PWHL Vancouver Team Named Goldeneyes

On Thursday, the newest Canadian  PWHL expansion team revealed its new identity as the Vancouver Goldeneyes.

The identity is inspired by the Common Goldeneye bird native to Vancouver and the surrounding area. The team’s logo consists of a golden eye encircled by wings, angled so that it points to the Pacific Northwest. Blue, bronze, and gold, the team’s primary colours, figure prominently in the logo.   

“One thing we heard from fans was, we really want names that communicate strength and empowerment and resilience,” said Kanan Bhatt-Shah, PWHL Vice President of Brand Marketing said via Zoom availability.  “It was really thinking about what feels authentic and relevant to each of (Vancouver and Seattle) and will inspire a strong pride of place, while also sharing these attributes of strength and empowerment.”

The team’s Instagram account immediately promoted themes of “speed and agility”, “land meets sea,” and “unity and motion” upon revealing the new logo. 

Logos for both Vancouver and Seattle will not be emblazoned on the sweaters until next season, “consistent with the approach of the six inaugural teams,” said Bhatt-Shah.  The diagonal city name sweaters for the expansion cousins will be in place for each team’s first season. 

“It means the world to me to have a team identity for the inaugural season in Vancouver. The Goldeneyes name is powerful, bold, and tough,” said Jenn Gardiner, Goldeneyes forward and Surrey, B.C. native in a statement. “When I think of the Goldeneyes, I think of the landscape of British Columbia: the mountains, the ocean, and the grit that comes with growing up here.”   

Seattle, meanwhile, also unveiled its new identity on Thursday – as the Seattle Torrent.

The teams will play their inaugural game on November 21^st at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum when the Goldeneyes host the Torrent.

“The Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes are bold, distinctive, and true to who we are as a league,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, in a statement. 

“We can’t wait to see these teams face off for the first time on Friday, Nov. 21, in what promises to be the start of an incredible Pacific Northwest rivalry.”