The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a junior ice hockey team based in Lethbridge, Alberta, competing in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team’s current primary logo, introduced in 2013, is a stylized “H” mark that was created after the NHL’s Washington Capitals objected to the club’s previous identity.
Design and History
In late 2012, the Lethbridge Hurricanes were informed by the NHL that they could no longer use their current logo, as the Washington Capitals claimed the junior club’s mark and jerseys were too similar to their own. The Hurricanes had adopted that Capitals-style wordmark as their primary logo in 2011. Following the complaint, the team formed a committee, reached out to three different designers and worked with Reebok to create a new brand and look for the 2013-2014 season and beyond. The new identity was unveiled on June 13, 2013. [1] [2]
The new primary logo features a stylized “H” with a swoosh-like form. The mark has two color variations: blue on the red jersey and red on the white jersey. [3] The team’s official website highlighted the work of Chris Polychronopoulos, a Creative Director at the digital agency AKQA, in connection with the rebranding. [4]
Prior to the Capitals-style wordmark, the Hurricanes had used a series of other logos. For several seasons, the team wore a Tasmanian Devil-inspired “Twister” logo. [5] Around the same time as the 2013 rebrand, a third-jersey design was introduced featuring a Hawker Hurricane World War II airplane, a reference to the team’s name. [5]
In June 2026, the team unveiled a 40th anniversary logo for the 2026-27 WHL season. The anniversary mark is a red numeral 40 inside a blue roundel with grey outlines, with the Hurricanes’ primary logo at the top of the roundel, “LETHBRIDGE” and “HURRICANES” on either side, and “1986-2026” at the bottom. [6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The stylized “H” logo was designed to convey wind, fitting the Hurricanes name. The Hockey News noted in 2013 that the new logo “is unique and conveys wind without looking messy.” [7] The team stated the look represents the community, fans and players, and celebrates the passion, excitement and love for the game of hockey. [8]
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