(AP) -- The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s four new expansion teams finally have nicknames and logos to accompany them in preparing to make their on-ice debuts next month. It’s game on for the San Jose Sea Lions, Detroit Clutch, Vegas Vanguards and Hamilton Havoc.
The four markets were selected this spring in expanding the PWHL from eight to 12 teams, and doubling the league’s size since launching on Jan. 1, 2024. Season 4 begins with an opening weekend set for Dec. 5-6. The unveiling of the logos and nicknames on Tuesday comes a month after the PWHL revealed the teams’ color schemes.
San Jose Sea Lions (PWHL)
The Sea Lions tie in the marine mammals populating the Bay Area waters with a circular logo featuring a sea lion’s head and torso emerging from the waves with a color scheme of blue and sunset orange. The name also pays homage to the West Coast Negro Baseball Association’s San Francisco Sea Lions, who played in 1946 and featured Toni Stone, the first woman to play regularly in a major men’s professional league, the league said.
Though merchandise featuring the logos and nicknames is now available for sale, they will not be incorporated on the expansion teams’ jerseys until next season due to the branding not being available when PWHL jerseys were placed for order. The four teams will instead have their city names printed across the front.
“I love the brand," said Rory Guilday, San Jose Sea Lions defender, in a news release. "I think the color combination of blue, orange, and white, and the navy blue in the logo is great. I also love that the sea lion is in the shape of a wave; that’s really clever. The first game is going to be so cool. Being in a new market and having new fans that are extremely excited about this season, it's going to be electric in the building. Seeing a lot of orange will be different and a lot of fun, so I'm very excited.”
The Sea Lions will play their home games at the SAP Center. Puck drop for San Jose's inaugural game and home opener against the Minnesota Frost is Dec. 5.
