WHL’s Kelowna Rockets File Trademark for Retro Logo Ahead of 30th Season

The Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets appear to be getting set to celebrate their 30th anniversary with a throwback logo, based on filings with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

As first reported by Jordy Cunningham in the Kelowna Capital News this week, the Rockets have filed a trademark with the CIPO for a tweaked version of the logo the team used when it first entered the WHL in 1995.

Both logos feature “ROCKETS” in an arching teal and red 3d script over a black diamond. The original logo featured a WHL crest at the bottom of the diamond, whereas the new logo replaces it with “EST. 1995”. Both also feature “KELOWNA” in a black block font, with a hockey stick in place of the L above and to the left of the diamond; however, the new logo uses an updated font.

Courtesy Kelowna Capital News

The Rockets used the original logo, carried over from their previous home in Tacoma, from 1995 to 2000. For the 2000-01 season, they introduced a new primary logo featuring “Ogopogo”, a lake monster said to inhabit Okanagan Lake, carrying a hockey stick. This has been their primary logo ever since.

SportsLogos.net files

How exactly the Rockets plan to use this throwback logo is yet to be determined. The team recently broke out 2000s-era throwback jerseys for their annual Fan Appreciation Night.

Courtesy Kelowna Rockets

Along with the retro logo, the Rockets are celebrating their 30th season by hosting the Memorial Cup in 2026. Kelowna was supposed to host the tournament in 2020, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.