Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Oilers coach gives Flames mascot a tongue-thrashing
By Associated Press
Calgary, Alberta -- Edmonton Oilers Coach Craig MacTavish ripped out the tongue of Calgary Flames mascot Harvey after the 6-foot-6 bear repeatedly taunted him at the bench.
With the Flames leading 4-0 early in the third period, Harvey -- a 200-pound white bear with a foot-long red tongue -- began mocking MacTavish during a timeout.
When play resumed, Harvey moved behind the bench and continued to razz the Oilers. At another stoppage, Harvey leaned over the glass behind the bench which prompted MacTavish to grab the tongue, rip it out and throw it into the crowd.
Undeterred, Harvey kept leaning over the glass. MacTavish reached for a hockey stick but was calmed by Oilers trainer Ken Lowe. Several Oilers players squirted Harvey with water bottles before security moved the mascot away.
MacTavish spent 17 seasons in the NHL, earning 891 penalty minutes in 1,093 games. He's in his third season as Oilers coach.
Edmonton scored three times in a span of less than four minutes late in the third period but lost to the Flames, 4-3.
That pic is priceless:
"You wanna piece of me? "You wanna a piece of ME?!?!?!
I love hockey!
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