might've benefited from the extra attention and financial help the NHL biggest stars would've attracted. I'm going out on a big limb here, but is it a subtle sign the league is considering allowing the franchise to find a new home?

The Hurricanes have never hosted an NHL All-Star Game since moving to Raleigh. The Hartford Whalers had it in 1986. This will mark the third straight time an Eastern Conference team will play host to the All-Stars.

There was no game this year because of the Olympics, but Montreal had it in 2009 and Atlanta in 2008. The Canes will be the fourth Southeast Division team to have the All-Stars since 1999 when Tampa hosted. The Panthers did it in 2003.

So let the concept art begin! What will the All-Star jerseys look like? How about the All-Star logo? Who will play in the most-watched exhibition game of the season? And most importantly, what do you think of the host selection? Did the league make the right call?

Yearbook Launched!

Just launched a brand new feature tonight. While I only first mentioned it earlier today, it's been in the works for a few weeks. Now the NHL Logo Yearbook is officially online.

Logo Yearbook has officially launched

There's a sample of what the page looks like. Click through to start using it.

In a nutshell, the Yearbook is a quick way for you to see NHL logos in the order that they were created. Beyond that, you get little details such as the day they were unveiled and who designed them, including links to news stories in some cases. Also, as seen in the sample, roll your mouse over any logo to see it enlarged 2x.

Right now the section includes only current primary logos. In time, it will feature all secondary and alternate NHL logos. I'm working on it.

There are currently no plans to cover any of the minor leagues in this way but I am working up ideas for a franchise history tracker — something that would allow you to track the many relocations over time. Still developing that.

Meantime, I hope you enjoy the Yearbook and if you have any suggestions to make it better, I'm all ears. And if you are interested in contributing any information I don't have posted, email me but be sure to include a link or two for research purposes.

What's New at Icethetics?

Blogworthy news has been a bit slow lately, so I thought it would take a minute to talk about some of the other things going on here at Icethetics.

Wild's current logoLogo Design Contest!

The coolest thing happening right now is the Wenatchee Wild logo design contest. The NAHL junior team is looking for a new look and has turned to the talented artists who frequent Icethetics. I'm sure you've seen it, but in case you haven't, click on that bright orange tab at the top of the page that says CONTEST.

The winner gets $200 and a jersey with their logo on it! And even if they don't win, you still have a chance at other prizes if they like and want to use your work. Full details can be found on the Contest page. The deadline for entires in April 20.

I did want to address one thing, though. I very small minority have expressed disapproval with these design contests we hold on occasion. Some say it dilutes the talent pool and takes business away from "established firms," which is really just another way of saying it increases competition. But mainly they don't think the prizes are big enough.

Just like the Ice Bulls (our previous contest), it's not as if the Wild would've gone to some massive design firm to spend thousands of dollars on a new identity package and instead chose the easy way out with a fan contest. They don't have the budget for that anyway. No one is losing out. What they want is a new look created by someone inside the hockey/design community — a fan.

Most important, no one is forced to enter so no one is being taken advantage of. I believe contests like this yield a better result in the end for these small teams because of the sense of competition. That being said, I would find it completely unacceptable for a professional organization to do. But that's not what we're talking about.

Just my thoughts. Feel free to add yours below.

NHL Tournament of Logos

The 2010 edition of the NHLToL is humming along nicely. Over a quarter-million votes cast in the last month and they just keep coming in. Logo tournaments were how Icethetics got its start back in 2007 so it's cool to see they're still as popular as ever.

Unfortunately, we never really got beyond the NHL or the big minor and junior leagues. We're still going to revisit the AHL, ECHL, OHL, WHL and QMJHL in the near future, but I've also got plans to host logo tournaments for all sorts of other leagues as well, such as the Central Hockey League, IHL (both old and new), SPHL, USHL, NAHL, BCHL, and EIHL to name a few. Ultimately it'll be up to you guys to decide. Only catch is it has to be hockey.

Yearbook

I'm working on a new feature I think might come in handy on occasion. If ever you were looking for a list of NHL logos and how long they've been around, who designed them, and so forth. The wait is almost over. The Icethetics Yearbook will have you covered. Planning to roll that out within about a week or so.

Goalie Mask Galleries

While I'm on the subject of new features, one of the more long-term plans involves a Goalie Mask Gallery. Of course I need to get back to updating the Jersey Galleries first. But a lot of you have asked about it and I just wanted you to know it's on my radar. A lot of work for one person who also has a regular job.

Hope you guys continue to enjoy the site and all it offers. Remember, if there's ever anything you think I should be covering, I read all my emails (though I may not be able to reply to them all).