Takiyah Ward Brings Her Artistry to the Ice with Seattle Torrent Hockey Stick Customization
Takiyah Ward poses with the customized hockey stick at the Seattle Torrent’s Black History Celebration Unity Game at Climage Pledge Arena earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Torrent)
Takiyah “T-DUB” Ward recently unveiled a new canvas in her portfolio: a custom-painted hockey stick for the Seattle Torrent. Designed specifically for the Torrent’s Black History Celebration Unity Game earlier this month at Climate Pledge Arena, this stunning piece was a gift to the Black Girl Hockey Club that will be independently auctioned off to drive increased access, representation, and belonging for Black women and girls in hockey.
The Torrent were founded in April 2025 as one of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) first two expansion franchises. The team began its inaugural 2025-26 season late last year, marking a turning point for women’s hockey in the Pacific Northwest. Led by head coach Steve O’Rourke, the Torrent broke merchandise and season ticket records at their first game in November 2025 and have continued to establish themselves as a force in Seattle women’s sports.
Takiyah Ward poses with the customized hockey stick at her studio, The Re-Sole 206. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
Ward’s previous customization work and collaborations with the Seattle Storm, the NFL, and the WNBA made her the ideal candidate for the job. For Ward, being a woman customizer in a male-dominated field adds a personal dimension to working with a women’s hockey team.
“It is incredibly important for us to be able to show what we can do,” she said.
The design process began with extensive research, allowing Ward to set a precedent for the Torrent as a new team in the PWHL. The central theme of the art came from the team’s challenges in establishing themselves in a new city under "insurmountable odds,” Ward said.
The design itself was inspired by the definition of a torrent: a strong or fast moving body of water. Ward incorporated the team's teal and emerald color palette into the final design, alongside a mountain range that runs across the body of the stick, crashing water on the blade, and a tree range on the back end of the body.
After successfully taking on the unorthodox canvas, Ward shared wise words of advice for other creatives and go-getters.
"Welcome the challenge,” she said. “Let's take this energy. Let's take this New Year. Let's take this new opportunity, and continue to build and build in ways that we haven't seen things built before."
Photos curated by Erik Kalligraphy and the Seattle Torrent.
Click here to purchase tickets to the team play. Go Seattle Torrent!
Learn more about Ward’s work and The Re-Sole 206 at theresole206.com
