Why the Kelowna Rockets nickname, logo and mascot don’t match

Hockey fans who aren’t familiar with the Kelowna Rockets might tune into the Memorial Cup and wonder why they’re called the Rockets, have Ogopogo as their logo but their mascot is Rocky the Raccoon.

The Kelowna Rockets were originally the Tacoma Rockets back in 1991, but moved north across the border in 1995. The retro logo that says “Rockets” in front of a black diamond is the original, then the team pivoted to feature the iconic Ogopogo around 2000.

The Rockets’ social media manager Kohen Dengler said originally when the team came from Tacoma their mascot was a superhero character called Rocket Man, but they wanted something more cuddly. 

“It just didn’t really sit well with the kids, so they were thinking about something that was a little more kid-friendly,” he said. “They love him. We have a whole bunch of Rocky Raccoon stuffed animals, and they’re a really good seller for us.” 

Making the logo the local iconic sea monster was about trying to bring the team into its new community. 

“The community was a very important thing to the Hamilton family when they moved here. So, obviously, the Ogopogo, there’s a statue here, and people love the old story of the lake monster,” he said.

The Ogopogo logo caused a little bit of controversy since it’s quite similar to the San Antonio Dragons’ logo from the 1990s. 

Dengler said the logos are rather similar, but he wasn’t aware of it. 

“I would have to ask the owners why they chose that, but it looks almost the same now that I’ve seen it,” he said. 

While Ogopogo makes a great logo for the team, Dengler said it might not fit as well as a mascot.

“I think a lot of the kids would get scared if it was just an Ogopogo. Sometimes the logo, it depends on the kid, but it’s kind of scary-looking for them,” he said.

The Rockets are set to face-off against Everett Silvertips at 6 p.m. on May 27 for a chance to go to the Memorial Cup semi-finals.