Ding! Ding! Round Two
Published Saturday October 17th, 2009
Rivalry: Mascot challenge ups the ante in this real-life battle of 'Cats and Dogs
SAINT JOHN - Fleaburn has not been his joyful, happy self this week. He's been equal parts nervous and determined, and the happy visage only remains on his face because, well, he can't change his stuffed facial features.
The Saint John Sea Dogs mascot has been spending the past seven days preparing to defend the city's pride in the first of two mascot challenges as part of the Rivalry Cup.
Remember the Rivalry Cup?
It's a challenge between Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rivals the Moncton Wildcats and Saint John Sea Dogs. Last season, it was strictly based on percentage of attendance in a home-and-home series. The 'Cats won, and the Dogs weren't too happy about it.
This season, the challenge is bigger and better - it encompasses the teams' eight-game, regular-season series, and goes well beyond the turnstiles and into the community.
Here's how the format breaks down:
* On The Ice: Two points for a regulation or overtime win and one point for an overtime or shootout loss. Each team can amass up to 16 points.
* Attendance: Half point awarded for 70 per cent capacity, one point for 80 per cent capacity and two points for 90 per cent or more capacity. Each team can amass a maximum of eight points.
* Holiday Food Drive: Five points for the city that collects the most non-perishable food items during the New Year's Eve/Jan. 2 home-and-home series.
* Road Trip Challenge: Two points for whichever group of fans visiting the opposing team's arena (wearing Sea Dogs/Wildcats apparel) is larger on a designated night. Fans will go on parade on the opposing team's ice surface and will be counted by opposing team delegates.
And, of course, there's the mascot challenge - two home-and-home intermission events with one point awarded for each victory. Four total points up for grabs. That's where Fleaburn comes into the picture - he'll race Moncton mascot Wild Willie in an obstacle course during the first intermission of tonight's contest at Harbour Station.
Wild Willie is confident it's in the bag.
"I'm not worried about losing, I'm worried about catching fleas," the Moncton mascot said. "I haven't seen a 'Dog catch one of the 'Cats yet."
For his part, Fleaburn isn't talking. The former Saint John Flames mascot is busy trying to regain the form of his past glories, most notably his championship run to the Calder Cup in the 2000-01 season.
Fleaburn made his triumphant return to Harbour Station this season after years away from the limelight. Fans may have noticed the mascot had packed on a few more pounds since they last saw him. During his time away from the spotlight, with no fans to rally or team to spark, he turned to the buffet table to fill the void left by the noise generated by the Harbour Station faithful.
Now that he's back, he's enlisted the help of Sea Dogs athletic therapist Jeff Kelly and equipment manager David Kelly to prepare him for tonight's bout with Willie.
The first step was to completely change his diet. "It was completely overhauled - we cut out almost all of his carbs," Jeff Kelly said. "He's getting a lot of fish oil now as well as Vitamin D."
On the physical training side, the athletic therapist said it's been tough, but Fleaburn is determined.
"We've done a lot of glute work and a lot of work on his hips because of the mobility he lost due to all his inactivity over the years," he said.
One thing he hasn't lost is his championship will, David Kelly said.
"He's won a championship before, so he knows what it takes," the team equipment manager said.
The puck drops on tonight's installment of the Rivalry Cup at 7 p.m. The Sea Dogs have a 2-1 edge in the series after a 4-3 shootout win Sept. 27.
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