The SPHL, formerly the Southern Professional Hockey League, is a professional ice hockey league headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina, founded in 2004.[1] The league’s visual identity underwent a significant change in 2023 when the organization officially rebranded to simply “SPHL,” reflecting its expansion beyond the southeastern United States into midwestern markets.[2]
Design and History
The SPHL’s primary logo features the league’s initials in white on a navy blue shield trimmed in silver, with a hockey puck streaking by with red and white, star-spangled stripes propelling it forward.[3] The mark was originally registered as a trademark consisting of “a hockey puck moving rapidly past a shield containing the literal elements of the mark.”[4]
On August 1, 2023, the league announced that it would be known simply as the SPHL, effective immediately. The original logo continued to be used, but the words “Southern Professional Hockey League” were removed from the mark. Commissioner Doug Price explained the decision by drawing a parallel to the ECHL’s earlier name change from the East Coast Hockey League, noting that the league’s “continued success and expansion outside of the original footprint” allowed the hockey world to recognize it simply as “the SPHL.”[2][5]
Alongside the rebrand, the SPHL unveiled a commemorative logo for its 20th anniversary season in 2023-2024. Designs were submitted by team staff throughout the league, and the winning logo was created by Drew Blevins, a former broadcaster for the Fayetteville Marksmen.[2][1]
Meaning and Symbolism
The league’s official colors are navy, red, silver, and white.[6] The shield shape and the streaking puck with star-spangled stripes are the documented visual elements of the mark, as described in the league’s trademark registration and logo records.[4][3]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
