The SPHL franchise respects the traditions of the place of its location, as well as the traditions of its predecessors. Its logo unveiled in 2014 says a lot about the local history.
Founded in 2009 as the Mississippi Surge and renamed in 2013, the Rail Yard Dawgs represent the Roanoke Valley in the professional ice hockey. They are the fifth of the teams that have ever resided in Roanoke, Virginia.
The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, an American professional ice hockey team, was founded in 2015. They are based in Roanoke, Virginia, and play their home games at the Berglund Center. The team was established to continue the region’s rich hockey tradition, filling the void left by the departure of previous teams.
One of the main achievements of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs is their significant contribution to reviving and maintaining a vibrant hockey culture in Roanoke. They have garnered a dedicated fan base, contributing to the local sports scene’s vitality. Furthermore, they have been active in community engagement, promoting sports and healthy lifestyles among the youth. While they may not have a long list of championships or titles to their name, their impact on the local community and the world of minor league hockey is noteworthy.
As of now, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs continue to play in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). They are known for their competitive spirit and are an integral part of the sports fabric of Roanoke. The team continues to strive for excellence on the ice while maintaining a strong connection with their fans and the community.
What is Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs?
The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are a professional ice hockey team, competing in the Southern Professional Hockey League. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, they are celebrated for their community involvement and contribution to the local sports culture.
The original name of the club we all know today as the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs was Mississippi Surge. So the first few badges of the team featured this wordmark as the main motive. The initial badge, designed in 2009, was composed of a stylized “Surge” logotype with the first letter replaced by a graphical element with the lightning bolt, and two additional inscriptions from top and bottom of it. The logo was executed in a blue, yellow, and gray color palette and looked pretty modern and cool.
The redesign of 2011 kept the color palette and the main idea of the Mississippi Surge visual identity but has redrawn it, placing all elements into and on the blue, gray, and white circular badge in a thick framing. The full wordmark was now written in yellow around the perimeter of the badge, while the central part was given to the stylized yellow and blue “S” in a gray outline. The letter was sharp and strong, showing the character of the club and their willingness and readiness to fight.
The redesign of 2013 introduced the last badge from the Mississippi Surge era. It was a dark blue and calm yellow crest-like emblem with three lighting bolts drawn on its upper part, the enlarged gradient yellow “Surge” inscription along the bottom half of the crest, and a thin yet masculine white “Mississippi” lettering arched along the upper border of the badge, in all capitals of a clean geometric font.
Both the club’s name and logo pay homage to the railroad heritage of the area. Roanoke has been a railroad hub for a long time, and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs logo depicts this rail history with the help of railroad tracks. They encircle Diesel, the team’s mascot. His apparel is similar to the apparel train conductors used to wear. There is the Mill Mountain Star on his hat. The Star is considered to be the most iconic landmark in Roanoke.
Diesel has a toothy and menacing grin. He is holding a stick to show that he represents an ice hockey team. The team name and the name of the city are at the bottom of the logo. The font looks elaborate and out-of-date, the aim being to lay stress on the long history of the place.
The colors used in the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs logo are Royal blue, powder blue, gold and red.