This Day in Canes History: June 16

On this day in Canes history ...

June 16, 1997

Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford unveil the Carolina Hurricanes logo.

Cueing The Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane," which has become the team's iconic introduction tune, Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford peeled away a white banner that read "Carolina Hurricanes" in the club's original wind-blown font. The banner gave way to the unveiling of the new primary and secondary logos for the Hurricanes, who were set to take the ice in Greensboro four months later.

The primary logo, which was developed in conjunction with the league over a two-month design process, is a stylized representation of the meteorological symbol for a hurricane, an intimidating, swirling storm punctuated by bold strokes of red and black. In the center of the logo sits the eye of the storm, which graphically resembles a puck.

"The inspiration for the logo comes from the power, the strength, the speed and the tenacity of a hurricane," David Haney, the NHL's director of creative services at the time, told reporters. "It happens to be the same kind of qualities of a great hockey club and the great game of hockey."

"We were looking for a traditional look," Karmanos told reporters. "We're tired of some of the other new, more comic-book kind of things."

The Canes' primary logo, in addition to their color palette, has remain unchanged since that day 23 years ago.