The worst hockey logos of all-time

Oh so much worse.
Here’s a look at some of the worst hockey logos of all time. (And please don’t hold me responsible for any resulting queasiness you experience while viewing this Gallery of the Damned.)

The name, in this case, isn't a problem. Inferno... I can think of a ton of great ways to go with that name. Big, flaming logo, giant figure draped in fiery drapery — that would work for me.
This is a dalmatian in a firefighter's helmet.

I have no clue how this one only lasted a year.
I mean, all of the elements of a classic sports logo are here: bright orange text, a gimpy guy with horns skating outside of what appears to be a department store... that's all strong stuff.

Errr... uhh. I can't fathom why the NHL wouldn't flourish in California with a jersey like this. Who doesn't want to cheer on a fish with a stick?
In its defence, I'm really not sure how you create a good logo for a team named the Seals. Perhaps abstract was the way to go?

Why oh why does this logo look like something out of a geology textbook?
"Mining for diamonds generally occurs in a mountain's core, represented by the orange circle. Red, on the other hand, represents liquid hot magma."

Roller hockey! Many of us may not have turned out when this league was in full form in the early 1990s, but as it turns out, Roller Hockey International was a veritable gold mine for awful jerseys.
Kermit here's a good example.
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Now, I've got nothing against Ireland, or even golden harps.
Neither, however, should come anywhere near a hockey jersey, as evidenced by this abomination. (A shillelagh-shaped hockey stick would have been my choice.)

The Western Hockey League's first appearance begins with this, what seems to be an angry zamboni.
How this relates to a team called the 'Blades', I am unsure.

Given that Kamloops is a railway town, I've met more than a few engineers. Once in a while, they were angry engineers.
Never once did I think, 'that would make a great sports logo.'

Good old roller hockey.
Someone should create a logo Hall of Shame just for that league, and induct every single team. The Flash can be its star attraction, with the trivia question being "What is it?"
Let's face it: We'll never know.

There are actually a lot of great logos in Quebec's major junior league, but this, unfortunately, is not one of them.
It's also another good example of how a terrible team name can lead to a terrible team logo.

Okay, we get it — roller hockey jerseys are bad. Can we please move on?
(Although you have to admire the accuracy portrayed here as seen with the stopper on the left skate.)

It's Robo-dog! And the first four seasons the Dogs had him as their logo, they managed an impressive 17-220-17-8 record.
The plan to blind the opposition failed.
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Ahhh!
What the hell? And here I thought the gremlins died out after The New Batch was released in 1990.
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Worse than the movies, worse than the duck mask logo, worse than pretty much every other NHL logo presented so far combined, was this one: Wild Wing breaking out of the ice in full goalie gear.
What he was doing down below, we'll never know.

