The name game

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador – Hockey fans in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador have a lot of reasons to be excited about the new AHL franchise that will begin play in the 2011-12 season. However, in addition to that excitement are countless questions about the city’s new hockey team.
 
Who will coach the club? What players will make the final roster? Will any local professionals receive a tryout?
 
The most pressing question relates to the team’s nickname, uniform design and colors. Fans are anxiously waiting to learn what moniker the club will use and when team merchandise will become available.
 
“It’s something everybody is talking about, even my two small boys,” said Krystal Williams, a season ticket holder for the new St. John’s AHL team. “I wouldn’t mind if they just called our team after the NHL team in Winnipeg, but at the same time it might be more fun if it was an original name aimed at fans in St. John’s.”
 
The previous St. John’s AHL entry simply took the nickname of its parent NHL club in Toronto, skating as the St. John’s Maple Leafs for 14 years. When the Baby Leafs left for Toronto in 2005, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League set up shop in their place and the St. John’s Fog Devils were born.
 
Although the reception was mixed at first, Fog Devils proved to be a popular name and logo with fans in St. John’s. The team had less-than-ideal results on the ice and with attendance, ultimately leading to its sale and relocation to Montreal in the spring of 2008.
 
“The Fog Devils weren’t all that successful as far as wins and losses went, but I still give them credit for coming up with an original name,” said Williams. “It was unexpected, but I thought it was popular with a lot of people, especially young fans.”
 
There are currently three names believed to be the leading candidates for the new St. John’s entry in the AHL.
 
At the top of the list is the St. John’s Caps or Capitals, in homage to the former senior hockey power that played out of St. John’s Memorial Stadium from the 1960s to 1990. The team won seven Herder Memorial Trophies as provincial senior hockey champions, including four in a row from 1973 to 1976.
 
The name Caps is rumoured to be a favourite of Danny Williams, CEO of the St. John’s AHL entry and the driving force to bring the AHL back to St. John’s.
 
Another strong possibility is St. John’s Jets, named after the parent team in Winnipeg. Ownership of the NHL club only recently announced the name Jets would be resurrected, fuelling speculation the St. John’s club would follow its lead.
 
Adopting the NHL team’s name and uniform design is a common trend for many AHL teams, however franchises such as the Hershey Bears, Rochester Americans and Chicago Wolves have shown an AHL franchise can successfully market an original name and uniform.
 
An intriguing third possibility is St. John’s Drillers. Although considered by many to be a long shot, Drillers is said to be getting heavy consideration from both Williams and Glenn Stanford, president of the St. John’s AHL entry.
 
Drillers is a name that represents recent cultural and industrial developments in St. John’s and in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It would stand for the offshore oil and gas developments off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, an industry many credit with turning the economy of St. John’s and the entire province in a positive direction.
 
It is also an industry Williams fought diligently to develop during his time as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
 
Contact Darcy.MacRae@prohockeynews.com