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JAY MONAHAN For The Times Leader

PLAINS – The newest professional sports francise in Northeastern Pennsylvania will pay homage to the area’s Irish-American heritage.

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Jim Jennings, owner of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks lacrosse team, speaks at Thursday’s press conference at the Woodlands Inn & Resort for the unveiling of the team’s new logo.

PETE G. WILCOX

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Luzerne County Commissioners Maryanne Petrilla and Thomas Cooney unveil the logo of NEPA’s new professional lacrosse team the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks.

PETE G. WILCOX

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The previously unnamed indoor lacrosse team will go by the moniker Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks, team officials announced Thursday at a press conference.

The Shamrocks’ logo – a clover-riddled shield bearing Ireland’s national colors – was also unveiled at a press conference at the Woodlands Inn & Resort.

“We have a very strong Irish-American heritage in this area,” said Shamrocks president and owner Jim Jennings. “We could not have picked a more appropriate name.”

The Shamrocks begin play in the North American Lacrosse League in January 2012 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Owners chose the Shamrocks moniker over the Haymakers and Bullies. Team officials liked the nickname in the early stages of the organization’s development and reached out to local college marketing classes and focus groups for their input.

“Everyone seemed to love the name,” said Jennings. “We didn’t get any negative feedback on it. We looked at some other names but this one kept on coming back to us.”

Jennings stated that the inspiration for the team’s logo drew from the simpler designs of Major League Soccer teams, specifically the Philadelphia Union.

The team’s shield design is “based on a modified version of the shield of arm from Ireland,” said the logo’s creator Chris Lochinski, of Lock Designs in Columbus, Ohio. In the crest, the shamrock design is morphed into a lacrosse stick on the top clover leaf.

“We wanted something that’s a little progressive,” said Jennings. “We didn’t want a cartoon character. We wanted to get away from that.”

A uniform design will not be unveiled until after the league signs a jersey deal.

The popularity of Scranton’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the strong Irish culture in the area was a determining factor in choosing the Shamrock name.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is the first team to unveil its name and logo. Charlotte, N.C. joins it as the only two NALL franchises to have been announced.

The NALL, according to Jennings, will disclose four more teams by the end of the month.

The Shamrocks plan to boost youth lacrosse development in the Wyoming Valley. Only four Wyoming Valley Conference schools – Dallas, Delaware Valley, Lake-Lehman, Tunkhannock, Wyoming Seminary – sport lacrosse programs.

“Fifteen years ago, when the Penguins came to the area there were very few hockey teams in the area at the high school level,” said Luzerne County Commissioner Tom Cooney. “Now, hockey is being played throughout the whole area. I believe that is going to happen with lacrosse.”

Lacrosse fans on hand were enthusiastic about the team logo and design.

“I like the logo,” said John Van Der Wal, of Blairstown, N.J. “I think it looks fresh and the name fits the area.”

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