Wenatchee Wild

Wenatchee hockey team gets 'Wild' name
Franchise will be known as The Wild Wenatchee hockey team gets 'Wild' name

By Travis Hay
World staff writer
Posted May 20, 2008

WENATCHEE — Sports fans could expect to have a fierce time while watching Wenatchee's new hockey team, given its freshly minted nickname, Wenatchee Wild.

The team's name was announced this morning.

"We're very excited to get things started and now that we have a team name we want to build a strong identity within the community," said Bill Stewart, member of Wenatchee Sports Partners, the team's ownership group.

The team's logo and colors will be announced early next week, Stewart said. Rocky Flynn, another member of Wenatchee Sports Partners, is creating the logo.

Stewart said the Wenatchee Wild's colors and logos will bear no resemblance to another hockey franchise with a similar moniker, the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild.

"While it is the same name, we will have a separate identity," Stewart said this morning.

The naming and choosing of a mascot will be done through an online contest, Stewart said.

"With a name like The Wenatchee Wild, it really can be just about any animal," he said.

Team officials took five names to local elementary and high schools last week for kids to vote on a potential name. Students were allowed to chime in with their own suggestions as well.

Stewart said 47 write-in suggestions were received. Some of the suggested names were the Hockeyes, Wonders, Bombers, Wranglers and Ice Busters.

Most all of the write-ins came from elementary school students, Stewart said.

"We really got some quite funny and creative names. It was a great way to get the kids involved and we enjoyed getting the feedback," he said.

The team will also go live with its Web site, www.wenatcheewild.com, later this afternoon. Information on season ticket packages, which range between $300 and $450, according to Stewart, will be available on the site, but single-game tickets won't be for sale because the schedule has yet to be released.

The Wenatchee Wild is joining the North American Hockey League for its 2008-09 season. It will play 30 home games at the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center, which is set to open Sept. 17.

The unveiling of the team's name is one of the finishing touches on the development of the fledgling franchise. The team was officially announced May 13 and former NHL defenseman Paul Baxter was named the Wenatchee Wild's head coach the next day. Wednesday, team officials will participate in the annual NAHL draft, which will help shape its roster.

Stewart said later this summer the Wild will take to the ice for an exhibition game locally, or possibly in Penticton, B.C. — about four hours north of Wenatchee — before construction on the GWREC is complete.

"We want to do something in Washington state, or at least something nearby, so our fans can have a chance to see the team," said Stewart.

How cute. Dueling farks.

Wenatchee Winning Walrusus should have won. I call shananagins.

Smackles wrote:

Wenatchee Winning Walrusus should have won. I call shananagins.

Naw, this man is not the coach...

You could at least make him the Penalty box attendant

He'd probably see that as a step down from his pro head coaching gig...

(That's Doug Sauter of the Oklahoma City Blazers, for those unfamiliar with the CHL)

Sauter doesn't scare me as bad as that guy (it is a guy, right?) to Sauter's left.

Marc Foster wrote:

Smackles wrote: Wenatchee Winning Walrusus should have won. I call shananagins. Naw, this man is not the coach...

hmmmm.......looks like Paul SR!!

Here is the logo....

Gee, who knew there was an animal park in Central Washington?!???

Animal Park?

That's no animal park.... that's my wife.

After seeing the logo...

Maybe they should be called: "The Wenatchee OnePaws!"

Is this a new team or an existing team that has relocated to Wenatchee?

Poop Chute eats Stupidity

Anyone know whats up?

Well.... this thread died a peaceful and dignified death nearly 2 months ago until.......