In November 1978, the Flyers introduced their brand-new, furry orange mascot, but it wasn’t the Gritty we now know and love.
Slapshot was the Philadelphia hockey team’s first official mascot, and Dennis Boyle, a 26-year-old mailman from Delaware County, was the man behind the suit, writes Matt Breen for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Boyle grew up in Glenolden and graduated from Monsignor Bonner in 1970. Like fans across the region, he fell in love with the sport after watching the Flyers win the Stanley Cup and began playing beer-league hockey.
His girlfriend worked at The Spectrum when the Flyers announced they were searching for someone to play the mascot, and recommended him for the position. With a background in theater and skating, and a passion for the team, Boyle went to tryouts.
“I showed up and not another soul could even stand up on skates,” he said.
After training with an Ice Capades skater, Boyle debuted as Slapshot with a routine set to the Rocky theme.
Unfortunately, Slapshot never really caught on. Ed Snider, owner of the Flyers, didn’t want a mascot, and the Broad Street Bullies were enough of an icon for fans.
Slapshot was retired in 1979, but Boyle looks back on the time fondly and shares the love fans have for Gritty now.
Read more about Glenolden’s Dennis Boyle and his time playing the Flyers’ original mascot Slapshot in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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