Brian in Boston Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 So, apparently Howard Baldwin's Whalers Sports & Entertainment has struck a deal to assume control of Hartford's American Hockey League franchise, the Hartford Wolf Pack. As part of the agreement, Baldwin has announced that the team will start the 2010-2011 AHL season as the Wolf Pack, but will officially be rebranded some time prior to the team's February 19, 2011 game against the Providence Bruins. That game will most likely be shifted to Rentschler Field as part of Baldwin's Whalers Hockey Fest event. The team's new identity?The Connecticut Whale.Look, Howard... it is either the Whalers, or nothing at all. "The Whale" was an acceptable fan-utilized term of familiarity for Hartford's NHL franchise, but as a team identity it is horrendous. Sure, sure... you'll wind-up telling us that you're looking to save the Hartford Whalers identity for the return of the NHL to Connecticut. First of all, said return is highly - HIGHLY - unlikely to be forthcoming. Second, if you truly believe that having the Hartford Whalers brand grace an AHL franchise would be beneath the heritage of the original NHL team, just dub the soon-to-be-renamed Wolf Pack the Connecticut Whalers. No confusion between the legacy of the two franchises then, right?The Connecticut Whale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omnivore Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Yeah, a real head scratcher this one is. Especially the decision to wait until mid-season to make the switch. NCFA-FCS/CBB: Minnesota A&M | RANZBA (OOTP): Auckland Warriors | USA: Front Range United | IFA: Toverit Helsinki | FOBL: Kentucky Juggernaut Minnesota A&M 2012 National Champions 2013 National Finalist, 2014 National Semi-finals 2012, 2013, 2014 Big 4 Conference Champions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north dakota Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I think it is a really bad name. Can't wait until the jerseys and logos come out. Woah! You think I'm Cody? My name is Carl Scott Simone and we just happen to share a birthday. BIG DEAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rams80 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I vote to banish them and Abbotsford from the league. On 8/1/2010 at 4:01 PM, winters in buffalo said: You manage to balance agitation with just enough salient points to keep things interesting. Kind of a low-rent DG_Now. On 1/2/2011 at 9:07 PM, Sodboy13 said: Today, we are all otaku. "The city of Peoria was once the site of the largest distillery in the world and later became the site for mass production of penicillin. So it is safe to assume that present-day Peorians are descended from syphilitic boozehounds."-Stephen Colbert POTD: February 15, 2010, June 20, 2010 The Glorious Bloom State Penguins (NCFAF) 2014: 2-9, 2015: 7-5 (L Pineapple Bowl), 2016: 1-0 (NCFAB) 2014-15: 10-8, 2015-16: 14-5 (SMC Champs, L 1st Round February Frenzy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian in Boston Posted September 20, 2010 Author Share Posted September 20, 2010 Yeah, a real head scratcher this one is. Especially the decision to wait until mid-season to make the switch.The mid-season switch doesn't surprise me in the least. Right now, Baldwin's all about ramping-up excitement for his Whalers Hockey Fest at Rentschler Field. The most significant part of his target audience for the event are those former WHA New England Whalers and NHL Hartford Whalers fans who are pining for Howard to lead Greater Hartford back to the "Promised Land" of major-pro ice hockey. By moving the February 19, 2011 AHL contest to Rentschler Field and making it the Whale's official "coming-out party", Howard's ratcheting-up excitement - and attendance - for the Hockey Fest.Further, I'm sure that even a minor-pro circuit like the AHL has some rules regarding the amount of notice a franchise must give the league regarding identity/branding changes. Finally, one would hope that Baldwin has secured the services of a reputable and talented design firm (*cough* Studio Simon *cough* Joe Bosack Design Company *cough*) with significant sports branding experience to create a top-notch visual identity package for the team. As it is, that process is going to be rushed, given Baldwin's late closing of this deal. Still, by putting the official unveiling off a bit, he buys the designers time to do a better job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sodboy13 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 My guess is that Baldwin ran into several NHL-centered roadblocks while attempting to secure the rights to obtains the use of the "Whalers" name, so he went with this half-measure. This stupid, silly half-measure.But if it puts 9,000 a night in the seats at XL Center, good for him. Doubt that it will, but here's hoping. On 1/25/2013 at 1:53 PM, 'Atom said: For all the bird de lis haters I think the bird de lis isnt supposed to be a pelican and a fleur de lis I think its just a fleur de lis with a pelicans head. Thats what it looks like to me. Also the flair around the tip of the beak is just flair that fleur de lis have sometimes source I am from NOLA. PotD: 10/19/07, 08/25/08, 07/22/10, 08/13/10, 04/15/11, 05/19/11, 01/02/12, and 01/05/12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punch Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 The Connecticut Whale. Not even "Whales", just Whale. A singular noun. Not even an abstract noun like "Wild" or "Liberty". I question the soberness of these people. What exactly happened during the naming process that made them think "Whale" would be appropriate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powersurge Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 The new hockey team in my hometown (Danbury, CT) is called the Danbury Whalers. Quite possibly the best minor league identity I've seen in years. Even better than the last minor league hockey team in the same town: Danbury Trashers. THAT teams logo was fantastic. This team's logo is even better. The secondary logo is fantastic. Dare I say it? ...it may even be better than the original Hartford logo. *covers head* http://thedanburywhalers.