IceHL World: Nation Selection, Final Round

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We're now deciding which eight nations will be awarded IceHL World franchises. But it can't be done without your help. Your vote will determine where we go. This final round will determine our winning countries so vote wisely.

My one piece of advice: Think outside the box!

Results: Round 1-1 | Round 1-2

Results are hidden until polls close. Voting ends Saturday night. Happy voting!

Group 1 / #SaveTheArmada

Group 1 / #SaveTheArmada

Group 2

Group 2

Group 3

Group 3

Group 4

Group 4

Group 5

Group 5

Group 6

Group 6

Group 7

Group 7

Group 8

Group 8

The winners of each poll in this round will get teams in the IceHL World!

IceHL Hawaii: Name Selection, Round 1

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Exciting times are upon us! Today we set out to decide what to name the IceHL's new Hawaii franchise. And there's a wealth of great, unique names to choose from.

There's the bracket. I'm sure many of you will have questions regarding my decisions. I want to answer them but I don't want to bury our polls. So first, you'll find all 8 first-round polls. Scroll down past them to see my explanations for the bracket.

Results are hidden until polls close. This round ends on Tuesday night. Happy voting!

If you're stuck deciding which names to vote for, this should help.

Tikis | Totems

"Tikis are spiritual figures who use their big, scary mouths and menacing expressions to frighten away evil spirits. Hawaiian tiki god statues have various headdresses, each with different meanings." —WeBeTiki.com

Volcanoes | Volcanic

"Volcanoes are monuments to earth's origin, evidence that its primordial forces are still at work. Volcanoes are also prodigious land builders. Kilauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes, are still adding land to the island of Hawaii." —National Park Service

Outriggers

"Outrigger canoes feature one or more lateral support floats which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull. Compared to other types of canoes, outrigger canoes can be quite fast, yet are also capable of being paddled and sailed in rougher water." —Wikipedia

Destroyers

"A destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship. Hawaii's Naval Station Pearl Harbor is currently home to seven United States destroyers." —Wikipedia

Akua

"The gods who created everything and keep everything working." —MythHome.org

Keha

"Pride, dignity, majesty." —Hawaiian-Words.com

Honu | Turtles

"The Hawaiian green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the most common sea turtle in Hawaiian waters. The honu grows to an adult breeding size of 200 pounds or more." —Malama na Honu

Gems | Emeralds

"Gems native to Hawaii include peridot, obsidian and gem-like crystals called olivine, which contribute to Hawaii's green beaches. These gems are formed through cooling lava, as well as heat and pressure." —eHow

Emeralds are not found in Hawaii so the name would be more symbolic of the islands' greenery.

Koa Warriors | Koa

"The Hawaiian Koa warriors were the elite fighters of the islands. Their name originated from the tree they would use to fashion their weapons, the Koa tree." —Legends & Chronicles

The word "koa" also translates as brave, fearless or bold.

Eels

"All of the eels in Hawaiian waters are known by the Hawaiian term puhi, which is often qualified with another descriptive term. In ancient Hawai‘i some eels were considered ‘aumakua (spiritual guardians)." —Hawaiian Encyclopedia

Bees

"The Island of Hawaii is rich in commercially important ornamental and food plants that require insect pollination. The fact that honey bee hives are easily managed and mobile allows beekeepers to artificially and quickly increase the numbers of bees in an area with flowers in bloom to maximize pollination and production of bee products." —Hawaii Beekeepers' Association

About the Bracket

In anticipation of questions about how I came up with this Nickname Selection Bracket, I wanted to take the time to offer a few answers in advance.

Narrowing down the names
So many great names were suggested last week but it was simply impractical for me to build a bracket using all of them. So as commissioner of the league, I took the liberty of selecting 16 names that I felt would yield the most creative branding for the new team.

Voting on nicknames first
You likely noticed that the bracket includes only nicknames without the locator that was required in the name nomination process last week. It became apparent during the week that the recommended locators were all great and could be used interchangeably for many of the names.

Because of that, I didn't want to risk any names being voted down simply because of the locator that was suggested. Instead, we'll choose the nickname first and in the last round of voting we'll add the locator, be it Hawaii, Honolulu or Oahu.

First round pairs
You may have noticed that many of the pairs in the first round are similarly themed. This is by design. Many of you suggested similar names that would work equally well so I wanted to make sure the voters got a chance to consider all options around particular themes.

Disallowed names
As usual, I'm sure some of you are disappointed with some of the names left off the bracket. So I wanted to address several of those.

