mcrosby Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 Been tinkering with some ideas for the Northwoods League team in Duluth, but I'm struggling to make any decisions. I'm not too fond of the Huskies name, mostly because it's just a bit too boring for a collegiate summer league. I'm trying to decide a few things: Locale name: Duluth Duluth-Superior Twin Ports Nickname: Huskies Lakers Freighters 1000-Footers Porters Twins Pressies Mishipeshus (maybe appropriating) Sharks is already taken OTHER I've started with a new Old English style D, replacing the usual internal strokes with a representation of Duluth's famous Aerial Lift Bridge. Let me know what you think, which locale and which nickname you prefer. I reached out to the club to see if they were interested in working together and got shut down pretty quick, so I'd love to create something really fantastic because I'm petty and want to show 'em what they're missing out on. https://twitter.com/OutOfThisWC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrosby Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share Posted May 18, 2021 Nobody? I take that to mean you're all as stumped as I am. https://twitter.com/OutOfThisWC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtgco Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 Right now the bridge's blaring geometricness (?) feels a bit jarring when compared to the organic D. I might suggest trying to do the bridge more subtlely in negative space. Especially if you set the D in white, it might fit well in between a more traditional solid crossbar and the top of the D. I'd also ask if there are other ways to differentiate it further from Detroit, regardless of whether or not this is a Tigers affiliate. As for the name, I like your Freighters idea but maybe not with an old-English style (unless it's a modernized version of blackletter). Lakers or something to do with local animals might do better with old English, but honestly Huskies is fine as long as it gets more local flair like you're doing! Also, what do you mean by Pressies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilSox Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 Unless you want to resurrect the old Duluth-Superior Dukes brand from the original Northern League, I say stick to Huskies. I feel like this trend of Northwoods League teams chasing modern MiLB naming conventions has really taken away from the charm the league developed organically when it makes perfect sense for teams in this league to have "northwoodsy" mascots (Skunks, Honkers, Woodchucks, Moondogs, Bullfrogs, etc.). Huskies fits right in with that theme, and they're one of the longest tenured summer league teams in America. I say embrace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrosby Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share Posted May 18, 2021 2 hours ago, NicDB said: Unless you want to resurrect the old Duluth-Superior Dukes brand from the original Northern League, I say stick to Huskies. I feel like this trend of Northwoods League teams chasing modern MiLB naming conventions has really taken away from the charm the league developed organically when it makes perfect sense for teams in this league to have "northwoodsy" mascots (Skunks, Honkers, Woodchucks, Moondogs, Bullfrogs, etc.). Huskies fits right in with that theme, and they're one of the longest tenured summer league teams in America. I say embrace it. No worries, I'd like to stick with something appropriate to the area without getting into the Trash Pandas/Yard Goats/etc realm. Huskies just doesn't do it for me, and their logo is far too similar to St. Cloud State. I'm open to other local flora/fauna. I might try out a concept for Dubuque Mudpuppies, Manitowoc Skunks, Green Bay Bullfrogs, etc. Great summer collegiate names gone too soon, especially in the case of Green Bay. Booyah should have been a one-game identity at most. 3 hours ago, vtgco said: Right now the bridge's blaring geometricness (?) feels a bit jarring when compared to the organic D. I might suggest trying to do the bridge more subtlely in negative space. Especially if you set the D in white, it might fit well in between a more traditional solid crossbar and the top of the D. I'd also ask if there are other ways to differentiate it further from Detroit, regardless of whether or not this is a Tigers affiliate. As for the name, I like your Freighters idea but maybe not with an old-English style (unless it's a modernized version of blackletter). Lakers or something to do with local animals might do better with old English, but honestly Huskies is fine as long as it gets more local flair like you're doing! Also, what do you mean by Pressies? The D is just where I'm at now, and I'm in no way married to it. I just wanted to post something to get the ball rolling. Pressie is a Lake Superior cryptid. https://twitter.com/OutOfThisWC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norskie Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 I think the Huskies name works well considering it ties into the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon that starts in Duluth. Maybe try to make the name slightly more unique but lean into that history? Or something with Marathons in general with Duluth having the Grandma's Marathon annually. Could also get really minor league-y and tie in food. Theres a cornmeal based food called "mush" that originated in Eastern Europe that got big in the midwest, and couple that with sled dog racers stereotypically calling out "mush" to their team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norskie Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Just now, Norskie said: I think the Huskies name works well considering it ties into the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon that starts in Duluth. Maybe try to make the name slightly more unique but lean into that history? Or something