Smoky Hill High School might need to revamp its brand.

The Cherry Creek School District received a communication in March from the National Hockey League regarding the use of the Smoky Hill buffalo logo, which is the same as the Buffalo Sabres’ trademarked goathead logo, but with green added in.

A letter sent by CCSD to the Smoky Hill community on Wednesday said that this fall, the school will not sell clothing or other items with the current Buffalo logo. The district said that whatever happens with the logo, the school’s nickname and colors will remain unchanged.

“If changes to the current logo become necessary, we are committed to working closely with our students, staff, families, alumni, and broader community to develop a new Buffalo logo that honors Smoky Hill’s rich history and traditions while representing future generations of Buffaloes,” the letter said.

High schools using the logos of professional teams is commonplace, including here in Colorado, where National Football League logos run rampant. The NFL has traditionally taken a more lax approach to high schools using their logos.

Elsewhere in the Cherry Creek School District, Eaglecrest uses the Philadelphia Eagles logo (as do a handful of other Colorado schools). Pueblo South uses the Indianapolis Colts’ horseshoe. Mead uses a slight variation of the Houston Texans’ logo, Northglenn uses the Minnesota Vikings logo, Falcon and Centauri use the Atlanta Falcons’ logo, and the Columbine football team uses the New England Patriots’ logo in certain branding.

Meanwhile, over the last decade, universities have cracked down on high schools that are using their trademarks by sending cease-and-desist letters. Thornton changed its logo because it was a copy of Texas Tech’s, and Horizon changed its Hawks logo that was similar to the University of Iowa’s Hawkeye design.

CCSD’s letter said it will keep the community posted on what becomes of Smoky Hill’s logo.

“We recognize that the Buffalo has been a source of pride and identity for our community for generations,” the letter said. “The Smoky Hill spirit is about far more than a single image. It reflects the tradition, resilience, and pride of our students, staff, alumni, and families.”

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