Name Nominations: Hartford & Yellowknife

The time has come to start suggesting names for the IceHL's 2012 expansion franchises. Last week it was announced they were awarded to Hartford, Conn. and Yellowknife, NT.

To nominate team names for consideration, simply post them in a comment below. If you see someone before you has suggestd a name you like, say so in your comment. The more popular suggestions are more likely to be among the 25 selected for the voting process. I will base those 25 on whether they are creative, unique, and of course, popular.

Here is a list of locators you may use to precede your team nicknames:

• Hartford
  Connecticut | New England
• Yellowknife
  Northwest Territories | Northwest

You can be creative and suggest other names. The worst that could happen if they're not acceptable is they won't be included in the voting. But so as not to waste anyone's time, don't bother submitting Whalers. It won't be considered.

There are some other important don'ts. You may NOT use the name of any current or past IceHL, NHL or WHA team, nor any current ECHL, AHL, CHL, WHL, QMJHL or OHL team. You may NOT use the name (or any variation thereupon) of any current or past sports franchises in the market or geographical area. And if your suggestion is vulgar, obscene, or in any way inappropriate, it will not be considered.

Only names nominated in the comments of this post will be considered. Do not email or tweet your suggestions if you want them to be included in the voting process.

Submission period ends: Monday, March 26

Voting on eligible name nominees is scheduled to begin on April 6, following the end of the Pacific Division jersey voting. (That begins this Thursday, March 15. Submissions closed on Sunday night.) 

Some other upcoming IceHL events: Later this month, I'll start accepting jersey design submissions for the Southeast Division and then we'll hold a poll to determine how the IceHL will be realigned after it expands to 32 teams this year. In April, we'll vote on Southeast Division jerseys after we wrap up the Pacific. We'll also get to some other minor questions that I think the community should decide. Fun year ahead for the IceHL!

Update on Tuesday · Mar 13 · 2012 | 12:53 PM PDT by Chris

We're barely a day into this, but I feel the need to chime in on these name nominations. I want to encourage you guys to stop trying to hard to find a name that "means something." If you have to try so hard that the name sounds absolutely awful for a hockey team, then it's not worth it.

Ask yourself one question about the names you suggest. Can you imagine chanting them alongside 20,000 other screaming fans without feeling like a dolt? If not, it's probably not worth recommending.

Also, the name Hartford Harpoons or any variation of it or "Whalers" will NOT be accepted for voting. This league is not going to be a rehash of the NHL. We're going to do something original here. There are so many creative people in this community that I know we can do better than simply copying history.

Comments

[Mayhem]

A few more to add to the list:

New England Jesters
Hartford Mavericks

Yellowknife Explorers
Yellowknife Bandits

[lmnop]

I figure the Hartford team should have some connection to ships and stuff, even if it isn't whaling. so i've thought of a couple more.

New England/Hartford Submariners
Hartford Destroyers (the ship)

[Gerry B.]

Well i really think Hartford or New England or Connecticut Millionaires was a good idea.
For Yellowknife i have a couple ideas. I don't love the sound of Caribou but how about Yellowknife Bulls.
My other idea some I'm sure will hate but, Yellowknife Spirit or The Spirit of Yellowknife.

[bluecitynotes]

New England Anglers

Yellowknife Ions

[tp71]

Yellowknife Whitehorses
Northwest Knifes (I know the plural is Knives, but Knifes sounds better imo)
Northwest/Yellowknife Miners
Northwest Auroras
Northwest Inukshuk
Northwest/Yellowknife Arctics

For the names suggested Northwest/Yellowknife, either name works.

[johnny johnson]

Hartford Dominion
Yellowknife Frontier

[Marc]

I saw Yellowknife Stags suggested above which I like. However, I like the name Northwest Stags better

[Austin E.]

Hartford Boatmen
Hartford Navy
Hartford Redbirds
Hartford Commodores

Yellowknife Whale Kings
Northwest Whale Kings
Yellowknife Northmen
Northwest Polar

[Jon W | California Wave]

I really like the idea of using the Artic name for Yellowknife. In that case, let me suggest these:

Artic Trappers
Artic Miners
Artic Rush
Artic Falcons

[GUP]

Hartford Spartans
Yellowknife Spartans
New England Spartans
Northwest Spartans
Conneticut Spartans

[Bx*]

How about YELLOWKNIFE RAVENS? The Raven has a huge cultural significance to many First Nations people and Yellowknife is home to North America's largest raven population with over 20 000 of the birds living in the city.

[Todd]

Hartford Racers

Northwestern Knights

[cpnAhab]

Northern Canada Diggers
Great White Northern Lights
Yellowknife Volcanoes

Hartford Scribes
Hartford Memorials

[Ed P]

Yellowknife Vikings
Yellowknife White Caps
Northwest Frost

Hartford Currents
Hartford Mariners
Connecticut Warheads

[dano twoface]

i know i know, NO HARPOONS but i like it!

new england NAVY was mentioned and that seems to tie in the mariner theme
new england salty dogs
hartford majesty
hartford schooners

yellowknife miners
yellowknife Gold
and i really like the prospectors

[turd ferguson]

Hartford Admirals (maritime name, self-explanatory)
Hartford Nutmeggers (CT is the "Nutmeg State", Nutmegger is a slang term for somebody from Connecticut. Possibly a bit more of a minor league-sounding name, but just an idea)
Connecticut Robins (official state bird)

Either way, I'm happy that Hartford is getting a team (being from CT myself), and these are just the ideas that I had.

[Andrew E.]

Yellowknife Miners
Yellowknife 34's
Yellowknife Ravens

Hartford Colts
Hartford Mist
Connecticut Nutmeggers

[Scott S.]

Connecticut Colts
Northwest Hunters

[Johnny Gold]

Yellowknife HC

Hartford Finns

[JP]

Yellowknife Chiefs
New England Fighting Lobsters