Brought to you by Primus - a smart choice for your Internet and Home Phone services.
Ah, the Western Hockey League. The original outlaw league. Here’s how a bunch of our favourite WHL teams got their names.
Kamloops Blazers
At one point called the Junior Oilers and owned by hockey villain Peter Pocklington, the team was going to be sold and relocated to Swift Current when fans rallied and raised enough money to buy the team. As part of the fundraising there was a “name the team” contest, with Blazers ultimately winning.
Kelowna Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets used to be the Tacoma Rockets before they moved north—but they’ve always been the Rockets.
Prince George Cougars
From 1971 to 1994, they were the Victoria Cougars. Fun fact: Vancouver Island has the highest density of cougars anywhere in the world. We’re not sure if that’s why the team picked up the moniker, but we’d make that guess.
Vancouver Giants
The Vancouver Giants inaugurated in 2001, when the city was granted a WHL franchise. They’ve been the Giants all the way through.
Victoria Royals
The Royals were once the Chilliwack Bruins. When they moved to Vancouver Island, ownership asked for fan input and ended up selecting a name that reflects the British monarchy’s connection to Victoria.
Calgary Hitmen
Calgary’s WHL team is famously named for professional wrestler and Bret “The Hitman” Hart, one of the original eighteen investors in the club (including NHL players Theoren Fleury and Joe Sakic). They got plenty of criticism about their name (and logo) from the more delicate portions of the public, but 30 years later, the Hitmen are still going.
Edmonton Oil Kings
The current Oil Kings were founded in 2006 and are the fourth WHL team to play in the city. The first and second of those teams were also called the Oil Kings, so the current team is named for them.
Lethbridge Hurricanes
When the Calgary Wranglers moved to Lethbridge in 1987, they became the Hurricanes, presumably because of the wicked winds in Lethbridge. However, in 2013 they were forced to change one of their logos by the Washington Capitals, citing similarity. That season, their new logo incorporated a Hawker Hurricane. During WWII, the 133 Squadron, consisting of Hawker Hurricanes, was based in the city.
Medicine Hat Tigers
The Tigers have been Medicine Hat’s team since 1970, and they’ve been the Tigers the entire time.
Red Deer Rebels
A “name the team contest,” when the team was founded, got over a thousand entries, the top three of which were Rebels, Renegades, and Centurions. Team management liked Rebels the best.
Swift Current Broncos
Swift Current, the second-smallest hockey market in Canada, inaugurated the Broncos in 1967. However, they moved to Lethbridge in 1974. But after 12 seasons, they moved back to Swift Current, remaining the Broncos.
Brandon Wheat Kings
Why are Brandon the Wheat Kings? Because wheat is king in Brandon. But there’s actually an even deeper history there. Brandon was home to an early hockey team Wheat City Hockey Club, dating back to 1898—which is truly impressive hockey pedigree.
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors began life in Winnipeg but moved to Moose Jaw shortly thereafter. The team originally had Indigenous-themed branding. However, after a logo review, the team is now themed around Canada’s Snowbirds.
Prince Albert Raiders
Prince Albert inaugurated the Raiders in 1971.
Regina Pats
Regina’s Pats are named for Princess Patricia of Connaught, granddaughter of Queen Victoria and daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, our tenth governor general. The same princess gives her name to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, one of our most storied regiments. The Pats’ sweater bears the PPCLI shoulder flash in tribute to the regiment.
Saskatoon Blades
The Saskatoon Blades are both a founding member of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League in 1966 (which is what the league used to be called) and the only team to still play in their original city. Owner Jim Piggott also owned a minor professional WHL (the other WHL) team, the Los Angeles Blades. And if it’s good enough for LA, it’s good enough for Saskatoon, right?
