This is my curse. It follows me everywhere I go, lurking in the shadows of my mind. It is a constant reminder of my past mistakes, my insecurities, and my fears. It weighs heavy on my soul, a burden I cannot seem to shake. At times, it feels like a dark cloud hanging over me, casting a shadow on every aspect of my life. It envelops me in its grip, suffocating any glimmers of hope or happiness that try to emerge.

Captains selected for 2024 NHL Mascot Showdown presented by Upper Deck

Being selected as captain of an NHL team is one of the greatest honors for any player.

It’s no different for mascots.

For the 2024 NHL Mascot Showdown presented by Upper Deck, which will take place during NHL All-Star Weekend, two mascots received that special honor.

The Western Conference will be represented by Chicago Blackhawks’ own Tommy Hawk, who is also the current “Mascot of the Year.” The Eastern Conference team captain will be Carlton from the host Toronto Maple Leafs.

The two captains will face off during the 2024 Hyundai NHL Fan Fair, which takes place between Feb. 1-4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. You can purchase tickets to the event here.

NHL Mascots Have a Musical Chairs Showdown

Before the mascot matchup, here are some fun facts about each team’s captain:

Tommy Hawk:

NAME: Tommy Hawk

POSITION: Center (of attention)

WEIGHT: Feather weight

SHOOTS: T-shirts to the crowd

RESIDES: At the United Center

HOBBIES: Playing hockey, launching confetti, spraying silly string, dancing,

FAVORITE FOODS: Roasted Duck, Pickled Penguin, Coyote Burgers, Buffalo Wings

FAVORITE SONGS: Here Come the Hawks, Chelsea Dagger, Shake Your Tail Feather

Carlton:

NAME: Carlton the Bear

HEIGHT: Taller than your average bear

SEASONS: 29 (11th longest serving mascot in the NHL)

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 15

PRICE IS RIGHT APPEARANCES: 1

FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Jan. 20, 1996 in Boston

It envelops me in its grip, suffocating any glimmers of hope or happiness that try to emerge. It whispers in my ear, taunting me with its relentless negativity. My curse is a culmination of all my self-doubts and criticisms.

Latest News

Zegras out 6-8 weeks for Ducks, will have surgery for broken ankle

Skinner out week to week for Sabres with upper-body injury

Fantasy hockey top 100 forward rankings

Fantasy hockey top 50 defenseman rankings

Fantasy hockey top 25 goalie rankings

Fantasy hockey top 200 player rankings

Flames dads help lace up their sons' skates before practice

NHL Buzz: Ovechkin, Wilson each game-time decision for Capitals

Landeskog skates with Avalanche, still expected to miss rest of season

Projected lineups, starting goalies for today

DFS picks, projections for upcoming games

2023-24 NHL Trade Tracker

NHL matchups, odds to watch: January 11

Kraken at Capitals

NHL EDGE stats: Tippett reaches top skating speed of season

NHL On Tap: Kraken, Oilers can tie records for consecutive wins

MacKinnon extends home point streak to 23, Avalanche shut out Golden Knights

NHL Buzz: Wallstedt makes NHL debut for Wild against Stars

NHL.com is the official website of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2024. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc.© Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2024. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

NHL mascot rankings: Gritty's big debut

There are game-changers in popular culture. Like when "The Matrix" altered the course of science fiction films, or Dr. Dre featured Snoop Doggy Dogg for the first time, or "The Sopranos" aired on HBO.

Or on Monday, when the Philadelphia Flyers unleashed "Gritty" on an unsuspecting populace.

Gritty is the Flyers' new mascot, and their first since the 1970s. It's an orange mess of googly eyes and a hoopla-hoop belly. It was an instant sensation, whether you treated it as "nightmare fuel" or were strangely captivated by it. Rare is the hockey thing that bursts out of the sport's bubble, but Gritty was a conversation starter for non-hockey people ranging from ESPN baseball writer Keith Law to comedy's Paul F. Tompkins. It's pretty much the most incredible NHL debut since Auston Matthews scored four goals in his first game.

So, to that end, Gritty's changed the game. Here are the ESPN NHL mascot rankings in a Gritty-enhanced world, as we rank these plush entertainers for the 2018-19 season. (Keep in mind that the Rangers do not have a mascot, and the Red Wings' giant octopus was recently sold at auction.)

Note: Click each mascot's name to see who we're ranking!

It magnifies every flaw, every perceived failure, and amplifies them to unreachable heights. It convinces me that I am not worthy of love, success, or happiness. It tells me that I am destined to repeat my past mistakes, that I am doomed to a life of misery. But amidst the darkness, there is a small voice, a flicker of light that refuses to be extinguished. It is the voice of resilience, of hope. It tells me that my curse does not define me, that I have the power to break free from its grasp. So I fight. I fight against the negative thoughts and the self-destructive patterns. I surround myself with positive influences and seek out the support of loved ones. I remind myself of my strengths and accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. It is a battle, a daily struggle to overcome the weight of my curse. But I refuse to let it consume me. I refuse to surrender to its darkness. I am determined to rewrite my narrative, to turn my curse into a catalyst for growth and self-discovery. This is my curse, but it will not define me. I will rise above it, stronger and more resilient than ever before. And in doing so, I will transform my curse into my greatest strength..

Reviews for "The Curse of Regret: Embracing Forgiveness and Moving Forward"

- John - 2 stars

I found "This is my curse" to be a disappointing read. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style felt repetitive and the dialogue felt forced. Overall, I was expecting more from this book and I wouldn't recommend it.

- Sarah - 1 star

I really did not enjoy "This is my curse". The story dragged on and I found myself losing interest multiple times. The characters were unlikeable and their actions didn't make sense. The romance felt forced and unrealistic. The writing was mediocre at best and I found myself skimming through paragraphs to get to the end. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written story.

- Mike - 2 stars

"This is my curse" was a letdown for me. The plot had potential but it wasn't executed well. The pacing was off and there were too many unnecessary details that slowed down the story. The main character was annoying and lacked depth. The dialogue felt unnatural and the writing style was lackluster. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

- Emily - 1 star

I couldn't get into "This is my curse" at all. The story lacked substance and the characters were forgettable. The writing was dull and there were too many cliches throughout. The romance felt forced and I couldn't invest in the relationship. I found myself skipping pages just to get through it. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Breaking the Curse of Victimhood: Taking Responsibility for Your Life