Another FHL Team Logo Gem - RIPOFF "Fixed"

Here's the latest Warriors logo... If you need to catch up on things, read below for the fun.

 

Not a second of Federal Hockey League hockey has been played, but it has been so fun to comment on and critique the new team logos and even the league itself.

One more FHL team was officially announced and along with it, their new logo. This is the design for the Akwesasne Warriors (Akwesasne, Ontario).

  

I'd have to say that the "gold standard" for logos in the FHL would be the Danbury Whalers design. It's clever, borrows the Hardford Whalers color scheme and design idea, and is just an all around nice looking logo. This warrior design is a little choppy, but has potential for when they're ready for a re-design.

UPDATE:

Turns out that the Akwesasne Warriors logo shown above is a direct ripoff of the NBA's Golden State Warriors alternate logo used from 1998-2006. I guess the FHL team thinks that, if another team no longer uses a logo, it's ok for them to steal it and call it their own. Here's the Golden State Warriors logo for comparison. I guess it's time to hit up the FHL and the Akwesasne Warriors for their response. (H/T: Adam)

  

As luck would have it (for the FHL that is), Puckdrawn frequent concept artist, Mike Ivall, has kindly designed some alternatives for the Akwesasne Warriors. What do you think? Oh, and FHL, don't steal Mike's work and claim it as your own. Talented artists get paid for their work.

Hit us up, FHL. There are many good designers here, for hire, ready to help you with designs that are not blatant ripoffs.

Of course, I'm willing to give the FHL the benefit of the doubt. It could very well be that they are oblivious to the fact that some designer is a thieving hack.

Federal Hockey League official site

Warriors official site (not live as of this posting...)

Thanks to Mike Ivall and Michael The for sending this in.

.....

The Original Six: Detroit Red Wings Rebranding Competition submission deadline will be extended due to the lack of submissions so far. I haven't promoted it on the right sidebar like the other ones, so that may have something to do with it. Stay tuned for new submission deadline. And I gotta admit, I'm having a bitch of a time sketching something that looks as cool as the current Wings logo, but hey, that's what this competition is all about.

.....

Reader Dave passed along this info: The Flyers are having a buy one get one free on their current jerseys - all but confirming (if it hadn't been already) that they're dropping the RbK style and going to the retro jerseys full time next year.

http://www.facebook.com/philadelphiaflyers?ref=nf

Comments

[marchawg]

I can't think of anything for the Red Wings. Honestly, I like how they look now, so it's really difficult for me to come up with something new

[Gary Punzak]

The Detroit Red Wings logo design is nearly perfect for what the teams name is and what their city is about. The execution is pretty good but thats where it can be improved. making a completley new and better concept for Detroit is like mission impossible. Updating the logo is the only thing that could make Detroits logo better.

- And im someone who doesn't buy into all the original 6, can touch tradition crap.

[Gary Punzak]

Almost forgot, Warriors logo has a good idea, but pretty bad execution.

[Adam Edgington]

That Warriors logo is such great idea that the NBA has already used it. All these guys did was change the colors and add some "feathers" to the top. The rest of the head - including the "feather" jutting from the back - look identical to the Golden State Warriors' logo.
Judge for yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Warriors

These FHL guys seem to have few problems "borrowing" concepts from other places...

Earlier today I read that the owner of this team may be facing federal felony charges in Canada for gun-related incidents in 2008.
http://www.americanprohockey.com/2010/03/federal-prison-hockey-league-warriors.html

[CML]

Agree with the comments about the Wings. Getting picky about making changes. The only thing I might do is add a complementary colour.

My suggestion, if you want to proceed with original six is to just open it up to the rest of the teams. Because, realistically, you might get one good design per team - if anyone could really come up with anything decent for the remaining teams I would be shocked.

I wouldn't have the balls to think I could improve the Habs at all.
Ditto the Hawks - those two, to me have the two best jersey sets in the league (minus the black alternate for the Hawks.)

The first two had weak brands, but only in comparison to the remain 4 in the original 6.

The Leafs only because people prefer older logos and their jersey template is 4 stripes above a practice jersey. The Rangers because they use wordmarks on the jersey.

I would cut bait now.

[Ben]

wow, thats brutal. two teams with stolen logos... disgusting

[johnny griswold]

@Ben -

Which two teams have the stolen logo?

[johnny griswold]

@CML -

Why would we cut bait now? As I've stated previously, nobody here has any pipe dreams about replacing an original six logo with what we come up with.

