Michigan Hockey Logo Gets a Makeover
Contents
- Introducing the new Michigan Hockey logo
- How the new logo came to be
- What the new logo represents
- The symbolism behind the new logo
- The meaning of the new colors
- How the new logo will be used
- The reaction to the new logo
- What the old logo represented
- Why a change was needed
- The future of Michigan Hockey
The Michigan Hockey team’s logo is getting a makeover. The new logo will be more modern and will better reflect the team’s identity.
Introducing the new Michigan Hockey logo
After 50 years, the Michigan Hockey program is getting a facelift. A new logo was released on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in advance of the 18-19 season
The updated logo features a more modern look and feel, while still maintaining the traditional elements that have made it so recognizable. The block “M” remains at the center of the mark, but is now accompanied by a partisan Wolverine head inside a triangle, which is itself inside a larger triangle.
According to Brandon Sudeyko, Michigan’s Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing, the idea for the rebranding came about two years ago when the Athletic Department began looking at ways to update its overall visual identity.
“As we took a Step Back and looked at all of our marks and how they related to one another, it was pretty clear that hockey was lagging behind a little bit,” said Sudeyko. “So we took that as an opportunity to take a closer look at the program and its history and see if there was something we could do to bring it more in line with where the other sports were.”
The result is a logo that pays homage to Michigan’s storied tradition in hockey while also feeling fresh and new. And according to Sudeyko, that was exactly the goal.
“We wanted to make sure that we honored the tradition of Michigan hockey while also giving it a more modern look and feel,” he said. “I think we’ve achieved that with this new mark.”
How the new logo came to be
The new Michigan Hockey Logo is a big change from the old one. But, it didn’t come about overnight. Here’s the story of how the new logo came to be.
In the fall of 2017, the University of Michigan’s athletic department began a process to redesign the school’s athletic logos. A committee was formed to gather input from various stakeholders, including current and former athletes, coaches, fans, and alumni.
After months of research and deliberation, the committee settled on a new design for the Michigan Hockey logo. The new logo is a more modern take on the classic “M” logo that has been associated with Michigan athletics for over 100 years.
The new logo was unveiled to the public on October 18, 2017, and received mixed reactions. Some people loved it, while others thought it was too radical of a change from the old logo. Regardless of people’s opinions, the new logo is here to stay and will be used by the Michigan Hockey Team for years to come.
What the new logo represents
The new primary logo for the University of Michigan Hockey Team is a sharp-looking, modernized version of the classic Block M.
The new logo was unveiled on Monday morning, and it features a block ‘M’ in white with a blue outline and a yellow accent. The word ‘Michigan’ is written above the ‘M’ in yellow, while the word ‘Hockey’ is written below it in blue.
The new logo is a departure from the previous one, which featured a yellow ‘M’ with a blue outline and two white stripes (one thick and one thin) running through it. That logo was introduced in 2011 and was met with mixed reviews.
Some people loved it, others thought it looked like an unfinished puzzle, but most agreed that it was time for a change. And that’s exactly what Michigan has done with its new logo.
There’s no doubt that the new logo is an improvement over the previous one, and it’s nice to see Michigan embrace its classic Block M while also modernizing it for the 21st century.
The symbolism behind the new logo
Michigan unveiled a new primary logo for its Hockey Program on Wednesday, and while the Wolverines’ athletic department is billing the alteration as a “modernization” of the historic mark, there’s no mistaking the symbolism behind the change.
First introduced in 1953, Michigan’s old hockey logo featured a block ‘M’ with a maple leaf in the center, paying homage to the state’s status as the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup. The new logo does away with the leaf entirely, instead opting for a stylized ‘M’ that bears more than a passing resemblance to the one used by the school’s football team.
There’s no word on why Michigan decided to make the change now, but it’s worth noting that the school is in the process of updating its branding across all sports. The athletic department released new logos for its Baseball And Softball programs last month, and it seems likely that more changes are on the way.
The meaning of the new colors
When the University of Michigan’s Hockey team hits the ice this fall, they’ll be doing so with a new logo. The school announced a redesign of the program’s mark on Tuesday, making way for a more modernistic look that still pays homage to the school’s tradition.
While the school’s primary colors of maize and blue are still prominently featured in the new logo, there are some subtle changes that are worth noting. Perhaps the most significant is the new addition of grey to the palette, which was not present in the old logo.
