For a handful of winters, after he returned from law school, Danny Williams was the left and right hand for Terry Trainor and Don Johnson on the St. John’s Capitals, a young keener and future power broker just cutting his teeth.
Williams was there for Herder Memorial Trophy championships by a band of young Caps stars — coach Bob Badcock’s “Kiddie Korps.”
Combine that soft spot for the Caps, who toiled for years in the old provincial senior hockey league, and the inspiration Williams received from a 2001 Gerald Squires artwork depicting an iceberg, and you have the name of the newest American Hockey League team in St. John’s — the IceCaps.
“This name,” said Williams, the St. John’s IceCaps president and CEO, “will put us on the map across Canada and the U.S. This name and image will market not just our team, but also our province.
“I’m confident hockey fans will support it. It represents our rich hockey history with the legendary St. John’s Capitals, and it has the natural element that is iconic to our province (with the iceberg).”
The IceCaps, whose primary colours will be silver, blue and white, are the farm team of the NHL’s newest team, the Winnipeg Jets. Their home opener is Oct. 14 at Mile One Centre.
The logo consists of icecaps over rugged mountains. The mountains are capped with ice that is an illustrative map of Newfoundland and Labrador. The colours are reflective of those used in the logo of the parent club.
In selecting the name, Williams said, he wanted the province represented as a whole, not just a city-based hockey team.
“I’m confident hockey fans will support the name,” Williams said.
“It is critical to have a name and logo that fans at home can embrace and fans on the road will remember,” said Glenn Stanford, the IceCaps’ governor and chief operating officer.
“This name and logo does both. The St. John’s IceCaps will be a memorable and easily identifiable team in the league, and I am excited to start promoting it both here at home and abroad.”
The IceCaps’ debut will mark the return of the AHL to St. John’s following a six-year hiatus. The St. John’s Maple Leafs left the capital city following the 2004-05 AHL season after a 14-year stay.
Read more from The Telegram's sports editor Robin Short on the IceCaps in his latest column.
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Mr Mom I find your comments rude and ill informed. First of all I was not bashing Danny Williams. I was simply pointing out that it is his perogative to name the team how he sees fit. All I was asking for was some consideration of good grammar when naming the team, thats all! However your remarks clearly demonstrate that you don't know me. first off all, I have and always been a supporter of Danny and what he has achieved for NL; second of all, I am a 6th generation townie who not only had relatives play for the Caps but I grew up a huge fan of the Caps. Finally, the fact that I am in Yarmouth should point out the buzz this team is generating not to mention the couple of houndred bucks I will be shelling out for IceCap merch or should I keep my money in Yarmouth along with my comments???