Spice up the ice: Victoria Grizzlies become the Salsa again

Some thought it added a nice spice to the ice. Others found it a little too hot to handle. But there's no denying that the name “Salsa" was a unique choice for Victoria's hockey team back in 1994.

The name lasted only a little over a decade on the jerseys, but much longer in local sports fans' memories. And starting tomorrow night, it'll be (temporarily) back on the jerseys too.

Grizzlies will turn into Salsa as the Westshore-based Victoria hockey team dons its former jerseys for several games this season, starting Friday at the Q Centre. The game will feature the original sound effects the Salsa used, Mexican and pepper-themed food, a mid-1990s soundtrack—and, of course, the (in)famous logos and jerseys.

The red “muscular pepper” look celebrates the team's 30th anniversary and in particular its lone championship, won in 2001 while wearing that uniform.

Current coach and GM Rylan Ferster was also the head coach for the late Salsa years. “We had a magical year that year,” he said, “and the city loved us because we were a gritty hard-working team.”

“It's just such a wildly popular place in our history with the community,” Grizzlies president David Michaud told The Westshore, “Part of the glory days, for sure.”

“It's just one of those names and brands that just seems like it's out of a comic book,” he said. “It's about as far from traditional hockey branding as you can get. Especially for a team in Victoria, BC—maybe if you're in El Paso or something, [Salsa] might have a ring to it “

This comic-hero anthropomorphic pepper was the second—and arguably not even the wackiest—version of the logo. It replaced an angry green jalapeño cartoon that was likened to Gumby, a cactus, and a car-dealership inflatable.

It was that earlier green-peppered look that the team wore briefly for its 25th anniversary in 2019 (see below).

The Grizzlies also wore, in 2021, a “fauxback" mashup jersey that featured the Grizzlies chest plate with the Salsa colors (i.e. red rejoining the black and yellow).

The team plans to wear the muscular pepper retro look and Salsa identity multiple times this season, per Michaud, particularly in the second half when home teams wear dark colors rather than white.

He says there has been palpable excitement about the retro revival, not just among fans but also former players across the country.

The Grizzlies’ throwbacks may also salsa their way onto the ice at a few opponents' rinks. They may even be able to find a dance partner that also wants to sport an old-school style.

You can get tickets to the first game, vs. best-in-conference rival Chilliwack this weekend at the Q Centre, here.

How did a hockey team get named after a condiment? 

As BCHL Network recounts, the team's original owners when it debuted at Victoria's Memorial Arena were the Kowalkos. That family owned all the Taco Time restaurants on the Island and picked the catchy (but divisive) tie-in name.

Why did they change the name anyway? 

In 2004 the team moved to the Q Arena, which was then Bear Mountain Arena. Former pro player and Bear Mountain developer Len Barrie joined the ownership group in 2005 and announced the name change for the 06-07 BCHL season. The affiliated Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association teams also changed to the Grizzlies.

At the time, the then-co-majority owner Mark Wagstaff called the Salsa “a unique name” that had “run its course” and was “pretty hard to put a mascot together for.”

But over the past decade or so, “wacky” names for minor league teams have become increasingly popular. US-based minor-league baseball teams in particular have seen a broad shift, with teams rebranding from Yankees to Pizza Rats permanently or as the Beach Chickens (i.e. seagulls) or King Cakes for special evenings. On the Island, the Nanaimo NiteOwls also play as their Nanaimo Bars alter ego, complete with a cartoon Nanaimo-bar-with-eyes logo.

“Everything about it was fun,” Michaud said of the Salsa identity, “and so we really started digging into it” for the anniversary.

“I'm a bit of a traditionalist and a purist and I struggle with some of this a little bit,” the recently hired team president confessed. “But on the flip side of it I always say ‘this is junior hockey.’ It's meant to be fun and engage the community and captivate kids' spirits.”

Not the only Grizzlies turning back the clock this season

The Salsa's name change came a few years after BC's most prominent Grizzlies, Vancouver's NBA team, had moved to Memphis. With the popularity of throwback jerseys—especially ones from the ‘90s that were once dismissed as too garish—those Grizzlies are now wearing their classic Vancouver jerseys for several games this season. 

Not the only Greater Victoria hockey team celebrating heritage, either

Coming up in March there will be Centennial events honouring the Victoria Cougars' 1925 Stanley Cup win. The Cup itself will be in town, recognizing the locals that were the last non-NHL hockey players to claim it.

Read more on that upcoming event at Capital Daily.

More than just the past to celebrate

Friday's game also follows this week's announcement that two Grizzlies have been named BCHL All-Stars: 2nd-year forward Chase Pirtle (27 points in 21 games) and 3rd-year goalie Oliver “Younger” Auyeung-Ashton (7-0-0, 1.89 goals against, .939 save percebtage). They'll represent the team at the 2025 All-Star Game in Salmon Arm.

The Grizzlies (13-5-3) are currently 3rd in the Coastal conference and 6th overall out of 21 BCHL teams.

Grizzlies are auctioning off another special-edition jersey

On Nov. 23 the team wore naval-themed uniforms, and are now doing a jersey auction to fundraise for the Military Family Resource Centre. The final day is Sunday Dec. 1.

This story has been updated with additional details and photos.