Really, Philly ... This Is the New Face of the Flyers?

Published on 26-Sep-2018 by Alan Adamsson

NHL    NHL Daily Review

Share this article


Really, Philly ... This Is the New Face of the Flyers?

Who knew it was possible for a mascot to cross the line?

In Philadelphia, of all places.

And it's the Flyers, of all teams, that at least had the decency to launch it after Ed Snider departed for that Great Bucket of Pucks in the sky.

Now we know what happens when the Phillie Phanatic and that AM/PM foodball have a love child.

 

For better or worse, meet Gritty:

 

It didn't take long to gain a following. Because it's still the off-season and it beats talking contracts and watching September take a bite outta stars like Seth Jones and Corey Perry.

Then again, the gods work in wonderous ways.

 

Penguins fans, of course, have been hard at work to expose Gritty's dark side.

Not to mention the Pens themselves, who can troll as smoothly as they skate:

 

 

Of course, this is the sorta reaction the Flyers' PD dudes both expected and wanted, proving yet again that there's value in expense-account liquid lunches.

 

No doubt Gritty will be the most recent addition to the official Prove You're a Philly Sports Fan procedure:

 

The NHL keeps adding to its face time in the USA, but who thought Gritty's would be front and center?

Or is it Gritty actually a secret identity?

Opening Night can't come soon enough.

And the Flyers are probably already thinking -- with their mascot coup -- they should enter the season at 1-0-0.

Click on a photo to enlarge.