Nope, not roller hockey.
But they put a skate on a cowboy boot. With spurs on it. (Presumably to help stop.)
Yee haw.
91 Comments:
As I recall, the Mississauga IceDogs logo was the winner of a contest sponsored by the Mississauga News. The runners up were somewhat less bad, but there isn't that much you can do with a name like that.
Also, what about that Islanders and their demented fisherman?
Yikes! I'm being chased by a rabid Zamboni! Hide me!
Those are hilarious. Thanks for clarifying the true epitome of logo badness. :)
I love the Spurs one! I'm a big fan of all things Cowboy. All the rest made me cry laughing.
The Bush League Factor has some more really terrible logos, like the Knoxville Ice Bears and the Danbury Trashers. He's also got a rigorous scoring system, including penalties for things like Texas, teal, and cartoon characters. The old Lubbock Cotton Kings logo managed to rack up 110 points or something ridiculous.
I take it back. As hideous as the "Buffaslug" is, as James points out it's not the worst...although I didn't mind the Rockies logo.
Great post, James! I laughed out loud at the Flash and Spurs logos.
You are right, it is not the worst logo but the Sabres have not had the best logos since the early 90s. My current Sabres jersey is the alt crossed swords red jersey and my new jersey will be the alt "old school" jersey- they really need to get their act together!
Surprised you didn't mention the Islanders 'Fisherman' logo where they used Stan Fischler's visage on their uniforms.
Still being used by Ranger fans to deride Islander fans almost 10 years since it was last worn by an Islander player.
Fans were happy to discard them when they were replaced. You'd be hard pressed to find one on Long Island today
Is there some kind of rule in the graphic design world today that EVERYTHING has to come with a curvy design? Brutal. That Sabres logo is simply a badly reworked version of the old one.
There was nothing wrong with the original Sabre logo -- it had a Buffalo, and two crossed Sabres. Works for me. Then again, the football Bills decided to mess with a good thing a few years ago when they took their good, basic, highly identifiable uniform and completely ruined it, so I guess the hockey team got jealous.
Everyone should simply state whats really behind all these 'logo changes'. Thats the $$$ logo!!
A note about Ireland's logo: Interestingly, there are no ice rinks in the Republic of Ireland. Anybody who actually wants to learn how to play hockey has to go to Northern Ireland, where they're very keen on the Belfast Giants.
No love for the Macon Whoopee?
is the cowboy spurs logo for a women's hockey league?
Yea, that cowboy boot is totally a figure skate - a high heeled one at that.
Not to knock Kamloops (I lived there for 10 years), but unless the Blazers have already redone their logo, it could do with some updating. Other ugly logos? Vancouver Voodoo, Colorado Avalanche, the Islanders "fisherman" logo, Phoenix Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers 3rd jersey.
- Rod
Some of these (Colorado) are actually good logos, and the Buffaslug is still genuinely worse than about 12 of them. Moreover, the Sabres are a team that once had a tasteful, clever logo. When your best defence of the Slug boils down to "Well, it's not quite as bad as some of those logos from the roller-hockey league," we've definitely got a problem.
Heh, I like how Colby turns the terrible hockey logo list into a controversy.
Wow, no mention of the hideous Cincinnati Cyclones logo? Didn't this "win" The Hockey News' Worst Logo Poll for five years straight (or something close to that, anyway)?
"Moreover, the Sabres are a team that once had a tasteful, clever logo."
Are you referring to the buffalo hovering above a pair of crossed sabres inside a yellow circle? Tasteful, yes, but I don't think that qualifies as clever.
And if you really want to get obscure, see the second picture here. Mein Gott.
what about those great vancouver logos. the Flying 'V', the non-descript hockey rink with a stick in it, the constipated orca. All hideous.
The Colorado one was awesome. I wish the Avs would bring it back as a third jersey.
Good call on "Buffaslug."
It does seem like I'm following Mirtle from comment thread to comment thread lately, objecting fanatically to everything he says. I don't know what the deal is, but in this case I'm probably just subconsciously jealous I didn't have the idea for this list first. (And, yes, the defecating orca should definitely be on the list.
Since there isn't enough love for the bad logo, here is the Lexington Men-O-War.
http://www.chriscreamer.com/logo.php?lo=czzovwou4vlceqbrmegf
Enjoy, or don't, actually.
No NCAA teams made the list? I guess you haven't seen Merrimack College's new skating Roman Warrior logo.
the current sabres logo is infinitely worse than the one displayed here, one of the most putrid i've ever seen. other candidates must include the ottawa senators and the ol' winnipeg jets.
You're a sports journalist and this is the best writing you can come up with about those logos??
Wow. How did you ever get a job? Nepotism? I'm suddenly excited about my chances of being able to get a sports writer job
Thanks for the heads up — I'll be sure not to submit this blog post for the NNAs this year.
Well as a person who resides in Denver, what would you expect of a cowboy boot logo. Denver was just a dusty old cow-town back then (sarcasim mode on.) As far as the Rockies logo goes, incorporating the State flag in the design is great. However the moutain design is weak. Looks like a graph.
Please add on to this wonderful list, the 4th grader's skull for the Milwaukee admirals. Truly Awful.
You need the added green-colored background to get the full effect of how hideous the Beast of New Haven logo is.
Growing up in Denver, I got to see a few Denver Spurs games and, as a 9 year old kid, I thought the Spurs logo was OK (espceially since I won a Spurs window decal). Looking at it now, though, it does seem kind of wimpy. They probably could have used a more manly boot!