We're designers and this is a fun way to hone our skills, get critiques and criticisms on design choices, process, etc. It's a way to interact with designers and to push each other.

Having said all that, I understand it's much harder to design an outstanding original six rebrand than it is to post a flippant comment about the designs.

[Gary Punzak]

I have a design or two for the Red Wings rebrand. I have two finished logos but im not sure if both they are both primary logo material. And I have yet to read the official rules, so idk how many submissions can be sent.
-off to read the rules

[Adam]

Yeah here's the exact logo used by the NBA's warriors. Bush league stuff from the FHL so far.
http://sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=448

[johnny griswold]

@Adam -

WOW! That's a complete ripoff! I've emailed the FHL to alert them and to give them a chance to respond to this fraud.

@Gary -

Send in as many as you want. (Try to keep it reasonable)

[vlad]

i wonder, why the fhl thinks, that stealing logos from other teams is a better way to create team identities, than letting talented designers from this blog help them out.
the AAHL definately did the the right move with its contest. the quality of the contributions is outstanding and better than anything the FHL came up with so far.

[CML]

@johnny
I don't think that this or any other comment was flippant, if it was taken that way I apologize.

I get the purpose of the contest and if you want to position it as a way of really challenging designers to come up with a rebrand of something that is already great, that's fine. I just think that the time to do that might be too much of a commitment for a hobby. It's hard enough doing it for a living.

By cut bait, I simply meant instead of extending the deadlines hoping for more submissions why not switch back to rebranding the crap in the league - like the Thrashers and Ducks. I think reverting to that will get you a ton of submissions.

I'll change your closing shot to "I understand it's much harder to design an outstanding original six rebrand than it is..." to rebrand teams that really need it.

[johnny griswold]

@CML -

Come on, you didn't like my parting zinger?? haha.

Here are my thoughts: One thing I've learned since I started this blog is that people love concepts. Whether it's designing them or commenting on them. People enjoy it.

SO, assuming this blog is gonna be around for awhile, there are plenty of opportunities for rebranding efforts, competitions or just plain old concepts.

Right now the project at hand is the Original Six Rebranding Competition. I don't think it would be fair to bail on this, just do start up something new. Who's gonna wanna be part of something that doesn't go through to the end?

As for redesigning/rebranding Original Six logos or the crap logos of the league, it's just a matter of challenging designers. It's MUCH harder to rebrand established/classic/timeless logos than it is to, say, rebrand the Ducks. They're easy!

I wanted to challenge people, and I believe I'm doing that. So when it comes time to redesign the crap logos, we get designers coming at it with a new perspective; a new way of thinking on how to go about their design change.

Some of the upcoming design contests:

1. Re-designing the FHL team logos
2. Re-designing/re-branding WHA logos
3. Re-designing/re-branding NHL logos
4. Topless ice-girls. (ok, just kidding. wanted to see who was still paying attention)

[Mike Ivall Design]

I think FHL should be the Next one. Maybe if they check up on us at all they might like some of our designs.

[Mike Ivall Design]

Hey i think the Owner of this team was suppose to be the owner of the Ottawa Team.

[Mike Ivall Design]

Already made a new logo for this team. I think johnny hads it.

[Michael The]

Mike's Warriors concepts are pretty awesome... I like the 4th one :)

As for the ripoff of GS, can't see HOW I missed that. Explains how this logo seemed like an upgrade on the others (besides Danbury, of course) lol

[Mike Ivall Design]

Also people let me know if this looks like anything out there i don't want to have egg on my face if it does. I looked but i didn't see anything.

[Ryan]

I would like the WHA contest if we decide not to finish the Original-6 re-brands. I liked the idea when it was first said, still like it hearing it now

[Matt Marczel]

another crappy quality logo for a league that looks as though will be a crappy quality hockey league, actually they should change their league abrieviations to CQHL. I'll give the league 6 months at the max, before it folds.

[marchawg]

WHA will be awesome to rebrand. I'm looking forward to that!

[mike e]

Found this on an Albany, NY newspaper blog.

FHL team will play at HVCC rink, run by ValleyCats front office. That comes from seventeen reliable sources, but I can’t name them. Name is to be revealed at the official announcement in about a week or maybe ten days. It may be the Troy Slapshots or Uncle Sam’s Trojans though.

http://blog.timesunion.com/hockey/portland-sports-blog-updates-pirates-situation/4344/