Penguin Pete

Penguin Pete was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first mascot. He was an Ecuadorian-born penguin on loan from the Pittsburgh Zoo. Penguins officials even had special ice skates made for Pete by CCM in Canada. And a skater from the University of Pittsburgh showed Pete how to skate at the arena.

Pete made his first appearance during the second intermission of a game against the Boston Bruins on October 19, 1968. Pete made a six more appearances, his last was on November 16, for a game with the New York Rangers. He would later die of pneumonia one month into the season. It is believed that his death was due to the ice crew at the arena keeping his nesting area too warm.

Pete died on November 23, 1968 and was sent to an area taxidermist, and was later displayed in the lobby of the Penguins team offices at the arena. However the stuffed Pete was later removed from the lobby after a few concerned callers objected to its presence there, according to then-Penguins owner Jack McGregor.

A second penguin mascot, dubbed "Re-Pete", was later loaned to the team and made it through the 1971-72 NHL season. [ [http://www.penguinjersey.com/PensPages/Mascots/mascots.html Pittsburgh Penguins Mascots ] ]

uccession of Mascots

ee also

*List of NHL mascots

References