Say hello to the Quebec "Nordiks"

[Kapoutman]

WHA announces return of Nordiks


Canadian Press

7/15/2004

QUEBEC CITY (CP) - Quebec City is getting its Nordiques back, give or take a few letters.

The city's team in the fledgling World Hockey Association will be called the Nordiks, franchise president Jean-Paul Boily announced Thursday.

The team, whose logo is a polar bear growling against a blue background, will be one of six in the new league, which begins play this fall. The others are in Halifax, Hamilton, Toronto, Dallas and Detroit.

The Nordiques played seven seasons in the old WHA before joining the NHL in 1979-80. The franchise moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche before the 1995-96 season.

Boily's strategy in adopting a similar-sounding name is quite understandable because the Nordiques were a very popular team whose departure from the small-market area continues to be a sore point among many locals.

"The choice was near-unanimous,'' Boily told a news conference. "People want their identity and that's what we want to give them back.''

Boily said the NHL warned the Nordiks not to use the modified name because the more established league still owns the rights to the Nordiques name.

"There may be problems on that front but we're ready,'' he told a news conference. "To give the name back to Quebec City residents, any legal hassles will be worth it."

"The name isn't the same as the original, it's spelled differently and the logo is completely different, so we don't think there can be any confusion.''

Boily has said the franchise has asked trademark officials to clarify the matter.

Here is the new logo of the franchise.



So, what do you think? I always wanted the Nordiques to return, but not as "The Nordiks", and not in WHA. Anybody has an idea what the other teams are? I only heard of the Halifax Icebreakers as far as other franchises go.