  • Armada and Fleet — Since it remains a possibility for the Quebec Armada to be resurrected in the IceHL World, that will take precedence. Plus, it'll be more fun if we give the Hawaiian club a fresh start.
  • Snappers, Humpbacks, Sand Tigers and Triggers (or Triggerfish) — We already have three teams named for ocean-dwellers, the Blue Crabs, Barracudas and Narwhals. Let's branch out.
  • Tsunami, Riptide, Surfers and Surf — The team's chief rival is likely to be the California Wave, to which the names are too thematically similar.
  • Leatherbacks, Greenbacks, Loggerheads — Hawaii is known mostly for its green sea turtles, though leatherbacks and loggerheads are native. But I think we're covered with Turtles and the Hawaiian term Honu in the bracket. (By the way there was a question regarding the North Shore Honu, a winter baseball team. Shouldn't be a problem as we won't be using "North Shore.")
  • Lava, Eruption and Magma — Now you're just describing geological features. Remember, this is supposed to be a hockey team.
  • Pineapples, Leis and Tree Frogs — Yes, it's fantasy hockey, but if you call Dustin Byfuglien a pineapple, you're on your own. (Luongo might not mind.)
  • Humuhumunukunukuapuaa — Seriously? No. At least IceHL Podcast host Tony Pomposelli will thank me even if no one else does. Though I'm not sure what's worse, typing it or trying to pronounce it.
  • Other Hawaiian words — I did include a few options in the native language but I tried to limit us to those with the easiest pronunciations and best translations.

Like I said, there were plenty of other cool names suggested, but ultimately I felt like these 16 were our best options. If you have any other burning questions, feel free to email, tweet or comment. I'm always happy to answer.

IceHL World Nation Selection: Round 1, Part 2

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We're now deciding which eight nations will be awarded IceHL franchises. But it can't be done without your help. Your vote will determine where we go. The first round was split in half to begin the voting. The first eight polls are finished. Now it's time for the rest.

Results: Round 1-1

Results are hidden until polls close. This round ends Saturday night. Happy voting!

Group 5

Group 5

Group 5

Group 5

Group 6

Group 6

Group 6

Group 6

Group 7

Group 7

Group 7

Group 7

Group 8

Group 8

Group 8

Group 8

IceHL World Nation Selection: Round 1, Part 1

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We're now deciding which eight nations will be awarded IceHL franchises. But it can't be done without your help. Your vote will determine where we go.

To keep us from being overwhelmed with polls, the first round is split in half. For the first half of the week we'll look at Groups 1-4. Then after it'll be Groups 5-8. Eight polls in each set.

Results are hidden until polls close. This round ends Wednesday night. Happy voting!

Group 1 / #SaveTheArmada

Group 1 / #SaveTheArmada

Group 1

Group 1

Group 2

Group 2

Group 2

Group 2

Group 3

Group 3

Group 3

Group 3

Group 4

Group 4

Group 4

Group 4

world-nations-1.png

IceHL Hawaii: Name Nominations

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It's happening! The IceHL is headed to Hawaii. But before we can begin designing logos and jerseys, our new team needs a name!

To the right is some imagery to get you in a Hawaii frame of mind. Below are the rules.

Submission Rules

Here are some quick guidelines for how this will work:

  • Name nominations will be accepted only in the comments area of this post.
  • Include the LOCATOR and NICKNAME (ex.: Montreal Canadiens or New York Rangers).
  • Acceptable locators are: Hawaii, Honolulu and Oahu.
  • If you use a Hawaiian word for your suggested name, you must note the English translation.
  • Enter only ONE team name per comment and a maximum of 3 nominations per user. (You may elaborate on your name idea within that comment.)
  • AVOID DUPLICATES. Read through what's been suggested before you suggest yours.
  • Bump up names you like by clicking the "heart" button that appears in the upper right corner of the comment when your cursor hovers over it.
  • If you wish to comment on someone else's suggestion, do it ONLY by replying to their original comment. (Use the "reply" button that appears when your cursor hovers over it.)

The reason for the comment restrictions is to keep this page manageable. Comments will get out of control during the week if we don't have a few limitations. I will be monitoring the page and deleting extraneous comments as needed to keep things organized.

Voting Preview

As with the city selection, we will use a bracket to determine the team's name. We will have a bracket of 8 or 16 names depending on the quality of the nominations. It's important to use the "heart" button on the names you like so I know which ones you guys most want to see included in the bracket.

Restrictions

You may NOT nominate a nickname if it is or has been used by:

  • any current or past IceHL team;
  • any current or past NHL team or any WHA team;
  • any current AHL, ECHL, NFL, MLB or NBA team;
  • or any Hawaiian sports team.

A quick Google search goes a long way. Make sure your suggestion isn't already in use elsewhere.

In addition, names that are vulgar, make any direct pop culture references (Honolulu Magnums) or serve only to be silly (Oahu Yahoos) will be removed. Repetitive distractions may get you blocked from posting future comments anywhere on the website. If you're not here to help improve the league, your participation is not necessary.

I will also remove any other name nominations that are deemed to be unacceptable.

Submissions end May 3

One last note to bear in mind. Don't try so hard to find a name that "means something." In the past, some people have tried so hard to do that, they lose perspective on the fact that we're branding a hockey team. It should be something fans will want to scream at a game.

And most important... BE CREATIVE!

Hawaii, here we come!

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Almost two weeks ago, we began the process of creating a new IceHL West team to replace the Philadelphia Aces — who are moving to the IceHL East where they belong.

