The Vegas Golden Knights unveiled the team’s new mascot, Chance, before a crowd of 17,645 ahead of Friday night’s 6-3 loss to Detroit at T-Mobile Arena.
Chance is a gila monster. He has received mixed reviews.
Some thought his introduction and very existence was a prank.
wow, Vegas did everything right…until this thing.Gotta be a joke, right?
— RandomGuy,#75855 (@Kevin14150) October 14, 2017
Wait… Please tell me this is a joke.
— Jens95 (@Jensrud95) October 14, 2017
Is there a CHANCE this is a joke?
— JB (@JB7oh2) October 14, 2017
This has to be a joke right? RIGHT?!?
— John M. (@Lithium716) October 14, 2017
Though a majority had absolutely no idea what Chance was even supposed to be.
What. Is. It.
— Beth (@_BethLynn) October 14, 2017
“WHAT… AM… I…?”
— Matt Fenton (@TheMattFenton) October 14, 2017
— NickLeddysBeard (@NickLeddysBeard) October 14, 2017
Go Dragon? Lizard? Bad Cosplay? What the hell is it? pic.twitter.com/v0OW8jKup4
— OC Steve (@OCKingsFan19) October 14, 2017
GAHHHH WHAT’S IN GOD’S HOLY NAME IS THAT?!?!?!
— Erik Zarins (@ErikZarins) October 14, 2017
For the record, Chance is a gila monster (pronounced HEE-luh), a venomous lizard native to desert areas in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. There was so much confusion surrounding Chance’s identity that the Golden Knights published an article about Chance’s background.
Many wondered why the Golden Knights simply didn’t go with, you know, a golden knight.
Dude how did you guys not choose a knight…
— Mike (@mcianfrini) October 14, 2017
Chance?? What about a knight… Sir WinsALot.
— Kristeen von Hagen (@kvonhagen) October 14, 2017
We’re the Knights. We’ll have a Knight mascot. Noooooo we’ll have this yellow Alligator looking thing named Chance.
— G Rhoades (@GavinRhoades) October 14, 2017
Why is the Golden Knights mascot a snake named Chance and not a Knight?
— Scotty (@DoomWithFries) October 14, 2017
You literally could have put a knights helmet on a guy named Phil and called it a day. Instead, this… #notmymascot
— D.B (@buravs19) October 14, 2017
Some made the connection to another famous Chance.
Is that a dinosaur of some sort? Like a Raptor? Is your mascot Chance the Raptor?
— Cameron Lenard (@Camlenard) October 14, 2017
— hallow-steve 🎃 (@DoleWhipz) October 14, 2017
While many drew comparisons to other characters and creatures from throughout pop culture.
The Gorn? pic.twitter.com/oE6V2qaQtt
— cmacs (@Leafer1) October 14, 2017
— Eddie Cash (@Edward_Cash) October 14, 2017
Wow congrats to making Bossk your mascot pic.twitter.com/qm340jVA2P
— Mike Pfeil (@mikeFAIL) October 14, 2017
— Hockey Blvd (@HockeyBlvdVegas) October 14, 2017
Straight up brothers with Pokémon Sandshrew pic.twitter.com/zWkzusdYnE
— 🍦Carrlyn Bathe🍦 (@CarrlynBathe) October 14, 2017
A popular theory is that Chance is a direct descendant of the Fantastic Four’s Thing or the lovechild of the Thing and Barney.
— Cubs Student (@sacketology) October 14, 2017
Found his parents! pic.twitter.com/X2lOsxd9lq
— Lil Juno From 6ix (@junotheleafs) October 14, 2017
— Bring Hockey Back (@BringHockeyBack) October 14, 2017
Not all reactions were negative, though! Some people liked him.
I like Chance!
— David Krepps (@dnk900) October 14, 2017
I’m the only person who likes @GoldenKnights mascot, Chance. I think he’s great. Welcome to the NHL mascot family!
— Rocket F. Backhander (@RBackhander76) October 14, 2017
Vegas mascot Chance the gila monster. Looks pretty cool actually pic.twitter.com/BeWrmDCP4f
— Nick Hankins (@nbhco) October 14, 2017
Chance even got a warm welcome from division rival Fin, the mascot of the Vancouver Canucks.
Welcome to the @NHL Mascot Fraternity, Chance
— FIN (@CanucksFIN) October 14, 2017
But the majority were less-than-fond of the move.
I spend months willing myself to become a fan in spite of the team name and this is my reward.
— Plexico Gingrich (@ruthlessreviews) October 14, 2017
oh god no why https://t.co/It5hSD9JfT
— Ashley (@alour) October 14, 2017
— Esquire, Esq. (@cowgirl_bebop) October 14, 2017
— Flyers Fans in DC (@flyersfansindc) October 14, 2017
Kill it before it lays eggs
— DAMÉ (@DamianWehrheim) October 14, 2017
— Andrew Quinn (@AJQuinn82) October 14, 2017
— Las Vegas Locally 🌵 (@LasVegasLocally) October 14, 2017
— Las Vegas Locally 🌵 (@LasVegasLocally) October 14, 2017
— Las Vegas Locally 🌵 (@LasVegasLocally) October 14, 2017
— LA Royal Army (@LARoyalArmy) October 14, 2017
At the end of the day, the evening turned sour thanks to a blown third-period lead that handed the Knights their first loss in franchise history.
But Chance is here to stay.
Golden Knights fans just have to hope that he can help the team capitalize on its chances (see what I did there?) moving forward.
How do you feel about Chance the Gila Monster as the Golden Knights’ mascot?
| Love him! | 26 |
| Hate him! | 11 |
| He’s sorta cute | 27 |
| Meh, whatever | 50 |
| THIS is our mascot?!? Really? | 45 |
| WHY???????????????????????????? | 39 |
| #NotMyMascot | 33 |