Here's the thing. It isn't the fact that fish are carrying hockey sticks. It isn't the idea that the Rockies' logo represents something that I saw in science class last year. It is that you would have a frog that reminds us all of a fairy tale that we learned as kids that is supposed to scare the opposing team into the ice.
"A gimpy guy with horns skating outside of what appears to be a department store..."
That's the funniest line of them all.
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Oh, come on -- these are the "worst?" No Toledo Storm, the logo that looked like it was created by a demonic child who demanded it be used or else he would send the team owner into the cornfield? What about this monstrosity from the Nashville South Stars? Was the California Golden Seals mark worse than this Vancouver Canucks design (Are they a hockey team, or a downhill skiing team)? No Lubbock Cotton Kings, which looks like Frosty the Snowman suffering from 'roid rage? No Edmonton Ice, with Dan Haggerty starring in a Sasquatch skating review? No Cincinnati Cyclones, with the ridiculous misshapen-skulled goalie forming a "C" with a stick the size of a ping-pong paddle and with the whirling Tasmanian Devil lurking behind him? What about the new Amarillo Gorillas, with a logo as dumb as its mascot looks? No Peoria Prancers, the sissiest name for a hockey club ever? Never mind the Columbia Inferno's dalmatian; at least it's snarling. The adorable puppy in the Grrreenville Grrrowl logo doesn't look like it would scare a morbidly obese letter carrier (Hello, Newman)! Can you imagine the poor Eastern European player who has to explain to the folks back home he plays for "the Grrrowl?" Well, at least he doesn't have to say, "I'm a Prancer."
The New Jersey Rockin Rollers did have the fatal flaw of the stoppers on the skates, which was corrected in future unis, but I dug it and still dig it. The team played in the arena in the Meadowlands, and what was the Garden State's most notable export? Rockers! Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, Little Steven, and, if you want to stretch the idea to the point of transparency, Frank Sinatra!
Ah,the New Yor Raiders. I was in grade school and Paid $8 to sit in the second row. Right on the ice! And, I got an official Raiders ring with the logo on it! Of course I wore it to school the next day.
Nice job, some of these are truly head scratchingly awful.
While it is nice to see a new logo unveiled that doesn't use gangware black as the main color, it seems it will be hard to tell who's who when the Sabres are playing Nashville. Pretty darn close to the same color scheme there.
Agree with the one who wondered about the Gorton's fisherman of Long Island. I loaughed out lous when the Ranger fans were chanting for "Fish Sticks".
The "blades" logo kind of looks like the front of a snow plow to me. The plows are often called blades by snow plow operators.
being from buffalo i will have you know that we all hate it too. it was not even the sabres that had much say in it but Reebok which is making the new jerseys that thinks they know what people like. maybe they should have asked the people who will have to pay to see them. it is one of the all time worst logos i have ever seen!
Here's 25 cents, James. Buy a clue.
Two completely left off the list should be #1 and #2, respectively:
#1 - Canton Ice Patrol
#2 - Toledo Storm
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throw on the Milwaukee admirals...
I think Admiral, I'm thinking brittish...
not some cracked out skull with different sized eyes and the phrase "Never Say Die". That to me sounds like the team sucks, but living in Milwaukee for a good number of years, they do very well for themselves... why never say die? it's horrid.
When i first heard about it, I wondered who The Onion fooled... then I found out it was real...
it's horrid, and i agree with others that it's worse than quite a few of these...
What about the ECHL Wheeling Nailers?
Farm team for the Penguins.
Was that sarcasm about the "Rockin' Rollers" logo?
It isn't accurate because of the stopper, as you stated.
Hockey roller blades don't have stoppers...which makes that logo even worse.
The Saskatoon Blades logo is plow. i beleve it had to do something with the founders of the team, like they operated a plow company. the blades however do change their logo every other year so there may be a new addition in years to come..
Don't forget about the New York Islanders Gordon Fisherman. Throw me another fishstick.
You need to see this list...a few you already covered, but the rest are totally different. Some of the commentary is fantastic. Had me laughing out loud. Not just LOL, but really laughing.
http://www.bushparty.com/htms/hockeylogos.htm
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Since you did mention roller hockey, how could you leave out the Richmond Vultures. I still have one of their T's.
Where's the Canton Ice Patrol?
Funny list... That Ice Dogs thing looks more like a poorly conceived beer from the mid-90s...
Orlando Solar Bears.
Looked like a refugee from the Coke commercials.
Here's a nomination for the Baton Rouge Kingfish.
I just wanted to clear one thing up...
I am from Saskatoon and the logo in question is of a combine, which is used to cut grain, which makes sense because its the agricultural capital of Canada.
That being said, it still sucks. Hard. In the past, they've been skate blades, hockey stick blades, and most currently sword blades, all of which suck.
And now we should combine some of those logos to truly make the most godawful. can't believe the islanders fisherman didn't make the cut.
The Colorado Rockies logo is the Colorado state flag superimposed on a mountain
Great site, but where is the Islander's "Gorton" Fisherman?
God help me, but I attended multiple RHI games (GO VIPERS 1999 LEAGUE CHAMPS!). The Toronto Planets logo was unforgettably lousy -- looked like something the coach's nephew did with CorelDraw.
