The Philadelphia Flyers on Monday announced they had added a new mascot to their hockey family. The team introduced the world to “Gritty,” an orange … thing that most closely resembles some kind of monster. It’s unclear if he’s related to the Phillies’ Phanatic, which I just today found out is not a monster but instead a large green flightless bird.
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
Here’s what the team had to say about Gritty, who you can follow on Twitter, if you’re into that sort of thing:
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.
Gritty apparently is a little rough around the edges, a bit quirky, and a huge fan of hot dogs. OK, sure.
Despite all his charm, however, Gritty was not as well-received as the team presumably had hoped. I scrolled pretty far down through the replies to the Flyers’ announcement tweet and didn’t see anything positive. Here are some selected reactions:
If this thing tries to touch me, I’m launching a beer at its head
— TJ Schirmer (@tjschirmer15) September 24, 2018
— ♚ Brendan Page ♚ (@BrendanDrPepper) September 24, 2018
At least it’s not a Boiler?https://t.co/8MzN4Xa3pA
— Steve Corrozi (@Corrozi) September 24, 2018
I feel like I need to warn you about the next photo. Sorry in advance.
Please welcome the newest member of the nhl mascot family to twitter… it’s @GrittyNHL pic.twitter.com/xMRxXoPv1O
— #SJSharkie (@sjsharkie) September 24, 2018
The Flyers new mascot lives under your bed pic.twitter.com/QHwxQBoxDr
— Randy Scott (@RandyScottESPN) September 24, 2018
Hey kid. You like hockey? pic.twitter.com/XYWdkWlJW7
— Andy (@_rallycap) September 24, 2018
Valley News sports reporter Josh Weinreb even weighed in on Gritty’s unveiling.
Noooooope https://t.co/DDxWbEc6IR
— Josh Weinreb (@JoshWeinreb) September 24, 2018
Says it all, tbh.
The Philadelphia Flyers mascot, Gritty, takes to the ice during the first intermission of the Flyers’ preseason NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Monday, Sept, 24, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)