Call out to name the Predators!

This weekend, I'm away from Guelph once more. This time, I'm hanging out with my brother Neil and his girlfriend Terry who have been living in Korea for the better part of three years.

Waiting at the airport, for the arrival of their delayed planes, I caught a glance at the newspaper. There was an article mentioning that RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie has put in a bid for the NHL hockey team, the Nashville Predators. This deal has set off a torrent of rumours surrounding a possible move from Nashville to Waterloo. Nick-nak American teams like the Nashville Predators have survived while beloved and precious Canadian teams like the Québec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets have had to pack it in and move south.

New Democrat Gary Doer's victory in Manitoba has helped to also stir up conversation about the return of the Jets to Winnipeg, after PC leader Hugh McFayden's call to bring back the team.

I've have been known to dislike the Leafs for a number of reasons, and have still maintained some hype for them, because there is nobody else closer, who would be televised or otherwise covered in Guelph. If the Predators moved to Waterloo, I'd easily make the move. Guelph is a neighbouring city to the tri-city area (Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge), and would fit nicely within the catchment basin of such a team. Not to mention, the region would be ideal for a team, sitting right on the 401-- skimming the hordes of hockey fans from Toronto who simply will not ever get a ticket at the ACC. 

Though, the name's gotta go. The team's "nick-nakiness" is only compounded by it's tacky name: "The Predators". While the Minnesota Wild remain in my books an exception, recent NHL team names have been nothing to go nuts about. What is something that would not only speak to Waterloo, but to all of those in Southern Ontario, who are feeling a bit tired of the Leafs?

I'd like to put my blog out there for the community, and see if we can't come up with a much better name for these Waterloo Predators. Please comment in with your suggestions, and if we get enough of a following, a poll (vote) will be conducted for the name.

BTW, the team is not moved yet. There are still many steps involved, including convincing the NHL that the move is a good choice. Perhaps we can show that there is no question that the region supports it!

Here are my suggestions:

• Waterloo Grand
• Waterloo Roughrider/Rough Riders/Rough-riders/etc.
• Waterloo North (since Dallas doesn't need it anymore)
• Waterloo Ghost
• Waterloo Warriors 

PS - could someone double check that Waterloo is lawfully ceded from First Nations?