The Rockies logo is the Colorado flag in a Mountain, being that Colorado is the cenntenial state. I think it was cool because it took parts of Colorado together, not a volcane you dip!
WELL ONE LOGO IS BACK ... FROM THE PAST IT IS THE OSOYOOS SPURS NAMED FROM THE WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION'S DENVER SPURS THE OSOYOOS SPURS ARE PART OF THE 6 TEAM SINGLE ENTITY LEAGUE IN B.C. AND WASH, STATE CALLED THE W.H.A. JR WEST HOCKEY LEAGUE OSOYOOS SPURS WIN SEASON OPENER AT HOME 6-5 OVERTIME BEATING GARRY "IRONMAN " UNGER'S NEW WESTMINSTER WHALERS....
Oh god those are horrible logos.
as long as you talk about the rhi what about the vancouver voodoo and the buffalo stampede,bewaare the mighty triangles!
At least some of the audience is smart enough to know that the Rockie logo is the state flag inside of a moutain. I take it you failed geology? Also, I too was a kid growing up in Denver and did'nt think the spurs logo was that bad. Although now it does look like one of those "freeze frame" pictures from the tv show Wild,Wild,West
When I saw the Miss-a-something-or-others Icedogs logo I couldn't see the comment underneath.My first thought was W/T/F is this, Robo-dog? When I saw the same comment I laughed for a good two minutes.(perhaps they should have put me in the penalty box)
you should at least be accurate if you're going to be a douche.
that was never the ducks logo, ever.
you should at least be accurate if you're going to be a douche.
that was never the ducks logo, ever.
About the Saskatoon Blades Logo, i hate to say that the guy from Saskatoon is wrong but you are. Im sorry but i dont know what combines you have seen but i have never seen any with a blade like that on the front. Nor with tank like tracks on the side. It is a bulldozer. Their was an article in the paper(saskatoons) about the logo being a bulldozer and the "blade" is the front. The bulldozer also ties into the owners family, The Brodsky's, large backround in construction which was how they were able to afford to buy the team. That is the truth about the blades logo. i should know, im a season ticket holder.
dont show a disgrace to the hockey teans
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In Denver WE think that the Spurs Logo was one of the best ever!!!!
How did you leave out the original logo of the Canucks?
A rink with a stick, at least I think that's what it was.
And come to think of it, the next one wasn't so great; it seems like an eye test, but it looks great on their Starter jacket.
you don't know what you are talking about. The Mighty Ducks movies were awesome, and what the hell is wrong with the Duck's logo. You should have added Buffalo's ugly vintage round logo (and colors) to your lame-ass list
Just to add regarding the Blades. The logo is indeed a bulldozer, the reason being the team's motto was "hard workin' hockey" that year as they boasted little actual talent. Bulldozers work hard I guess.
How can the fisherman NY Fishsticks logo not be on this list??? Maybe you weren't aware of it. Let me explain. There is a fisherman with a hockey stick. Much like the Gorton's fisherman. What more can I say??? Well at least I have confidence that if there was a worst mascots ever both the fisherman with the light on his head and the gay little dragon that has nothing to do with the islanders would be on that list.
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I like the Rockies uniform and yes the New York (Islanders) Vandikamps Fisherman Logo should be on this list.
Hey
i am from england - oxford n i play roller hockey n not all the logos suck our one rocks but the american ones i can see where your going too.
Ireland rules!!! The leprechauns will kill you in your sleep!
I don't see your objection to the Rockies logo. It was colorful, simple, and evocative of the state and its seal. The Spurs logo was good too. The New York Raiders logo was a good one. But you're right about the rest.
Too bad about that Buffaslug. It replaced the original Sabres logo, which I thought was one of the NHL's best.
Very entertaining. I'd give the Blades logo with its Bob The Builder motif and angry Zamboni coveted Most Ludicrous award. Runners-up would be the angry engineer and the MAINEiacs freakster. And though factual accuracy surely isn't the crux of this list, you must know the logo presented as the California Seals' was actually that of the Oakland Seals (who would be re-dubbed, most heinously, the California Golden Seals, and trade the goofy crest for stylized "Seals" letters). So, um, now you know. And take heart, Buffalonians: onn those nights when your team wears its original duds, you rock! Great colours, dignified design. Over and out.
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It was 1, 12 and 13 for me. Number 5 has an early Bruce Springsteen look don't you think? The Boss...New Jersey...get my drift?
Also, remember those Oakland Seals once used WHITE skates during games!
Man oh man those are the worst most ugliest... Who on earth would have thought of such...
YO YO YO those are so funny...
Its a good thing some one made those they are so hilarious...
Thanks for main us laugh
Another terrible logo is the current Kalowna Rockets (whl) Logo. Why? It's a goofy ass dragon with a hocky stick..what does that have to do with the word rocket? Thats all I have to say...It's no wonder that team is extra aggressive when they play...you would have to be with a goofy logo like that.
WHAT ABOUT THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE LOGO,
I THINK AFTER 42 YEARS IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.THE 15 YOU HAVE LISTED ARE PRETTY BAD.
BUT THATS WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW DAYS. ANY ONE
WITH A COMPUTER IS A DESIGNER! SO THEY THINK.
WW934
I can think of a few logos that should've made this list:
Gortons Fisherman
Buffalo wings rhi logo (pterodactyl?)
The bruins bear head alt from the 90s
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