Music: {allcanada} IceCaps picked as St. John's AHL team name

Friday, July 29, 2011

{allcanada} IceCaps picked as St. John's AHL team name

The St. John's IceCaps has been confirmed as the name of the American Hockey League's newest franchise.

The announcement was made at Mile One Centre in St. John's, where the IceCaps — the farm team of the relaunched Winnipeg Jets — will play its home games.

The name has been one of the worst-kept secrets in St. John's, as word leaked last month that former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams had picked it in his effort to return professional hockey to his home city.

Williams, who had registered the company St. John's Ice Caps Inc. in June, said the new name and logo "captures the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador."

The logo features stylized versions of Labrador and Newfoundland forming the left and right sides, respectively, of an iceberg.

The name is also an echo of the old St. John's Caps, a team that played in the provincial men's senior hockey league.

The team is owned by Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the Jets. The AHL franchise had formerly played as the Manitoba Moose.

The name drew a mixed public reaction when word leaked last month, with some saying it was too similar to the frozen cappuccino drinks that the Tim Hortons chain sells.

But fans are clearly eager for hockey with the team selling 4,700 season passes in the 6,000-seat Mile One Centre by mid-July.