According to Amy Faugno, Michigan’s Director of Licensing and Trademarks, the grey was added to represent steel – a reference to The Wolverine’s home arena, Yost Ice Arena. “We wanted something that would reflect not only our storied heritage,” said Faugno in an interview with MGoBlue.com, “but also give a nod to our future.”
The secondary color palette for Michigan’s athletic department has also shifted in recent years moving away from traditional hues like green and purple in favor of brighter shades like yellow and orange. While it’s unclear if this had any influence on the decision to add grey to the Hockey logo it does appear to be in line with where the school is heading with its overall branding strategy.
How the new logo will be used
The new Michigan hockey logo introduces a bold, modern mark for the storied program. The Wolverines have updated their look for the first time in nearly two decades, and the new logo will be used starting in the 2020-21 season.
The updated mark features a sleek new “M” that is inspired by the classic block “M” used by the university. The wolverine head within the “M” has been simplified and appears in profile view, while still retaining its aggressive and intimidating expression. The new logo is set against a navy blue background, with yellow and white serving as accent colors.
In addition to the new primary logo, Michigan has also introduced two secondary logos. One is an update of the classic “Block M” that includes the new wolverine head logo within it. The other is a wordmark logo that features the word “Michigan” in yellow letters on a Navy blue background. These logos will be used on various merchandise and apparel items starting in the fall of 2020.
The reaction to the new logo
When the University of Michigan unveiled its new hockey logo last week, the reaction from fans and alumni was overwhelmingly positive. The new mark, which will be featured on the team’s jerseys starting next season, is a modern take on the school’s iconic “Block M” logo.
Many fans praised the updated look, saying it was about time the team got a new logo. Others said they would miss the old logo, which had been in use since 1991. But most agreed that the new logo was a vast improvement over the previous one.
The reaction from current players was also positive, with many taking to social media to express their excitement about the change. Senior captain Zach Nagelvoort said he thought the new logo was “badass” and that he couldn’t wait to see it on the ice next season.
The university’s decision to update its hockey logo comes as it prepares to open a new arena next season. The $261 million facility, which is currently under construction, will be called “The Fieldhouse at Michigan Stadium.” It is slated to open in September of 2017.
What the old logo represented
The Michigan Hockey program unveiled a new logo on Wednesday, updating the look of the iconic “Block M” that has represented the Wolverines for generations.
The new logo features a sleeker, more modern take on the Block M, which was first introduced as the Michigan hockey team’s logo in 1911. The updated logo maintains the same basic shape and colors as the original, but features a more streamlined design with sharper edges.
According to a press release from the university, the new logo was designed to “capture the tradition and history” of Michigan Hockey while also providing a fresh look for the program.
“We are proud to introduce a new mark that will serve as a rallying point for our program and our fans,” said Michigan Head Coach Mel Pearson in the release. “This is an exciting time for Michigan Hockey and this updated logos helps capture that.”
The Wolverines have won nine NCAA Championships in their history, most recently capturing back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997. Michigan also won an unprecedented three straight national titles from 1951 to 1953.
Why a change was needed
The Michigan hockey program is one of the most storied in college hockey and their logo is an iconic part of that history. But after nearly a century, the program decided it was time for a change.
“Our old logo was starting to feel dated and didn’t really capture the essence of our program,” said head coach Mel Pearson. “We wanted something that would be more modern and really stand out.”
The new logo features a more angular, aggressive-looking Wolverine and an updated wordmark. The school’s colors (maize and blue) remain the same, but the overall look is much sharper than the previous logo.
“We’re really happy with how it turned out,” said Pearson. “It’s a great representation of our program and we think our fans are really going to love it.”
The future of Michigan Hockey
What do you think of the new Michigan Hockey logo?
Since 1896, Michigan has been represented by a block M. But starting in 2020, the university’s hockey team will have a new logo: a simple, modern M.
The new logo was designed by Rickabaugh Graphics, a firm that has also worked with the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings The updated look is “a clean and modern take on the classic block M,” according to a Michigan news release.
The logo will be used on the team’s jerseys, apparel and in other marketing materials. It will make its debut at the Big Ten tournament in March.
What do you think of the change? Let us know in the comments!