The PWHL community was buzzing Thursday, after each of the PWHL's six teams stripped their existing social media team colors, and posted black and white logos and backgrounds only.
Shortly after, each of the PWHL's six teams posted a teaser image with a phrase , presumably hinting at a forthcoming team name. The image was also stamped with the date September 9, 2024. It appears the wait is over, and fans only have a few days to wait to learn the official names of the PWHL's six teams. That, however, hasn't stopped fans from guessing. And while the league applied for trademarks for six names last Fall, there is no guarantee they'll stick with those names.
Related: PWHL Clubs Tease New Team Names
Toronto's teaser, "Almost ready to rule the rink," with an image of Queen Elizabeth I sparked the most conversation as fans questioned whether this meant the originally filed Toronto Torch name was no longer in the running. One name that kept popping up in discussions was Toronto Monarchs. This name however, is already taken by the Arena Lacrosse League's Toronto Monarchs. The ALL is a development league for the National Lacrosse League. Another popular guess from fans was the Toronto Royals. That name too, however, is in use. The Royals are a minor hockey organization in the GTHL. An agreement could be formed to use either name, but it's another step the PWHL would have needed to traverse. The other names that fans have suggested multiple times since the teaser is Toronto Reign and Toronto Queens. There are however, several references relating Queen Elizabeth to Torches, which the league may be attempting to thematically connect. The main concern has come with the French version of the word torch, which is considered an anti-feminist slur in Quebec.
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Minnesota fans have suggested several names to go along with the teased phrase, "A cold front is rolling in." Some believe it will still be the applied for Minnesota Superior, while others have suggested Minnesota Frost or Minnesota Freeze. The Freeze name is in use by an Australian rules football team, one of the largest clubs in America, that has been in operation since 1999. Minnesota Frost could be available, as the lone name usage claim with the Frost name is a spring/summer boys' 'AAA' team. Another name, Minnesota Blizzard, that has come up in some fan forums already has heavy usage in the state in the form of a National Premier Soccer League team, and the long established Minnesota Blizzard baseball program, who have sent hundreds of players to college and had many drafted. Others still suggested Minnesota Storm, which could be an option, and would be a fun tie to the Minneapolis Storm girls hockey program, one of the state's more historic minor hockey organizations.
There certainly are no other teams in Ottawa with the Alert name, aside from the historic Ottawa Alerts women's hockey team from a century ago. The team's teaser promised to be "Bringing the energy," which didn't push fans away from believing the Alert name to be the pick. Seeing Ottawa Alert trending on social media Thursday however, did put a frown on the faces of non-hockey fans who thought the city had a public safety concern or missing child. And no, it's not believed that Ottawa is putting out a punny name to bring back Daryl "Watts." Multiple fans said they'd favor the name "Spark" or "Sparks" for a team. Ottawa Spark is not in use by any sport team. There is a Sparks Street in Ottawa, and Spark Beer that is brewed in the city, but it's a name that appears free for the taking. Other suggestions relating to the tease were Ottawa Charge, Ottawa Bolts, Ottawa Surge, and Ottawa Lightning. The image, of Ottawa's Gabbie Hughes, attached to the teaser, however, had other fans guessing it could be alluding to Hughes as an energy player, and connecting it to her alma mater as the Ottawa Bulldogs.
In Boston, the tease stated "Something is coming," which fans immediately tied to the existing applied for name, Boston Wicked. For those who've read Shakespeare's Macbeth , the immediate connection is to a couplet from the play, spoken by a witch, that reads "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes." The line has been repurposed in future movies and books. The witch tie to Macbeth did have some fans guessing the name could be tweaked to Boston Witches. Perhaps the biggest challenge for a Boston Wicked hockey team would be the international release of the movie adaptation of "Wicked" which comes November 22, 2024 during the heart of PWHL training camps. Other fans suggested the tease, which pictured the Boston waterfront, could be tied to a renewal of the Whalers name in professional hockey. Boston Whaler is a popular boat brand in the USA, while there is also a Boston Jr. Whalers hockey club. Other water based names that popped up in fan discussion were the Boston Wave or Boston Tide. Wicked could remain the name, even though in Boston, the adverb has a vastly different meaning .
Moving to New York, the reasoning for the applied for New York Sound name appears to be geographically based as the team was originally slated to play in Connecticut and Long Island, two locations bordering the Long Island Sound. The league may have flipped that meaning, if they're keeping the name at all, teasing that they'd be "Turning the volume up." The change in meaning could be coming due to the fact many believe the team is destined to call New Jersey home, making the geographic reference irrelevant. Others have claimed the name could be New York Sirens. If you've ever stayed in New York city, the sound of sirens certainly turns the volume up, but Sirens are also a creature originating in Greek mythology, and appearing in the Odyssey . New York built their own identity this season with fans and players embracing the Pizza Rats nickname, but it's not a name that fits the tease.
Finally, PWHL Montreal teased the phrase "Something is calling." Similar to New York, fans immediately jumped to Montreal Sirens, as the siren's call was believed in mythology to be dangerous. The name however, could also be tied to Montreal's trademark filing of Montreal Echo. Some focused on the image, and thought the name could be Montreal Belles or Montreal Bells. Although Belles is not sound related, phonetically in English it could match the tease.
Whether they stick to the original names or have something new in store for fans, those questions will be answered September 9.
Note: All team name suggestions were taken from fan discussions on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Reddit.
Use the comment tool below to leave your pick for the PWHL's six team names.
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