Times Union
NEW YORK — The Adirondack Flames unveiled their new mascot Thursday and took some heat for it.
The American Hockey League team, which begins its inaugural season in Glens Falls on Friday night, introduced “Scorch,” a walking flame with a puck for a head who was supposed to represent the last ember from a fire that ravaged Glens Falls in 1864.
And in a skit during an event in Glens Falls on Thursday, Scorch overcomes overcomes a city firefighter, who’s sprawled on the ground.
The team quickly got backlash from those who took issue with the team making light of a major disaster and injured first responders. And so they apologized in a written statement from team president Brian Petrovek:
In telling of his story, Scorch overpowered a firefighter. That happened. pic.twitter.com/ZIpW7Qmw5l
— Diana C. Nearhos (@dianacnearhos) October 9, 2014
“Earlier today we unveiled our new mascot Scorch. In an attempt to provide background material for the character who will be the face of our team, particularly with young fans, we crafted a story that Scorch was the remaining ember from the tragic fire that destroyed much of Glens Falls in 1864.
“We also crafted a skit that helped to launch the new mascot — with the help of the Glens Falls Fire Department. While it seemed in good taste when it was on the drawing board, it is evident now that it was in poor taste.
“On behalf of our entire organization we want to apologize for our thoughtlessness today. We have obviously turned something good, the launch of a mascot which we will use to entertain and encourage young fans, into something that is in poor taste. That was not our intention and again we apologize.
“We would like to emphasize that we as an organization take seriously the dangers associated with fire, understand its potentially devastating effects and acknowledge that those in our nation who are called upon to face and fight fires on a daily basis are truly heroes.
“We apologize.”
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