Wolves to howl in Winnipeg AAA baseball

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This article was published 18/01/2021 (1894 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg South Minor Baseball Association recently sent up a howl as they announced the new name for their AAA teams.

As of Jan. 12, the 13U, 15U and 18U AAA teams will be called the Winnipeg South Wolves. The name change followed a year of searching for new one, as the association decided to retire the old name of the Chiefs.

Along with a new moniker that rolls nicely off the tongue, the teams will sport new logos on their jerseys and hats that keep up the traditional black and orange colours, according to association board member Lori Vassart.

“Late January 2020, our WSMBA president, Wes Penner, announced our intention to change our team name,” Vassart said in an email. “For the 2020 season, our AAA teams were simply known as Winnipeg South AAA. We knew the name change process would take some time and we wanted to ensure due diligence in the process.”

Last October, the association’s area convenors sent out a request for name suggestions, and received over 75 from coaches, players, parents and other interested members. A committee was formed and met virtually to narrow that list down to six names.

“We had a specific set of criteria that we used to determine the top six,” Vassart explained. “The main criterion was a strong, positive name; gender and culturally neutral that provides inclusivity for all; and then esthetics such as, does it go well with our colours?”

The association board narrowed the choices further, to a top three including Aviators, Wolves or Tigers. Then they sent out an email to over 2,000 addresses, asking for feedback. “Wolves had the majority of the vote with 45 per cent,” she said.

Once the name was chosen, the association worked with Kahunaverse Sports (Home Run Sports) to design a logo that would make everyone proud to wear, she said.

Dennis Sworyk, coach of the 15U AAA team, said the change is a positive one for the association.

 “The logo looks catchy, and the colours tie into our previous colours,” he said.

Sworyk joined the Winnipeg South 15U team two years ago. He said the teams were fortunate to be able to play 25 games last summer, under pandemic protocols.

“Nobody sat in the dug-outs, and nobody shook hands at the end of games,” he said.

Cameron Rohs, who played the last three years on the 15U team, said he misses the old name but is looking forward to seeing the new logo on the uniforms. He will be trying out for the 18U team this year.

“I’m making sure to keep up my training, ahead of the try-outs, hopefully in March,” Rohs said. “I’ve been working out to the Junior Goldeyes, on Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday. We work out with weights and work on flexibility and body control.”

Vassart said the players’ black jerseys will continue to say Winnipeg South while the orange jerseys will be stitched with the name Wolves.

“Game hats will continue to have the WS logo on the front, but we will stitch the new Wolves logo on the back or sides,” she said, adding the signs at the Charleswood baseball park will be reprinted using the new Wolves and WS logos.

For more on the Winnipeg South Wolves AAA teams, see www.winnipegsouth.net