By CRAIG FOX
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Wolves’ new logo will forever remind 11-year-old Phillip N. Hejna of his family’s Siberian husky.

That’s because he came up with the idea of the Federal Hockey League team’s name after the family pet.

“When you take off his collar, his hair stands up in the air and he looks like a wolf,” the fifth-grader said after the Federal Hockey League team unveiled its new team logo — a friendly-looking wolf with fluffy hair — and team jerseys during a news conference Thursday morning.

They announced that the boy, a Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby fan, was the winner of the team-naming contest. He was presented two season tickets for the team’s inaugural 2014-15 season and a team jersey.

His mother, Nicole B. Tomayko, said she was proud her son won the contest out of the more than 1,000 entries, some of which came from as far as Oregon and Afghanistan. She’ll join her husband, Brian, and two sons at the games.

“We love hockey,” she said.

The family just moved to Fort Drum from Germany, where Phillip was born.

Team owners Top Shelf Hockey LLC, city officials and a handful of hockey fans were on hand for the unveiling.

“This is the community’s team,” said co-owner Stanley H. Tibbles, who also runs a local roofing business.

The logo was designed by Atomic Sign Works LLC of Watertown.

The Wolves will play at the city-owned Watertown Municipal Arena at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, off Coffeen Street. The Wolves replace the Watertown Privateers, who played in Watertown for two years before folding at the end of last season.

Team owners also announced that tickets for the season soon will become available online. The Watertown Wolves play a 56-game schedule with 28 home games. Home opening night is Oct. 17, when the visiting team Danbury Whalers comes to town.

Tickets will be $10 for adults, $9 for students and military personnel, $5 for children ages 5 to 8 and free for younger children. Season tickets are $225 if paid in full or $240 paid in three installments.

Erin E. Gardner, the city’s parks and recreation superintendent, said the city is happy to have such a good working relationship with the team.
“We’re just looking forward to a very successful season for the Watertown Wolves,” she said.

A free agent camp will be held Oct. 1 through 4. The main training camp starts Oct. 6, and the players will be announced four days later.

Team sponsorships are still available. All inquiries may be addressed to the team’s office at 681-6572 or by email at TopShelfHockeyLLC@gmail.com.