Penguin Pete (Courtesy of Pittsburghockey.net).
Penguin Pete is the best live mascot to ever do it in the NHL, and the only one (or two).
Penguin Pete
The Pittsburg Penguins were loaned an Ecuadorian-born penguin from the Pittsburg Aquazoo in 1968 as a live team mascot and birthday gift for the son of the team’s president (pictured above).
Pete made his debut once at the tail end of the 1967–1968 season and would be present at six more games in 1968.
Pittsburg’s favorite penguin would have specialty hockey skates created so he could do a few laps before each game. This was quite the task, as the Penguins are pigeon-toed, knock-kneed, bowlegged, and weak-ankled, according to the team president.
Pete did lead the team on to the ice on October 16th, 1968, against the Boston Bruins. But it wouldn’t be on skates; he would flop on his stomach every time they tried to get him to stand on them (me at the gym). He would waddle without the skates, harnessed, onto the ice.
Penguin Pete would also catch a Zamboni ride here and there in between periods.
Penguin deplete
Things would get dark quickly; Pete’s last spin on the ice would be on November 16th, 1968, against the New York Rangers. The Pittsburg Press would report on November 21st that the beloved penguin was very sick with pneumonia.
Allegedly, Pete’s nest at the arena was too warm for the cold-weather-loving little bird, leading to his demise. Apparently, his caretakers felt bad because they thought his conditions were “too cold.”
Two days later, after being rushed to the zoo, Penguin Pete would no longer be alive. In a decision understood by few and unappreciated by many, Pete would be sent to a taxidermist. His 2-foot-tall stuffed body would be displayed in the team’s office lobby.
It is unclear when, but we do know that Penguin Pete was removed from the lobby after many concerned calls. And then chucked in a dumpster, allegedly.
Penguin Re-Pete
Less is known about “Re-Pete” the penguin. He was also loaned by the same zoo in 1971 and survived the 1971–1972 season. When you have a bad idea, it’s always good to re-pete it.
No one is quite sure what happened to this penguin, but he would be replaced by a human in a costume in 1972. What a novel idea!
For other morally complicated and emotionally conflicting articles, look at my other articles here.