The fate of the Quebec Armada is still up in the air. Voters may choose to save the franchise and allow it to live on as a member of the IceHL World. Or it may simply be relocated to the tropical oasis that is Hawaii.

Aloha Hawaii!

Indeed, the IceHL West City Selection Bracket has yielded a winning locale. Honolulu, Hawaii will be home to the next IceHL franchise!

Despite a relatively low turnout for the final poll, more than 58% of voters selected the Aloha State over the City by the Bay. But all in all, 2,848 votes were cast since the bracket opened on April 15.

Next: Name Submissions

Now that we've selected a city, what's next? Of course the team now needs a name.

Name nominations will be accepted beginning Monday, so start brainstorming now. But don't post them just yet.

A special blog entry will be published on Monday with instructions on how this process will work.

For name locators, Hawaii, Honolulu or Oahu (the island on which the city is located) will be acceptable. If there's something else you think will work, try it. Be creative!

For the Record

As an aside for the IceHL die-hards, the Quebec Armada's team history and records will transfer to the new Hawaiian club regardless of whether the Armada branding is transferred to the IceHL World conference. Think of it like the Winnipeg Jets situation.

The reason is this: The World version of the Armada couldn't possibly have a history that pre-dates the creation of the conference itself. If that makes sense. If not, I'd be happy to go into more detail.

If you have any other questions before name nominations begin, now is the time to ask!

IceHL World Nations: Group 8

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It's time to reveal the final group of the IceHL World Nations Bracket. We're headed to the Mediterranean/Middle East region for Group 8.

Greece

Home to the foundation of organized sports in the form of the Olympic Games, Greece simply must be an option for IceHL World voters. This will be your pick if you hope to see a team in Athens.

Turkey

One of the world's largest cities is Istanbul and despite a lack of specific hockey history, it would be a shame not to include Turkey in the running for a new IceHL franchise.

Egypt

Recent political turmoil aside, Egypt is known the world over for its cultural history. That along with its iconic monuments would provide any logo artist enormous possibilities and inspiration. Could you imagine an IceHL club in Cairo or Alexandria?

United Arab Emirates

Our 32nd and final entry into the IceHL World Nations Bracket is home to a playground of the rich and to the world's tallest skyscraper. It might be a little offbeat, but Dubai could be a fascinating backdrop for a new IceHL team.

There they are. All 32 potential nations right there in 8 brackets. I can't wait to see where this league goes!

But of course, my decisions in creating this bracket don't necessarily have to be final. If you see any glaring errors or things you flat-out don't like, don't hesitate to speak up!

Leave a comment. Write me an email. Send a tweet. If enough people want to see a change made, I'm open to it. But it needs to be overwhelming.

Voting on these brackets will begin Sunday!

IceHL Relocation: City Selection, Final Round

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We're in the process of selecting a location for the new IceHL West team that will replace the Philadelphia Aces — who move to the IceHL East next season. We've now reached the final poll in this process. Hawaii or San Francisco?

Results: Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3

Results are hidden until polls close. This round ends Saturday night. Happy voting!

This is it! On Sunday, we'll have the location for the newest IceHL team. Will it land in Hawaii or California?

IceHL World Nations: Group 7

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We're nearing the end of the IceHL World Initiative Nations Bracket unveiling. Today we get a look at Group 7 — our last European group.

Netherlands

It's not a place we often associate with hockey, but Amsterdam could have a future entry in the IceHL World conference. All you have to do is vote for the Netherlands.

Germany

Germany has supplied a fair share of talent to the NHL over the years — Marco Sturm and Christian Ehrhoff to name a couple. Will it supply a new team to the IceHL this summer by way of Berlin or Munich?

Czech Republic

There's no question the Czechs are among the better hockey playing nations of Europe. Just ask Jaromir Jagr or Patrik Elias. So naturally, Prague will be in consideration for an IceHL club.

Switzerland

In recent years, some talented Swiss players have shown their skills in the NHL. Maybe it's time they get an IceHL team as well? Imagine a franchise in Zurich or Geneva. It could happen.

Which nations and cities are your favorites from this group? Who are you hoping for in that final group tomorrow?

IceHL World Nations: Group 6

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We're going south of the equator to find Group 6 of the IceHL World Initiative Nations Bracket. It's an atypical group in a conversation about hockey, but worthy nevertheless.

Australia

The first entry of this group takes us down under. If you can imagine an Aussie IceHL club, this option is for you. Perhaps we'll find the league in Sydney or Melbourne this summer.

New Zealand

Of course it's only logical to pit Australia against its nearest neighbor in New Zealand. Maybe you're hoping for a franchise in Auckland or Wellington.

Indonesia

To the north of those two is a country comprised of more than 13,000 volcanic islands. Indonesia's geography coupled with its diverse population could provide designers with a big spark of creative inspiration.

South Africa

It may not be in the same geographical region as the other nations in its group, but South Africa is no less deserving a place on our bracket. Imagine the team identities we could create for Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Like I said, none of these countries would be considered hockey hotbeds by most people, but the opportunities for unique and creative branding abound. Which one is your favorite?