The Flyers have a new mascot, and it's a little terrifying.
Meet Gritty:
Join us in welcoming the newest member of the #Flyers Family, @GrittyNHL!!
Learn more about Gritty: https://t.co/eQRwTtD54w pic.twitter.com/njHQO1824b
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 24, 2018
The Flyers new mascot is absolutely terrifying
(via @StinaBetz) pic.twitter.com/tYQeTdowcb
— Bleacher Report NHL (@BR_NHL) September 24, 2018
The Flyers created a backstory for Gritty, who is apparently some troll who has been living in the bowels of the arena for some time:
His father was a "bully," so naturally he has some of those tendencies - talented but feisty, a fierce competitor, known for his agility given his size. He's loyal but mischievous; the ultimate Flyers fan who loves the orange and black, but is unwelcoming to anyone who opposes his team. Legend has it he earned the name "Gritty" for possessing an attitude so similar to the team he follows.
He claims that he's been around for a lot longer than we know it, and recent construction at the Wells Fargo Center disturbed his secret hideout forcing him to show his face publicly for the first time. He has some oddities that are both humorous and strange. A number of times he's been caught eating snow straight from the Zamboni machine, and unbeknown to most, his love of hot dogs has been inflating the Flyers Dollar Dog Night consumption totals for years.
That being said, there's no denying that he's one of our own.
“First and foremost, the Flyers adding a mascot to our fan engagement program is specifically for our young fans,” chief operating officer Shawn Tilger said in a press release. “We’re excited to add value to their experience both at games and in their communities.”
Fans were mostly ... unimpressed:
He looks like a homeless Phanatic.
— ThatWhiskeyGuy (@TheHopState) September 24, 2018
It looks like something my cat coughed up.
— Nicole (@NicoleJade525) September 24, 2018
The Flyers' new mascot is a combination of Animal and Grimace with a dash of "murder you in while you sleep" pic.twitter.com/FMvbDvPGOM
— Dusty (@DustinGiebel) September 24, 2018
the funniest part is like someone goes: "the bright orange fur isn't enough we also need a huge ass orange beard"
— Yo (@FlyGoalScoredBy) September 24, 2018
Kids when they hear the #Flyers have a new mascot... pic.twitter.com/Jsymoumdmj
— Nicholas Behler (@Posting_Behl) September 24, 2018
The Flyers are banking on opponents looking up into the crowd and skating face first into the boards after seeing Gritty. Brilliant strategy.
— Tim Riday (@TimRiday) September 24, 2018
This is what happens when you shave Gritty. pic.twitter.com/a4dQYT58Sx
— Antoine Bugle Boy (@MrButterChicken) September 24, 2018
gritty is youppi's cousin who has fallen into some hard times & everyone is trying to help him get better pic.twitter.com/53a67lvBIx
— Mononc Écoeurant (@MononcEcouerant) September 24, 2018
Did Gritty hurt Comcast's stock? Possibly:
the market reacts to news of Flyers' new mascot Gritty https://t.co/KKJlaXpBOz
— Enrico (@The700Level) September 24, 2018
I did this:
Gritty ... coming this fall ? pic.twitter.com/NTtPHM7KzS
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) September 24, 2018
The Penguins kept their comment simple:
lol ok https://t.co/3sSJcbLSfF
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 24, 2018
The Devils had to pile on with the jokes:
Broad Street + Sesame Street = ? https://t.co/1DOioFwGqd
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 24, 2018
Some noticed the resemblance between Gritty and some of the more gingery Flyers:
The evolution of Jakub Voracek ? pic.twitter.com/VZO6dKAccg
— The Hockey Gods! (@HockeyGods) September 24, 2018
Pretty sure the flyers just made a homeless Claude Giroux their mascot.
— Evan Wright (@shitzweeak) September 24, 2018
New @NHLFlyers mascot @GrittyNHL's design was based on stars Voracek and Couturier. pic.twitter.com/zgpnHtbseD
— payd (@PensRyourDaddy) September 24, 2018
... or former Flyers:
Congrats to Scott Hartnell on being named the Flyers mascot.
— Barry Petchesky (@barry) September 24, 2018
@JordanBathe @CarrlynBathe realtalk was Frank the model for @GrittyNHL pic.twitter.com/QvNTSllSoa
— Christine Rousselle ??♀️ (@crousselle) September 24, 2018
The Courier Post got some reactions from the Flyers' players on their new mascot.
“That’s….that’s tough,” Carsen Twarynski said.
“It’s not my mascot,” Wayne Simmonds told the Courier Post. “I’ve never seen that thing before in my life.”
As the day went on, some people began to embrace the mascot with a "so bad, it's good" attitude:
Gritty is like the first iphone. We don't even understand what today means but will look back as a turning point of our civilization.
— Yo (@FlyGoalScoredBy) September 24, 2018
— Tawni Rae (@tawnifaceee) September 24, 2018
Language warning on this next one:
I'm in love with Gritty pic.twitter.com/nnVld4tFeO
— Quigs (@BigSeanQ) September 24, 2018
Gritty isn't the first Flyers mascot. Slapshot -- perhaps some kind of lizard? Or a turtle? -- had a brief run as mascot in 1976.
Hearing that the growing speculation of the Flyers introducing a mascot is true, but unsure what it is. Team has only had 1 mascot, short-lived in 1976, called Slapshot. pic.twitter.com/SoClWPSqXy
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) September 19, 2018