PWHL welcomes the Vegas Vanguards

LAS VEGAS — They have a home rink. They have a general manager. They have a coach. They have players.

Now, they have a name.

Say hi to the Vegas Vanguards, the new gals on the block.

The Vanguards, one of four expansion teams which will begin play next month in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, made the big announcement Tuesday morning while most of their fan base was still sleeping. That was the league’s call, which also announced the names of the three other expansion teams — the Detroit Clutch, the Hamilton Havoc and the San Jose Sea Lions.

The team explained in a news release that the name ‘Vanguards’ celebrates those who lead the way, embracing challenges and creating new opportunities. Inspired by the pioneering spirit that helped shape the West, the name represents courage, determination, and a willingness to forge new paths.

The logo features the kit fox, an adaptable and resilient Mojave Desert native that perseveres and thrives in the face of adversity. Above the fox, Las Vegas’ iconic star is positioned between a ‘V’ silhouette. The typography is inspired by the American frontier, while the primary color palette of cactus green, fox ivory, desert gold, and midnight navy speaks to the spirit and beauty of Las Vegas’ desert home.

It was a busy morning for Dominque DiDia, the Vanguards’ GM as she made the rounds on local television to talk about her team’s identity. The PWHL season for Vegas opens Dec. 6 at T-Mobile Arena against fellow expansion club Detroit.

“I absolutely love the name,” said forward Hayley Scamurra. “I think it is very fitting. We are all pioneers of this game that we love so much, and now we get to be the first pro women’s hockey team in Vegas, so I think that’s really exciting,

“I love the details and our logo — I think the fox is incredible. I was excited to see how everything came together.”

The team has an event scheduled for later Tuesday on the Las Vegas Strip for their season ticket members where DiDia, head coach Kim Weiss and other team officials are going to be on hand.  

Using social media as well as the TV hits, the team went to great lengths to explain the name, the logo and the colors, which were unveiled a couple of weeks ago when the sweater was broken out.

You can expect a fox mascot of some sorts and perhaps some will refer to the Vanguards as the “Foxes” which may come across as a bit sexist given its slang connotation for depicting women. Think the old Saturday Night Live “Two Wild and Crazy Guys” skit that featured Dan Akroyd and Steve Martin.

Like all team nicknames, the Vanguards are a name that will undoubtedly draw a cross section of responses from the fans and media. Some will love it, some will hate it, some will fall in the middle. What’s interesting is the league and the team opted not to use “Las Vegas” in the team name after months of calling the expansion franchise “PWHL Las Vegas.”

The Golden Knights did the same thing when they unveiled their name prior to their inaugural season, opting for “Vegas” rather than “Las Vegas.” The Vanguards’ use of Vegas gives it an alliteration sound which makes it unique among the valley’s pro sports teams.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice president of business operations said in a statement: “Few words capture the spirit of women’s hockey as fittingly as Vanguards, especially in the desert, a place defined by trailblazers who dared to build something new.

“From the beginning, the PWHL has been about breaking ground to create new opportunities. The Vegas Vanguards reflect that same pioneering spirit, helping lead the sport forward and inspiring the next generation of players, fans and leaders to imagine what's possible.”