His Reaction Is Priceless

He's one of the more polarizing figures in hockey, but his outrageous antics seem to have been toned down in the last few months, causing people to actually start liking him more than they hate them. Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers mascot, has been showing up everywhere over the last six months, and even I - a person with a heart three sizes too small for tom foolery - have begun to appreciate that his over-the-top look and goofiness is part of his charm. Yes, Gritty has grown on me, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. How did this happen, you ask? Moments like the ones below are why mascots of all types, specifically ones with Gritty's appearance, are important for professional sports teams.

You likely saw this clip on social media today at some point, but a young man by the name of Caiden was at the Shriner's Hospital in Philadelphia where he had just received his new prosthetic legs that had Gritty's image all over it. Clearly, young Caiden is a fan of the Flyers and their big orange mascot, but it's what followed the fitting of Caiden's new legs that is worth it's weight in gold. CBS Philly has the moment.

Seeing Caiden's face as the big orange goofball walks into the room is entirely what melts one's heart as Caiden's eighth birthday will be one he'll never forget. Gritty's appearance at the hospital will stick with Caiden forever, and I have to commend the Flyers organization for making this appearance possible. For everything that eight year-old boy has been through in terms of needing prosthetic legs and whatever caused that to be his reality, it will forever be forgotten every time he sees Gritty now. The Flyers not only made his birthday better, but they likely cemented his loyalty to the team for years to come. In that moment, he forgot all about why he was at the hospital, and those are the moments that every parent strives to see - jaw-dropping disbelief followed by a smile that lights up the entire world.

Good on ya, Gritty, and a big stick-tap to the Flyers. I don't know how it got so dusty in here so fast, but gimme a minute while my eyes do their thing. We need more mascots and NHL teams to do stuff like this, and I'll be happy to give it the attention it deserves when it goes down. If the NHL is all about making fans, they just got one for life in Caiden O'Rourke.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!