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Second, if you truly believe that having the Hartford Whalers brand grace an AHL franchise would be beneath the heritage of the original NHL team, just dub the soon-to-be-renamed Wolf Pack the Connecticut Whalers. No confusion between the legacy of the two franchises then, right?The Connecticut Whale. I'm probably one of the biggest Whalers fans on the boards, but let's be honest for a second. Are they really trampling any sort of "legacy?" I mean, the Whalers aren't really the Montreal Canadiens here as far as historical victories. The team had a friggin' parade just for making the playoffs one year for Pete's Sidorkiewicz-sake.I mean, I love the Whalers, but maybe having them come back as an AHL-team isn't far from their what their performance was when they were here before.... On 4/10/2017 at 3:05 PM, Rollins Man said: what the hell is ccslc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian in Boston Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 I'm probably one of the biggest Whalers fans on the boards, but let's be honest for a second. Are they really trampling any sort of "legacy?" I mean, the Whalers aren't really the Montreal Canadiens here as far as historical victories. The team had a friggin' parade just for making the playoffs one year for Pete's Sidorkiewicz-sake.Trust me... I'm in agreement with you. I'm just trying to figure out why in God's name Baldwin wouldn't just name the team the Hartford Whalers? Or, if there was a trademark issue preventing him from doing so, the Connecticut Whalers? The Connecticut Whale? It smacks of the half-assed.Then again, when it comes to branding, there's even a bargain-basement vibe surrounding Baldwin's Whalers Hockey Fest. The logo for that event looks like nothing so much as several images cut-and-pasted from disparate sources. I alluded to Baldwin hiring a reputable graphic design firm with a track-record of sports identity work to come-up with a new brand package for the AHL squad. That said, based upon what we've seen and heard so far - the Whalers Hockey Fest mark, the Connecticut Whale name - I'm not holding my breath. I think the world of major-pro sports has passed baldwin by. He's in over his head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 This is the Baltimore CFL Colts Football Team all over again, but with a kitschy theme song. Pretty half-assed and dumb, but here's hoping it's just a brief waystation en route to the full-fledged Hartford Whalers coming back. ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aci Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 It's not as if the Hurricanes regularly pay homage to the Whalers anyways... if it weren't for Ron Francis, I don't think most Carolina fans would even remember where their team came from.That said, 'the Whale' is the stupidest name I've heard this side of 'Banana Slugs'.Basically, they can either be the whaler, the dude that does the harpooning, or the whale, the thing that gets harpooned... is it just me, or does one seem much more logical than the other? Hamilton Eagles- 2012 and 2013 Continental Hockey League Champions! 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 CHL East Division Champions! Niagara Dragoons- 2012 United League and CCSLC World Series Champions! 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 UL Robinson Division Champions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCap Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 First choice would be Hartford Whalers. If that's unavailable then go with Connecticut Whalers. If that's still not available go with Connecticut Whales.Connecticut Whale just reeks of "we don't give a :censored:." PotD 26/2/12 1/7/15 2020 BASS Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Regular Season Champion 2021 BASS NFL Pick'em Regular Season Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Basically, they can either be the whaler, the dude that does the harpooning, or the whale, the thing that gets harpooned... is it just me, or does one seem much more logical than the other?Then again, Phoenix had the Roadrunners and then the Coyotes (as in Wile E., who chased the Roadrunner). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchey13 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Anybody hoping they switch identities during intermission, Mighty Ducks style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tron1013 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 The name was actually going to be Connecticut Dolphin and Whale...But liability concerns over these guys put a stop to it: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I see where Baldwin's going with this. Chasing Amy would have us believe that many mid-90's hockey fans lovingly referred to Hartford as The Whale, so he's hoping for a nostalgia kick to help bring in the comic geeks, Kevin Smith fans, and jersey-wearing lipstick lesbian demographics that the AHL has been trying unsuccessfully to cultivate for years.It's still dumb, but I see where he's going with it. Welcome to DrunjFlix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sodboy13 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 jersey-wearing lipstick lesbian demographicsPlease tell me there are websites dedicated to this. On 1/25/2013 at 1:53 PM, 'Atom said: For all the bird de lis haters I think the bird de lis isnt supposed to be a pelican and a fleur de lis I think its just a fleur de lis with a pelicans head. Thats what it looks like to me. Also the flair around the tip of the beak is just flair that fleur de lis have sometimes source I am from NOLA. PotD: 10/19/07, 08/25/08, 07/22/10, 08/13/10, 04/15/11, 05/19/11, 01/02/12, and 01/05/12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DG_ThenNowForever Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I see where Baldwin's going with this. Chasing Amy would have us believe that many mid-90's hockey fans lovingly referred to Hartford as The Whale, so he's hoping for a nostalgia kick to help bring in the comic geeks, Kevin Smith fans, and jersey-wearing lipstick lesbian demographics that the AHL has been trying unsuccessfully to cultivate for years.It's still dumb, but I see where he's going with it.Wasn't that Mallrats?I think I might be the only member of this form that owns NHL All Star Hockey '96 for Sega Saturn. 1 hour ago, ShutUpLutz! said: and the drunken doodoobags jumping off the tops of SUV's/vans/RV's onto tables because, oh yeah, they are drunken drug abusing doodoobags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDR Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I see where Baldwin's going with this. Chasing Amy would have us believe that many mid-90's hockey fans lovingly referred to Hartford as The Whale, so he's hoping for a nostalgia kick to help bring in the comic geeks, Kevin Smith fans, and jersey-wearing lipstick lesbian demographics that the AHL has been trying unsuccessfully to cultivate for years.It's still dumb, but I see where he's going with it.Wasn't that Mallrats?Yes, it was.Breakfasts come and go, Renee, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver once, maybe twice in a lifetime.EDIT: Wow. Mallrats was 15 years ago already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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