Seattle's PWHL team seeks a new identity; local history offers potential naming options
Cracking the Name Game: The New PWHL Seattle Team Seeks a Rich Past
The latest addition to the Professional Women’s Hockey League, hailing from the vibrant city of Seattle, is currently in search of a permanent moniker. A nod to history might just be the ticket.
"Teams from Seattle and Vancouver have been battling it out as early as 1921," says Jayna Hefford, PWHL's executive VP of hockey operations, in a recent statement. "I am genuinely excited for the first game in what I believe will be one of our fiercest rivalries."
She was alluding to the legendary Seattle Vamps and Vancouver Amazons. These teams, along with the Victoria Kewpies, engaged in a fierce six-game series in 1921.
Hopefully, the modern-day rivalry will be more evenly matched. The Vamps were substantial underdogs, and their tenure was brief.
Though women's hockey only gained full Olympic medal status in 1998, women have been strapping on the skates and hitting the ice since just a few years following the men. According to "Women on Ice: The Early Years of Women's Hockey in Western Canada" by Wayne Norton, the first documented women's game took place in Ottawa in 1891, less than two decades after men supposedly first played the sport in Montreal. The game gained immense popularity between the World Wars.
At the dawn of the 20th century, the Patrick family, comprised of hockey aficionados, established the Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL) in British Columbia in 1911. Their team from Seattle, the Metropolitans, became the first American squad to hoist the Stanley Cup after their victory over the Montreal Canadiens in 1917.
In 1916, the Patricks entertained the idea of launching a women's league to complement the existing PCHL. Alas, the league never came to fruition. In 1917, the Vancouver News-Advertiser reported that women's hockey had taken off in Seattle, with a team consisting of the wives of the Metropolitans. For reasons unknown, this team never represented the city on an international scale.
The Amazons, owned by Frank Patrick, were already a powerhouse by this time and had recently competed for the Alpine Cup at the Banff Winter Carnival, falling just short of the victory. Upon their return, Frank reported to Vancouver's The Province newspaper that the Amazons were eager to face off against Seattle and Victoria teams in a championship series.
Overcoming potential obstacles, Frank made it happen. Teams formed in both Seattle and Victoria, a schedule was drawn up, and local newspapers jumped on board.
Where the PCHL boasted teams like the Seattle Metropolitans, the New Westminster Royals, the Victoria Aristocrats, and the Vancouver Millionaires, the women's teams embodied the spirit of the times. Republicanism, equality, and independence were on everyone's lips, and the Amazon warriors symbolized power, strength, and femininity.
Meanwhile, the vamp, synonymous with seduction, allure, and a hint of danger, represented Seattle. Victoria, on the other hand, exuded a sweet, adorable charm. Kewpie dolls, prized possessions at fairs, were even awarded to players.
Several members of the Kewpies surrendered other ambitions to participate in the tournament. They faced the risk of losing their amateur swimming status, but they persisted. Owing to the British Columbia Amateur Athletic Union's strict rules, three players were eventually suspended from swimming competition. However, they were reinstated later on.
In those early days, women's teams played in bulky sweaters and long, heavy woolen skirts, making movement difficult but offering some protection from pucks. After WWI, the introduction of bloomers or culottes allowed for improved mobility.
Playing during the first and second intermissions of PCHL games, as well as after the games themselves, women's teams typically followed a 7v7 format, different from the modern six-a-side configuration.
The Seattle Vamps, led by captain Jerry Reed and featuring sisters Myrie and Florence Kjome, kicked off the series against the Vancouver Amazons on February 21, 1921. The game ended in a lopsided 5-0 victory for the Amazons. The Vamps faced criticism from the Canadian press, who dubbed them the "Seattle Sweeties" and questioned their hockey skills in favor of their good looks.
Despite the poor start, the Vamps managed to stage a comeback, tying Victoria 1-1 in their final encounter on March 11. The series ultimately ended in an unimpressive 0-3-1 record for the Vamps, while the Amazons remained undefeated. The PCHL management failed to lend their support to another international series, and so both the Vamps and the Kewpies folded after the 1921 season.
The Amazons continued playing until 1932, a few years before Denman Arena, their home rink, tragically burned down. Women's hockey lost its place in the Banff Winter Carnival during World War II and remained obscure in the region for decades afterward.
Myrtle Kjome, one of the Vamps’ players, passed away in 1995 at the age of 92, likely among the last surviving members of the team. The historical record is scarce on the Seattle Vamps and the Vancouver Amazons in the specific context of the 1920s, leaving room for debate as to the veracity of these stories. However, the legacy of women's hockey in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada persists, as does the spirit of competition and determination that defined the early players.
The PWHL presents a new opportunity for women's hockey to thrive, offering players a stable foundation, fair pay, and modern equipment that the 1920s Vamps could only have dreamed of. As the league continues to grow and evolve, perhaps it's time to revive the memory of these pioneering teams, the Seattle Vamps and the Vancouver Amazons.
- The legendary Seattle Vamps, who initially battled it out with the Vancouver Amazons as early as 1921, may serve as an inspirational source for the Professional Women’s Hockey League team from Seattle, seeking a permanent name.
- In the spirit of the early years of women's hockey in Western Canada, the PWHL team could honor Seattle's hockey history by adopting the name Seattle Vamps.
- Remembering the rich hockey tradition in Washington state, reviving the name Seattle Vamps could tap into the fierce rivalry that once existed between Seattle and Vancouver teams, such as the Amazons and the Vamps.
- With an eye on the future of women's sports and the potential for international recognition, a name like Kraken, symbolizing strength and power, could pay homage to Seattle's sports history while simultaneously supporting the Amazon's brand identity.
