For all of you who don’t like the nickname “Ice Caps” for the new St. John’s American Hockey League team, a bit of advice:
Better get used to it
A recent online poll on The Telegram website shows about two-thirds of respondents either didn't like "Ice Caps" or were lukewarm to the idea of attaching that moniker to the Winnipeg Jets' affiliate. However, there is nothing to indicate former premier Danny Williams, be backing off what was his first choice.
This is a case where Danny won't be governed by a referendum.
First and foremost, the name satisfies a fairly widespread yearning - and one almost certainly held by Williams - for the inclusion of 'Caps.' Secondly, the 'Ice' component will take care of any legal concerns over trademark infringement on the NHL's Washington Capitals.
There does appear to be a fallback position, as an internet domain name based on "St. John's Jets" was registered on behalf of the team a week ago. But with only about two-and-a-half months before the start of training camp, there isn't much time to start the process of branding this club.
Ice Caps it will be.
Here are couple of other considerations to back up that finding:
° It's Williams who has pledge millions of dollars to the venture and that should give him some dibs in name selection,
° It doesn't matter much what the team is called. It could be known as the St. John's Sculpins or the St. John's Slobby Squids and shouldn't affect attendance at Ice Caps' games at Mile One Centre. If anyone tells you otherwise, be assured they wouldn't have gone to games anyway - they were just looking for an excuse. Granted, the name choice it couild negatively affect the sale of jerseys, hats, banners, etc., but it must be assumed Williams has taken this into account.
"Ice Caps" wouldn't have been on any top 10 list I would have produced if asked for nickname suggestions. And the Tim Hortons connection is inescapable.
But it is not weird and not unexplainable, especially in a league that has a team based in the landlocked city of Hartford and called the Connecticut Whale. Not Whalers, but Whale.
And I can swallow "Ice Caps" better than some of the alternate offerings made online and elsewhere, especially "Newfie Bullets," which was the choice of the more than a few.
How can someone not see the inherent image problems with such a choice?
The fact fans are expressing some strong opinions in the matter is encouraging in a way. It shows they have taken sort of a non-monetary proprietary interest in a team that has yet to begin skating.
But in the long run, it is whatever tradition this team establishes that will provide the ultimate identification.
Take the parent Winnipeg Jets. They were so named, not because of any connection between Manitoba and planes. It also didn't have anything to do with the fact Bobby Hull, "The Golden Jet," was the team's first big star. It was because the team's original owner, Ben Haskin, was a fan of the New York pro football team of the same name.
The Hershey Bears, with what is probably the best-known brand in the entire AHL, got their name because the team owners, the Hershey chocolate folks, thought it would be a good way to promote their product. At first, they tried to have them called the Hershey B'ars, the dropped 'e' implying a sweet, double meaning. They eventually reintroduced the missing vowel because of criticism over what was seen as commercialism.
And the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals (one of two teams in the league with the nickname, Norfolk being the other), may have a naval officer for a logo, but there is no seafaring background to the original name selection. It was because the team's first owner had an appliance store and Admiral - refrigerators and such - constituted his chief line of goods.
So give it time. "Ice Caps" might grow on you and me, especially if the team has long-term success.
And anyway, as pointed out by more than a few folks, the team will be widely referred to as the "Caps" anyway.
The "Ice" will melt away and the chant at Mile One will be "Go Caps, go."
For those of you who paid particular attention to the crews in Monday's dragon boat race on Prince Edward Island featuring the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, that was defenceman and P.E.I. native Mark Flood seated directly behind William in the Prince's boat.
Flood, who played for the AHL's Manitoba Moose last season, was recently signed to a two-way contract by the Jets and is seen as a player who could very well become captain of the team in St. John's.
Flood wasn't the only professional hockey player in the race. Stanley Cup-winner Adam McQuaid, the Boston Bruins' defenceman from Cornwall, P.E.I., was in Katherine's crew.
Expect to see multiple introductions at the press conference next week in St. John's that will officially reveal Keith McCambridge as the new coach of the St. John's AHL team.
Two members of the club's training staff have also been hired.
Ian Cox, who worked with QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads last season, will be the equipment manager, while Alain Chabbert, who had been an athletic therapist with the Q's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, is also expected to move to the AHL.
bmcc@thetelegram.com twitter:@telybrendan
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First of all, let me say that I think the team should be called st. John's jets. All of these comments about naming the team after the province Newfoundland & Labrador (whatever) seems very lame to me. It will be a St. John's based team. The Illinois Bulls just doesn't work for me, you know what I mean? As for the Ice Caps, it just sounds childish to me. Sure, I will go to a few games to check it out, but, you can forget the idea of merchandise sales. Danny, please go with St. John's Jets... I would wear that shirt with pride.