The Edmonton Oilers announced the newest member of the team Monday.
While his talents may be pouncing on open pucks, skating with feline grace and reacting with catlike reflexes, his primary job will be to bring smiles to young children.
Hunter, a much, much larger-than-life Canadian lynx, is the new mascot of the Edmonton Oilers.
“Introducing Hunter as the Oilers official mascot is an opportunity to strengthen our connection in the community,” Stew MacDonald, chief commercial officer for the Oilers Entertainment Group, said in a news release.
“Hunter is passionate, energetic, approachable and loves the Oilers. Just like our fans.”
However, some posters on Twitter wondered just how approachable Hunter will be for toddlers.
This is the Oilers’ new mascot, because kids love big scary teeth and crazy eyes. pic.twitter.com/vdCCXx0IPQ
@nielsonTSN1260 Now my kids don’t want to go to hockey games. Not that I could have afforded it in the first place. #OilersMascot
Oilers’ new mascot prepares to terrify Edmonton’s youth: Get rid of it. https://t.co/E6Kr6jJPDv
If nothing else, the new #Oilers mascot will remind Edmontonians to lock their doors at night. -bm #HugsNotDrugs #yeg pic.twitter.com/UgudPZmI1I
Youngsters will get plenty of opportunities to run into Hunter, who will show up at events at city hospitals, festivals, schools and other community events.
The Oilers say they developed the character through research, surveying more than 2,200 Edmonton students, from kindergarten to Grade 9, to identify the mascot concept they preferred.
The Canadian lynx was “far and away the most popular choice,” the Oilers said.
Hunter is named for the original Oilers owner, “Wild” Bill Hunter, who founded the team in 1972.