10 best NHL Mascots: The Crazy, The Funny and The Gritty

They are funny, crazy, unique and their main goal is to entertain people during games. Mascots became a vital part of hockey world, especially in the National Hockey League. Fans need fun, they have to be entertained and mascots contribute to their experience (not only) in the arena. 

We chose the 10 most interesting and crazy NHL mascots and you will be surprised which made the list. For example, Gritty, the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers is extremely popular and has almost half a million followers on Instagram. Gritty took the Flyers organization to another level after his debut, at least for some time. 

But it's not just Gritty. Why the mascots were created, who are people behind the costumes and masks, which one is the youngest and what future do the mascots have in the NHL? 

NHL Mascots: The History

Mascots in sports generally serve a dual purpose: to entertain fans and help build a team's brand. They often represent the team's identity and are designed to engage the crowd, especially during breaks in play. In hockey, like in other major sports leagues, the role of mascots became more prominent in the later half of the 20th century as teams began looking for new ways to enhance the fan experience and boost team spirit.

Mascots were originally introduced not only to entertain fans, but to help provide a more family-friendly atmosphere at games, offering an interactive figure that fans—particularly children—could connect with. They also contributed to the team’s marketing efforts, acting as symbols of team loyalty and pride.

Youppi - the oldest mascot in the NHL

The first official mascot who made it into the NHL is generally recognized as "Youppi!", who was introduced by the Montreal Expos (Major League Baseball) in 1979. However, Youppi! would eventually make the leap into the world of hockey. The first mascot who was created in the National Hockey League was Harvey the Hound of the Calgary Flames.  Introduced in 1983, Harvey was the first mascot in the NHL.

Harvey the Hound - the old mascot of the Calgary Flames

10 Most Popular NHL Mascots

10. Bailey 

• Team: Los Angeles Kings
• Created: 2007

• About: Bailey, the mascot of the Kings, is a lion who wears No. 72 because it is the average temperature in Los Angeles. He was introduced during the 2007–2008 season and was named in honor of Garnet Bailey, who served as the Kings' Director of Pro Scouting from 1994 until his death in the September 11 attacks

 

 

Bailey - the mascot of the LA Kings

9. Stinger

• Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
• Created: 1999
• About: He is an anthropomorphic yellowjacket colored bright green. Beginning in 1997, one of the Blue Jackets' alternate jerseys featured Stinger wearing a Union Army uniform

Stinger - the mascot of the Blue Jackets

8. Bernie the St. Bernard

• Team: Colorado Avalanche
• Created: 1995
• About: The Patrol brought Bernie to an Avalanche home game where he saw a perfect sheet of NHL ice. Bernie had found his new home. Bernie now stands as the proud mascot for the Colorado Avalanche

Bernie the St.Bernard - the mascot of the Colorado Avalanche

7. Thunderbug

• Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
• Created: 1992
• About: He is a black and yellow lightning bug and wears a jersey with the number 00. He plays a bass drum to simulate a thunderclap

6. Gnash

• Team: Nashville Predators
• Created: 1994
• About: Gnash is a beast originally found frozen in ice, a baby saber-tooth tiger Gnash makes more than 600 appearances during the year in the community 

Gnash - the mascot of the Nashville Predators

5. Chance

• Team: Vegas Golden Knights
• Created: 2017
• About: The Golden Knights wanted an animal native to the area that was unique — the Gila monster fit the bill. Chance was given his name because Las Vegas took a chance on ice hockey in the desert

Chance - the mascot of the Vegas Golden Knights

4. S.J. Sharkie

• Team: San Jose Sharks
• Created: 1992
• About: S.J. Sharkie is the sharp-toothed mascot of the San Jose Sharks, embodying the fierce spirit of a shark. He’s known for his high-energy appearances and his sense of humor, often interacting with fans and engaging in playful antics

S.J. Sharkie - the mascot of the San Jose Sharks

3. Stormy

• Team: Carolina Hurricanes
• Created: 1997
• About: Stormy, a friendly blue horse, represents the "storm" theme of the Hurricanes. His energetic and fun-loving character has become a hit with young fans

Stormy - the mascot of the Carolina Hurricanes

2. Fin the Whale

• Team: Vancouver Canucks
• Created: 2001
• About: Fin the Whale has been the Canucks' mascot since 2001. With his bright blue color and cheerful personality, Fin is a symbol of the Pacific Northwest's coastal and marine life

Fin the Whale - the mascot of the Vancouver Canucks

1. Gritty

• Team: Philadelphia Flyers
• Created: 2016
• About: Gritty became an instant sensation when he was introduced by the Flyers in 2018. With his wild orange fur, googly eyes, and mischievous antics, Gritty quickly became a social media phenomenon and a beloved figure for the Flyers fans and beyond. Known for his playful, chaotic energy, he’s also a strong community figure in Philadelphia

Gritty - the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers

 

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NHL Mascots: Buoy - The Youngest

The Seattle Kraken, one of the NHL's newest teams, introduced their mascot, Buoy, in 2022—making Buoy the youngest mascot in the league. He is a furry, blue troll. His backstory is that he is the nephew of the Fremont Troll, a famous sculpture in Seattle.

The team explained they did not want to use a kraken as a mascot, saying that nobody knows what a real kraken looks like.  As part of the Kraken's community outreach and entertainment efforts, Buoy plays a key role in game-day energy, mascot appearances, and promoting the team to new generations of fans since Seattle’s expansion into the NHL.

Buoy - the mascot of the Seattle Kraken

People Behind The Mask: Who Are They?

While mascots are often larger-than-life figures with wild personalities, the people who bring them to life remain largely in the background. Behind the mask of each NHL mascot is an actor or performer whose job is to create an engaging, energetic, and memorable experience for fans. These performers are not only skilled athletes but also in improvisation, acting, and audience interaction.

Mascot performers come from diverse backgrounds, including acting, dance, physical theater, and even sports. Many have experience working with kids or in live performance settings. The job often requires a mix of physical endurance (since they are in costume for hours during each game or event), creativity (to engage with fans and stay in character), and a deep understanding of the mascot’s personality and the team’s brand. 

...did you know that NHL mascots made did into the video game by EA Sports? Well, this is an unique experience.

PHOTO & DATA SOURCES: NHL, Wiki Fandom, ChG, ESPN, Sportsnet, MHoF, YouTube,X,WP, GI