After one month and over 500 entries, the new West Orange Eastern Professional Hockey League team has a name: the Jersey Rockhoppers will take the ice in November.

“We had many great suggestions,” commented co-owner Curtis Russell. “There were plenty of original ideas and many that connected with the rich hockey past of Essex County or focused on the historic landmarks that dot the county footprint” One of the common themes related to Thomas Edison whose West Orange home and is a now national landmark. “In the end after weeks of discussion, we wanted to connect with Turtleback Zoo and so we knew it was going to be an animal of some sort,” explained co-owner Igor Mrotchek.

“The Turtlebacks suggestion was considered, but a slow animal did not connect with the sport,” Mrotchek continued. “We think that Rockhoppers makes a nice match and is identifiable with grace, agility and an aggressive nature compared to other penguins.”

The Mountaineers and Renegades also received strong consideration. Only one type of logo style was reviewed before deciding on a Rockhopper in its natural state with red eyes and tufts of yellow hair. The team's primary colors have not been set in stone but it should be finalized in the next couple weeks.

The logo was designed by FSDesign of Chattanooga, Tennessee (see attached).

Contest prizes, including a pair of season tickets and an authentic team jersey, will be awarded to entrants chosen at random later this week. Those winners will be announced next week. Uniform designs and mascot details will be unveiled in early summer.

In other news, the Rockhoppers announced that new permanent website is now online at www.JerseyRockhoppers.com