Utah Mammoth Has a Mascot and the Name is 'Tusky'
Yup, Arizona Ain't NEVER Seeing a Coyote Again
Hockey is back, and I, for one am excited. Well, I WAS excited, until I realized the New York Islanders (despite their win last night) are just going to frustrate me for a whole ‘nother year. And with the goals, points, and the pursuit of so many individual trophies it’s hard to keep track, we can’t forget about some of the pageantry.
The Utah Mammoth, formerly known as the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, revealed their mascot this week. “Tusky” is his name, and he’s got “at-tit-tude”, y’all.
Like the video says, he’s named Tusky because the team rallying cry is “Tusks Up”—whatever that means. Like, I don’t have a tusk. Am I now ineligible to watch games? Can I put something else up instead of tusks? Can I borrow a tusk from a friend?
Long-term readers of The Sandwich know that I have a very tenuous relationship with mascots. That aside, I feel like Tusky is missing something, you know? Is it because his name is ‘on the nose?’ Is it because his tusks (you know, the signature feature) look pretty tiny? Or is it that there’s another pachyderm mascot (The New York Liberty of the WNBA) that just ‘wears it better?’
Go on, girl!
On the other hand, it seems the whole world loves ol’ Tusky, so maybe it’s just me. From KSL.com:
Utah Mammoth fans, especially the younger ones, have a new hero in town.
During Wednesday’s opening night festivities, the team unveiled Tusky, the brand-new mascot that is equal parts adorable and tough.
SLC Puck host Austin Facer, himself a one-time professional mascot, says the Mammoth nailed it, calling Tusky a gateway to lifelong fanhood for Utah’s youngest hockey diehards. - KSL
I suppose, but there’s something just so awfully generic about the whole thing. Remember when the Islanders had that monstrosity of a man (that I love) called Nylsles? Or when we all witnessed the debut of Gritty in 2018? Give me a dash of personality. Give me something you’d be embarrassed to explain to your non-hockey friends when you take them to a game.
But alas, Tusky is here to stay, and I have to deal with that just like I have to deal with a Grab-n-Go Turkey sandwich wrap at an airport before a 6 am flight.
Perhaps I should call those sammies ‘Tuskies’ from now on.