While Philadelphia’s favorite mascot Gritty may seem spooky, he was far from it this past week after making a difference in the community and entertaining fans on Halloween.
It’s All Hallow’s Eve, when spooky creatures and ghosts of the night may appear in frightening fashion. Similarly, when the Philadelphia Flyers introduced their mascot Gritty in 2018, it was frightening at first for most of the hockey world.
You didn’t want to look at his rolling eyes, and his smile arguably haunted people’s dreams for a couple of weeks.
However, the creature grew on most NHL fans after just a matter of months last season, and while he may still play the part to be spooky on or around the Halloween holiday – the big orange fur ball was far from it this past week.
To kick off the week, Gritty visited one of his biggest fans who’s battling cancer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
https://twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/1189686702228549632
Four-year-old Jack Callahan wrote a letter to his favorite mascot earlier in the month, and it just so happened Gritty visited his biggest fan on his birthday, Oct. 30.
https://twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/1189693600940118017
Obviously, @GrittyNHL supplied the silly string. pic.twitter.com/h4iZaub6cV
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 30, 2019
While we’re used to seeing a number of entertaining and goofy antics from this mascot, this was great in a number of ways and really speaks volumes to the Flyers organization and how they engage with those in need.
How about the decorations and the youngster’s Gritty outfit, too? Pretty cool if you ask this hockey enthusiast.
In addition to making a difference in a young fan’s life, Gritty was nothing short of entertaining this week either.
The comical and caring mascot teamed up with Flyers host, Andrea Helfrich, with an awesome video segment mimicking the TV show, “The Office.”
For Halloween this year, @Andrea_Helfrich went with a classic from @theofficenbc....It may have backfired a little bit. pic.twitter.com/yH4hevWCsV
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 31, 2019
Philly’s social media posts entailing Gritty or Halloween didn’t stop there though either.
He even attempted to partake in some mischievous activities outside Wells Fargo Arena.
On Mischief Night, @GrittyNHL does gritty things. Or at least tries to. pic.twitter.com/MFdS6m7oD8
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 31, 2019
“A” for effort, no?
The Flyers also added to their Halloween creativity with this post, which was aimed at some of the City of Brotherly Love’s biggest rivals.
https://twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/1189910625419444224
Hockey Halloween and until next time, Gritty.