Roller Hockey International Logo PNG
The Roller Hockey International logo reflects the spirit of a league that moved hockey from the ice to city streets and urban areas. It gave the game a new character, turning it into a fast-paced, energetic, urban phenomenon that changed perceptions of hockey.
Roller Hockey International was founded in November 1991 by Dennis Murphy, Alex Bellehumeur, and Larry King. Murphy had helped create the ABA in 1967 and the World Hockey Association in 1972. His new league followed the early 1990s rise of inline skating and growing US interest in hockey after Wayne Gretzky joined the Los Angeles Kings in 1988.
RHI began play in summer 1993 with Anaheim Bullfrogs, Calgary Rad’z, Connecticut Coasters, Florida Hammerheads, Los Angeles Blades, Oakland Skates, Portland Rage, San Diego Barracudas, St. Louis Vipers, Toronto Planets, Utah Rollerbees, and Vancouver Voodoo. Games used Sport Court flooring and a red plastic puck weighing 3.5 ounces. The divisions were named after Murphy, King, and Anaheim owner Jerry Buss.
On September 7, 1993, Anaheim defeated Oakland to win the first Murphy Cup. The league expanded to 24 clubs in 1994, when Buffalo Stampede beat Portland Rage 8–7 before a record crowd of 14,175. ESPN2 carried regular games during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, giving the competition national television exposure.
High arena rents, travel costs, and low attendance weakened many family-run clubs. Anaheim alone regularly drew over 9,000 spectators, while seven teams averaged fewer than 4,000. Operations stopped after the 1997 season, despite the Bullfrogs winning a second title. A ten-team return in 1999 ended with St. Louis Vipers beating Anaheim 8–6 on August 22 before 6,143 fans in Anaheim. The league permanently closed in 2001.
Meaning and History
What is Roller Hockey International?
It was a former professional inline hockey league that conducted summer tournaments in North America. Games were played in a four-on-four format, making matches fast-paced and exciting. Features included simplified rules, increased scoring for long-range shots, and shorter penalties. Despite its popularity and vibrant entertainment atmosphere, the league was forced to close due to financial difficulties.
1992 – today
The Roller Hockey International logo is designed to convey the league’s specifics and the essence of roller hockey through visual symbols. The composition is based on a bold, vivid, sports-style structure. Each symbol is logically integrated into the overall concept, emphasizing the emblem’s connection to a dynamic team game.
At the top is the text “Roller Hockey,” set in red letters with a rightward slant. A smooth, elongated sans-serif typeface similar to the Display Italic family is used for the inscription. The characters are placed compactly and closely together, creating a unified impression and conveying the energy of roller hockey.
The lower part of the composition features a group of four tilted red ovals that reference roller skate wheels. The ovals are arranged asymmetrically: the second and fourth are slightly raised relative to the first and third. Each oval has a thin white outline, with a smaller red ring inside. These symbols visually resemble rotating wheels.
Beneath the word “Hockey” is a bright blue curved element whose shape is associated with the blade of a hockey stick. Its far-right stroke is integrated into the letter Y of the upper inscription, linking the two parts of the logo into a single system. Inside the blue element, the word “INTERNATIONAL” is placed horizontally in simple white capital letters, set in a different typeface from the main text.
Red conveys energy and speed. Blue is associated with the principles of fair play and established norms of sports tournaments.
The creators of the logo succeeded in combining a sports theme and presenting the specifics of Roller Hockey International.