One of junior hockey's premier teams is getting a facelift ahead of the 2021-22 season.
One of junior hockey's premier teams is getting a facelift ahead of the 2021-22 season.
On Wednesday afternoon, the WHL's Portland Winterhawks unveiled a new logo for the first time since the franchise abandoned their Oil Kings branding following their relocation from Edmonton in 1976. The new logo depicts the image of a red-tailed hawk, complete with the silhouette of Mount Hood, a range of mountains that can be seen across the Portland, Oregon area, towards the bottom within the hawk's feathers.
According to the official press release, this new logo signifies a "step forward" for the Winterhawks, a move which is meant to establish a new and unique identity for the club while distancing themselves from the similarities their prior logo drew to that of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Winterhawks will also feature a secondary logo that will appear on the shoulder patch of the team's jerseys, which depicts two crossed hockey sticks behind a gold "P" with the team's name across the top.
The Winterhawks are among the most successful teams in junior hockey history. With three WHL Championships and two Memorial Cups adorning their trophy case, the Winterhawks have also produced more NHL draft picks than any other WHL club since 2010 and boast Hall of Fame alumni such as Cam Neeley and Marian Hossa.