After a long wait, Seattle’s newest professional sports team has a name. The Seattle Torrent is the latest addition to the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
The team’s leaders revealed the name Thursday morning at MoPOP in Seattle, in front of a crowd of fans, media, and local leaders, including interim County Executive Shannon Braddock.
RELATED: Seattle scores a professional women’s hockey expansion team
The Torrent’s name has thematic ties to both of Seattle’s existing pro women’s teams, the Seattle Storm and Seattle Reign. The choice to stick with a weather motif has drawn early celebration for the name and brand, connecting the threads of the city’s beloved teams.
“Torrent” has received a lukewarm welcome from online commenters, however. But fans at the announcement event still gave the name some early love.
“I think the Torrent is a great name,” said hockey fan Natalie Weiss, who also plays hockey in local recreational leagues. “It really identifies us as coming from the Pacific Northwest — the rain, the weather. It’s a great name.”
Weiss says she’s looking into joining a group of about 150 fans planning to travel from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. for the team’s inaugural game on Nov. 21. Vancouver is already slated to be the Torrent’s rival.
It was also announced Thursday that Vancouver B.C.’s new team will be named the Goldeneyes.
The Seattle Torrent’s home opener is November 28 at Climate Pledge Arena.
RELATED: What the puck? The Seattle Kraken have 2 staff librarians
Paige hosts midday newscasts and monitors news of significance to the Puget Sound region. She hopped over Washington’s mountains to join KUOW, after hosting news and reporting at Spokane Public Radio since 2011. She began her start in radio while a journalism student at University of Montana, by sharing stories with KUFM. Paige was raised in the mountains and rivers around Spokane. In her spare time she cheers on the Mariners in the summer, and hopes for snow in the winter.
KUOW is Seattle’s NPR news station. We are an independent, nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism, innovative podcasts, engaging community events, and more.
Hockey News