A Case for Swarm: Naming Utah’s New NHL Team

Well before the Arizona Coyotes were ever set to relocate to Salt Lake City, fans have been mocking up names, sweaters and full-blown aesthetics for a potential professional hockey team in Utah.

Now that the dream has become a reality, fans find themselves fully entrenched in the war that is naming the new NHL team.

With the Smith Entertainment Group dropping a poll of twenty names we at least know what’s on the table. And what isn’t. (RIP Raptors and Elk)

This poll will be voted on and results tallied up until the 22^nd of May before the next step is laid out.

Despite the waiting, for the poll and ultimately the entire year to determine a winner, fans are still being sure to vocalize their favorite selections.

With twenty names, you can bet some of them are sure to be unfavorable in the eyes of the public (looking at you Utah Ice).

Yet by default, some of these names have to be better than the others, and I am setting out to make a case for the seemingly most popular selections.

It’s easy to put a name down when you have a handpicked selected favorite, but in all reality there’s about 4 to five names that would be met with “mostly” positive reviews.

So be aware, this ISNT my definite selection, but a positive spin on some of the names that could fit the newest NHL team to hit the ice.

Today’s selection: UTAH SWARM.

“Swarm” is a brand spanking new addition to the world of potential mascots to grace Utah’s NHL club.

Despite a mention here or there from a fan or two, Swarm wasn’t a likely contender or even a submitted name to the patent office until the official poll dropped from Smith Entertainment Group.

This underdog of a name has flown up through the ranks the last couple weeks and now sits as the name with the 4^th best odds according to the FanDuel sportsbooks.

With the recent buzz around “Swarm” it would be a good time to dive in on why it could fit.

Despite not being a physical imposing presence like a Mammoth or a Yeti, Swarm still creates a moniker composed of action.

In noun form, Oxford Languages states that Swarm is “a large or dense group of insects, especially flying ones.”

Make Swarm a verb and you’re dealing with “(of insects) move in or form a swarm” or “move somewhere in large numbers.” (Oxford Languages)

Let’s set one thing straight, in this context, any term or usage of the word “insect” can be associated with a bee or a wasp/hornet/yellowjacket.

Utah is the beehive state, and there is no way they would name the team the “Swarm” and put ants or a cricket. (I know there are Mormon Crickets, still not happening.)

Swarm in either noun or adjective form can absolutely work for a hockey team.

First of all, a person who dismisses Bee’s as a scary mascot has never watch 1991’s “My Girl”.

Watch the burliest man at a backyard barbeque, and then see how he reacts when a wasp starts buzzing around his burger.

As individuals they are pesky, annoying, and enough to make you backpedal across the driveway.

Together in masses, resembling a dark cloud, that’s the stuff of nightmares.

Its apocalyptic is what it is, and that counts as intimidating enough for the purpose of this article.

Frederickastmd.com says that “500,000 people enter hospital emergency rooms every year suffering from insect stings.”

The black and yellow menaces are much statistically more likely to send you to the doc than a Shark, Coyote or even a Panther.

In relation to hockey, the way the six players on each side move and cut and glide is a “Swarm” itself.

Ask any opposing goalie and they will tell you there is nothing more opposing than facing down a breakaway only for there to be two unopposed players headed his way as they “Swarm” to the net.

Swarm may not be a personal favorite of mine, but I see the vision.

The beehive state’s NHL team known as the Swarm makes sense on paper.

As fans have noted they could play in the Hive (Delta Center).

And even after having PTSD from the Jazz rebrand, black and yellow works as a scheme. Ask the Bruins or the Penguins.

If you want to be original, there is no law that says they have to be black and yellow, as the Charlotte Hornets utilize purple, teal and gray.

The logo could be a massive hit or miss, and would be a necessity to win over a large chunk of fans.

It won’t be easy to nail down as an Outlaw or a Mammoth, as it takes a bit more effort to ensure the new team isn’t rocking a honey nut cheerio’s mascot on their sweaters.

Heart healthy or not, it won’t get the people going.

Now this isn’t a must for those who want to be truly uniquely Utah.

The New Orleans Pelicans are based on the Pelican being Louisiana’s state bird. Makes sense, I guess.

Utah’s moniker of the Beehive state has a little to do with the insect itself and more so with the symbolism.

Hanna Seariac of the Deseret News is on record saying “Utah is only 24^th in honey production out of all 50 states.”

When Utah was settled by early pioneers, they used the beehive as imagery to cite the hard work and togetherness they would need to utilize to properly build up their new community. Like a honey bee.

Once again however this ties into the hockey scene beautifully, as in order to hoist Lord Stanley’s cup one day, Utah will have to tap into that togetherness and hard work symbolized by a beehive.

With only one day remaining in the original poll(en), we shall see if Swarm is to bee or not to bee.