Vancouver Goldeneyes, Seattle Torrent unveiled as names of newest PWHL teams

When the new PWHL franchise in Vancouver plays its first game against expansion-cousin Seattle on Nov. 21, the team’s name and logo will be painted at centre ice inside Pacific Coliseum — a tangible sign of the next chapter of women’s hockey in the Pacific city.

That team will be called the Vancouver Goldeneyes, and their cross-border rival will be called the Seattle Torrent, the PWHL announced on Thursday.

It’s the latest step in bringing the league to life on the west coast, and growing the PWHL to eight teams from its original six. Players will begin reporting to training camps on Friday, ahead of opening night later this month.

Building a brand for the two newest women’s pro hockey teams started earlier this year, when Vancouver and Seattle were announced as expansion markets.

“It really started with both of these teams, taking a look around and really thinking about what is most resonant? What feels most authentic?” Kanan Bhatt-Shah, the PWHL’s vice president of brand and marketing, told CBC Sports in an interview.

“Nature was just something that came out as a hugely important piece that’s ever present, omnipresent, all around and plays such a huge role. I think for us, it was capturing the beauty and authenticity and strength of that and saying, how do we take these elements from nature that are authentic to each of these markets and marry that with some of the DNA of PWHL brand identities as it relates to strength, empowerment, resilience, and really build on that?”

Vancouver’s name comes from the “fiercely protective common goldeneye,” a type of sea bird that’s unique to the area and known for its distinctive yellow-hued eyes.

Those eyes are incorporated into the team’s logo, adding “hints of sunset gold and sky