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The final expansion team of the 1973/73 season comes from Shoreview, Minnesota. Shoreview is a town right smack in the middle of the East Metro Hockey League bordering Mounds View, Roseville, and Little Canada. The Pike will share the 500 seat Shoreview Arena with the Mounds View Gunners.
The team is called the "Pike" named after the Northern Pike, a species of predatory fish that is common in the various lakes and ponds in Shoreview. Their logo is a S with a serif added to the bottom to make it appear like a P on the bottom for Pike. Their logo is not found on the uniforms, it is more just a filler since the team prefers to just use "Pike" arched on the front of the sweater with the players number below. Their team colors are green and gold.
Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!
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Section30 wrote:
With the new teams, here is where the St. Paul and Minneapolis teams are drawing from.
Minneapolis Bakers - The cellar.
Your sympathy is appreciated. I'm passionate, but not salty. There's always next year, or the year after, or the one after that...
That being said, I like all of the fresh identities, the rivalry trophies and mascots are good, and you keep finding a way to do those monograms (Eau Claire, Elk River).
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My fellow Wisconsinites...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
They will not regret it...the Rubber Kings will soon be as much of a power as the Lakers and Brewers already are.
All in all, this may be my favorite offseason updates of yours yet, with the new rivalry trophies and mascots (and yes yes, Chief Red Wing does fit for this time, but I imagine he'll be retired or dignifed very soon after the '90s roll around). and the logo updates and expansion teams. Of course I am on cloud nine about Eau Claire, but I am similarly ecstatic with Como and Highland Park's new looks (especially being a HUGE Peanuts fan). Princeton, Elk River and Shoreview have really neat identities as well...yes, I think this IS my favorite offseason post series of yours yet.
I believe this is the perfect way to conclude my comments:
PS: You know where to e-mail 'em at
Last edited by Burmy87 (4/14/2020 9:13 pm)
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JamHeronArk wrote:
That being said, I like all of the fresh identities, the rivalry trophies and mascots are good, and you keep finding a way to do those monograms (Eau Claire, Elk River).
Thank you, I'm glad you like them.
I wish I could take credit for the Elk River monogram but it is kinda just my version of the logo used by their high school and youth hockey. I am happy with the monograms for Eau Claire and Shoreview though.
JamHeronArk wrote:
My fellow Wisconsinites...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
They will not regret it...the Rubber Kings will soon be as much of a power as the Lakers and Brewers already are.
All in all, this may be my favorite offseason updates of yours yet, with the new rivalry trophies and mascots (and yes yes, Chief Red Wing does fit for this time, but I imagine he'll be retired or dignifed very soon after the '90s roll around). and the logo updates and expansion teams. Of course I am on cloud nine about Eau Claire, but I am similarly ecstatic with Como and Highland Park's new looks (especially being a HUGE Peanuts fan). Princeton, Elk River and Shoreview have really neat identities as well...yes, I think this IS my favorite offseason post series of yours yet.
I had a feeling you and Dan would like the inclusion of Eau Claire, I had originally planned on adding them in a couple years but you guys convinced me to push that up lol. *fun fact
Yeah, I don't expect Chief Red Wing to last past the 80s at the very latest.
Thanks, I'm really happy with both Como and Highland. I think they're unique without being too over the top which is what I was going for.
Thank you, I'm glad this offseason was a good one!6.9.0
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A tribute to my new favorite team, Como!
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Rube Dali, the DodoHorse wrote:
A tribute to my new favorite team, Como!
I'm glad you like them, here's a sig if you want it.
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Well then, looks like I need an Eau Claire sig. Or one with all three Wisconsin teams on it.
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Dan O'Mac wrote:
Well then, looks like I need an Eau Claire sig. Or one with all three Wisconsin teams on it.
I second the request on the "all three Wisconsin teams" sig!
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We have some great looks this offseason! Getting Eau Claire is awesome, it is probably my closest connection to this league other than Austin. My best friend's family is originally from Cadott, which is the smallest place I have ever been. Eau Claire is only a stone throw away! They have an unreal D3 college team. On to the list!
Crookston Kings - 100% upgrade. I liked their Old English "C", but it was getting a little tired. This overhaul took a stale design and made it modern! The crest is clean, reminding me of an older Sacramento Kings secondary but executed much better. Maybe I have an odd sense of humor, but did anyone else find it funny that the Kings did a reverse of what the NJ Devils did? They went from traditional stripes to exactly what the Devils used during their Red/Green days, idk why I actually laughed. I prefer the older Devils jerseys, if that helps tell you what I think about the change. Still one of my favorite color combos in the whole series. I'd love to see that crown on the shoulder. C+ -> A
Como Sea Lions - I am not feeling their primary logo. It is something about the sea lion that doesn't add anything to the ball. I get that Sparky was kind of needed in some capacity, but the giant black blob seems a tad forced. I do really enjoy the secondary, the simplicity is eye catching, and actually steals the show in the primary logo. The jerseys are very unique, and would pop on the ice with the colors used. I don't think the script is fitting for hockey, but it is interesting. Better than using the whole sea lion or just the ball. This team has a great base, but I think a couple tweaks would elevate it further. B-
Highland Park Flying Aces - This is great! I remember when this kind of inspiration was pushed prior with the Bakers. It wasn't the right time, but now I think it is an awesome nod. The logos are clean, I love the script, and the striping probably tops the league. The color names absolutely demand ownership over the already rare color combo. I think they ripped ownership of the pairing from Brookings, the Buffalo might have to find a new palette. A+
Princeton Brickmakers - The story to the name can make a team standout in this league, and Princeton does a stellar job of telling the league who they are. Classic logo set and uniforms, although I would switch those numbers. I think the P could stand alone on the chest, but it would probably just be a side step. B
Elk River Indians - I am all for teams with names appropriate for the time, so this does not bother me at all. What does bother me is the lacking primary logo. It feels unbalanced and over simplified. The ER logo is much more suitable for the main stage, and I like how you made it different from the logo the high school uses now. Their jerseys are great, I like the striping and the white shoulders for the darks. C
Eau Claire Rubber Kings - It is a mouthful, but I like the charm of this name. The logo is incredibly effective for how simple it is. We got an E we got a C, and we even got a top down view of a tire, can't complain. I like the jerseys, and I think adding gray does a lot for the brand. I will happily cheer for this team. A+
Shoreview Pike - The S/P combo hurt my head before I saw the P in it. I would maybe add the serif on the top for balance. I like the "PIKE" on the chest. The green jerseys remind me of Vermont's jersey, one of my favorite in college hockey. All around solid. C
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Thehealthiestscratch wrote:
Elk River Indians - I am all for teams with names appropriate for the time, so this does not bother me at all. What does bother me is the lacking primary logo. It feels unbalanced and over simplified. The ER logo is much more suitable for the main stage, and I like how you made it different from the logo the high school uses now. Their jerseys are great, I like the striping and the white shoulders for the darks. C
I got a feeling that as the years go on and Native American mascots become more controversial, the "ER" logo will become their primary logo (even if the nickname doesn't change).