Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 19, 1993 TAG: 9305190147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
How about two free season tickets to the first pro hockey season at the Roanoke Civic Center since 1976?
Hockey-Roanoke Inc. needs a nickname for its new East Coast Hockey League franchise. The club is running a name-the-team contest, and club president John Gagnon is offering two season seats for home games for the winning entry.
This newspaper is going to aid the club in its search for just the right nickname in two ways. I will make numerous suggestions, few of which are likely to be taken seriously. You can mail your contest entries to me - and submit a design for the club logo, too, if you wish - and even if you don't win, your name and entry may be mentioned in a future column.
OK, so that's not as good as getting two season tickets. Imagine how much fun you'll have spelling Bogaczyk on your envelope, however. Imagine how much fun you'll have suggesting a name that won't be chosen - like Rampage or Rebels.
The contest deadline is May 28. The owners will announce the team nickname in early June. Gagnon said the hockey club also will work with local radio on the nickname contest. The owners need your help because the two original names they considered - Locomotives and Stars - were discarded.
Locomotives didn't work because the owners figured that someone trying to make hockey work here seemed crazy enough, without regularly being called "the Locos." When the NHL's Minnesota North Stars moved south, they were renamed the Dallas Stars. Because Gagnon and partners don't want to be on the goalie's end of a lawsuit, they decided not to see Stars.
No Roanoke Canucks?
The club will have its official kickoff - er, faceoff - Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the civic center. Those fans who have written for season tickets, or folks who are interested in purchasing the same, are invited to come to the civic center and choose their seats.
The new club will hold a "returnees" reception Thursday at the civic center from 6-8 p.m. for Rampage season-ticket holders and Valley Youth Hockey Association organizers, parents and players, in hopes of rekindling their interest. Then, club owners will be at the arena from 4-8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Food and drinks will be served.
"People can come out, meet the owners, talk a little hockey if they want, and decide where they want to sit," Gagnon said.
While we're at it, this would also be a good time to rename the civic center. If Pittsburgh's domed Civic Arena can be known as the Igloo, then Roanoke's rectangular and revived hockey home should be called the Icebox.
Three other matters to consider. Considering the Locomotives and Stars, it's obvious the owners are trying to find a name that plays word-association with Roanoke and its surroundings. However, Gagnon says the name will be Roanoke ------, not Roanoke Valley ------. The team colors will be dominated by black and green.
Let's play the name game, and feel free to steal:
Roanoke Racers - Speed, strong regional tie . . . And Whitey Taylor can drop the first puck at the opener.
Roanoke Draft - It's cold, and the civic center sells beer now, too.
Roanoke Magicians - Will the Magic City take to hat tricks?
Roanoke Zombies - Another hockey resurrection, right?
Roanoke Explorers - A theme-park theme. Maybe they can sign defensemen named Lewis and Clark.
Roanoke Revolutionaries - The first four letters will remind fans of what was hockey here last season.
Roanoke Recyclables - The obvious.
Roanoke Swords - The team motto? Slashing is our specialty.
Roanoke Movers and Shakers - Remembering Vinton and the LancerLot.
Roanoke Cold Shoulders - What hockey has gotten before.
Roanoke Ice Cats - Gagnon's trucking firm is CAT Inc.
Roanoke Rinky-Dinks - Let's hope not.
Roanoke Red Lights - Will there be as many on the ice as there are on the streets?
Roanoke Railers - Will this team be on the right track?
Roanoke Comedy Club - What happened on the ice last year wasn't funny.
Roanoke Canadian Club - A tribute to the team's majority owner and hockey's home nation. Or, will this team drive anyone to drink?
Roanoke Rockets - Take the team photo in Wasena Park.
Roanoke Rabbits - Name the team for the city's foremost "sports lawyer."
Roanoke Ice Storm - Can ECHL weather this forecast?
Roanoke Russian Roulette - Fire and ice.
Roanoke Retirees - The population base.
Roanoke Rapids - Let's confuse ECHL geography. Maybe an opposing team will travel to North Carolina and the local skaters will win a forfeit.
Roanoke Rescue Squad - It's hockey's last save here.
by CNB