Yesterday, the Utah Mammoth revealed their new team mascot, Tusky.
The new mascot comes after the team announced a new identity and logo this past offseason. Now, they have a mascot that actually looks like a Mammoth and has the potential to become a fan favourite around the NHL.
Except for one fan base in particular, the Nashville Predators. Their mascot, Gnash, has already taken to social media to mock Tusky, pointing out how similar he looks to the Predators' mascot.
Gnash retweeted Tusky's introduction tweet and wrote, "A baby blue prehistoric animal…how original."
Obviously, there are similarities, but it's great to see the friendly feud brewing between the two mascots. It’s even better to see both organizations buying into the "Ice Age Rivalry" and trying to get their fans engaged with it.
By now, most NHL fans know about the Ice Age Rivalry. If you haven’t heard, here’s a quick rundown.
The Ice Age movie franchise had three main characters: a Mammoth named Manny, a Sabretooth tiger (which fits the Predators’ logo) named Diego, and a sloth named Sid.
When Utah named their team the Mammoth, fans were quick to point out that games between them and the Predators should be called the “Ice Age Rivalry” because of the movie connection.
The first installment of the rivalry happened on Oct. 11, when the Mammoth won 3-2 in overtime. The next matchup between these two teams is on Dec. 29, so expect plenty more friendly banter between the mascots leading up to that one.
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Tusky introduced himself for the first time with a surprise appearance prior to Utah's Mammoths puck drop against the Calgary Flames.
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From The Archive: Jersey Hound - Utah Mammoth
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