Chucky the Angel: The Penalty Box Judge at Spruce Grove Saints' Hockey Games
The penalty box in hockey, also known as the "sin bin," is where players sit when they receive penalties for breaking the rules. The Spruce Grove Saints, a Canadian junior team in the British Columbia Hockey League, have a unique way of making penalized players feel even more guilty. Chucky the Angel, the team's mascot since 2019, adds a new twist during home games. When a visiting player is in the penalty box during a TV timeout, Chucky skates over and stands in front of the glass, silently judging the player, much to the delight of fans and discomfort of the opponent. This season, Chucky has done this three times, including during the Saints' recent 5-4 overtime win over the Vernon Vipers.
During the game, Vipers forward Leon Bussmann received a misconduct penalty for an illegal check to the head. Chucky skated over, stopped in front of the sin bin glass, and stared at him, creating a hilariously uncomfortable moment. Bussmann tried to avoid eye contact by looking down at his skates but eventually smiled as Chucky continued to stand there. Trevor Miller, the Saints' director of communications, described it as a great moment and appreciated the opposing player's light-hearted response.
The performer inside the Chucky suit this season is Eric Weidman, a 14-year-old student at Woodhaven Middle School in Spruce Grove. Despite his lack of previous experience, Weidman applied for the mascot role after the team posted an ad on Facebook. With his dad's connection to the team, Weidman got the opportunity to become Chucky. He shared that he tries not to laugh while inside the suit and enjoys bringing humor to the games.
In summary, the Spruce Grove Saints have found a creative way to entertain fans and add a humorous touch to their games with Chucky the Angel mascot. The silent judgment of penalized players by Chucky during TV timeouts has become a memorable and amusing aspect of the team's home games, creating light-hearted moments even in intense hockey matchups.