Since their first NHL appearance in 1979, the Edmonton Oilers have never had a mascot. But with a new stadium, a new face of the franchise in Connor McDavid and a new general mindset, a new mascot was more than necessary.
The new mascot’s name is Hunter, named after the Oilers’ original owner, Bill Hunter. Hunter is a lynx. And he is a little bit scary.
#Oilers fans, meet Hunter: our first-ever mascot! 😺 pic.twitter.com/T1phDV73P3
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 26, 2016
The Oilers are far from the first NHL team to feature an animal as their mascot. The Calgary Flames have Harley the Hound, the Los Angeles Kings have Bailey the lion, the Washington Capitals have Slapshot the Eagle and there are many other animal-related mascots. But those mascots look like stuffed animals or just incredibly goofy versions of their respective animal.
Hunter looks like a real, live lynx prepared for an attack.
Choosing a terrifying mascot may sound like some weird, ill-advised decision by an out-of-touch marketing team, but that isn’t the case at all. The Oilers actually polled four local schools, and Lynx is very much kid-approved. They chose this.
“He’s jumping around, he’s dancing… he’s crazy.” #OilCountry kids are loving the #Oilers new mascot Hunter! pic.twitter.com/u38baC6oNR
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 26, 2016
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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