with Marathons in general with Duluth having the Grandma's Marathon annually. Could also get really minor league-y and tie in food. Theres a cornmeal based food called "mush" that originated in Eastern Europe that got big in the midwest, and couple that with sled dog racers stereotypically calling out "mush" to their team. "Mush" is definitely a horrible name for a team though haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chcarlson23 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 I would definitely go with Duluth only as the locale name. I mean you could go out even farther though, and use “The North Shore” as the locale name. That could lead to some fun branding as well. The name Zeniths could also work, as Duluth is known as the Zenith City. You could use Captains for the shipping industry, or something like Skippers, etc. Duluth (or North Shore) Fighting Walleye Duluth Iron Men for the Iron Ore processing history Duluth Trappers Duluth Voyageurs Duluth Lumberjacks Alternatively Duluth Lumber Kings "And those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalms 9:10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilSox Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 I just came up with Duluth Malamutes. It's an animal similar to the husky and still ties into dog sledding, but avoids your concerns with stepping on St. Cloud's toes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyeagle Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 The old English D calls for something old-timey in my opinion. I wouldn't mind resurrecting the Duluth-Superior Dukes, but I also came here to say Zeniths would be great. Otherwise, I'd focus on more industrial/maritime monikers if you're using the bridge imagery. Here are some less conventional names I thought of: Longshoremen Ore Punchers (name of the workers who would load the ore from the train cars into the docks; may be a little too Brandiose) Whalebacks (name of the old ships used for hauling ore) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilSox Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I'm here for Zeniths. If your grandparents didn't own an old floor model Zenith, are you really from the Upper Midwest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostOfNormMacdonald Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I love the idea of Duluth Lakers. I think a combo of light royal blue and black would fit in with the city nicely. Also working the bridge into the identity is a great idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrosby Posted May 21, 2021 Author Share Posted May 21, 2021 Im liking Zeniths. What do y'all think of the below options? Duluth Zeniths Twin Ports Zeniths Zenith City __________ https://twitter.com/OutOfThisWC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptorman415 Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I like the Duluth Zeniths over the rest of them. Twin Ports Zeniths sounds kind of weird to me. Zenith City (Twins maybe?) doesn't sound to bad to begin with but it begins to dip into Brandiose style with the name. One name I've always seemed to use for some fictional baseball leagues I've created is the Duluth Superiors. Always a funny name to me. Just thought I'd toss my hat into the ring on that. It's Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chcarlson23 Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I’d stick with the Duluth Zeniths. It at least makes it feel like a zenith is a physical thing then I do agree that anything with Zenith City ____ does sound a little too Brandiose. Zenith City Superiors rolls off the tongue a little though. "And those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalms 9:10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyeagle Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I too would just go with Duluth Zeniths. Like others have said, Zenith City gives off too much of a Brandiose vibe. If you want to try a Zenith City identity, might I suggest the Zenith City Salties? It refers to a seagoing ship going through the freshwater Great Lakes, and it's always a source of local excitement when the first saltie of the year comes into port. Plus, the full nickname for Duluth as coined in the 19th century was "Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas", so you can play off of that a bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyraven8 Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 I don't know if you could work it into a name but I ran across a bit of Duluth history a few years ago, if you want to go more olde school - the incline railway aka skyride. https://forgottenminnesota.com/forgotten-minnesota/2016/05/duluths-incline-railway "Just when I thought you'd said the stupidest thing, you keep on talking" - Hank Hill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian in Boston Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Twin Ports Salties - I like the idea of a place name that speaks to the history of Duluth and Superior as port cities in combination with a locally relevant, maritime-themed nickname.Zenith City Excelsiors - A name that's meant to evoke vintage baseball team identities of the late 1800s and early 1900s... and does so while combining words (zenith - "the highest point in the heavens"; excelsior - "lofty", "ever upward") that speak to attaining new heights of performance on the diamond. I could see a Mudville Nine-like logo package being adopted in conjunction with this identity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Section30 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Throwing my two cents in, I personally would stick with the Huskies name, but for the sake of concepts I think the Duluth Zeniths sounds the best Minnesota Amateur Hockey League MAHL Wiki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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