Instead of cheering on his favourite team, Powell River Kings’ mascot Rocco is preparing for a little competition of his own.
The local lion will be one of 12 mascots from across Canada and the United States competing in the inaugural Okanagan Mascot Games, taking place May 10 to 12 in Vernon.
All funds raised in the friendly rivalry will go to BC Children's Hospital and Kelowna General Hospital Foundation’s JoeAnna’s House, a facility similar to Ronald McDonald House in the Okanagan. Rocco said when he received the invite and learned what causes it would be supporting he enthusiastically signed up.
“When the mascot games called and said ‘would you come do this for children’s hospital?’ it was a no-brainer, and Rocco don’t have much of a brain,” he said.
Along with hospital visits to sick children in the Okanagan, the mascots will host a meet and greet Friday followed by Saturday and Sunday’s contests. Games include a relay course, jousting tournament, apple cart races, lip sync and dance battle.
Rocco joins competitors Sniper from the BC Hockey League’s Vernon Vipers; Silver Fox from SilverStar Mountain Resort; Breadhead from Cobs Bread; Parka the Beaver, representing Parks Canada; Beacon the Beaver of West Kelowna’s Kizzmit Tourism; Rocky from the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets; and also from the BCHL, The General from the West Kelowna Warriors and HarVee of the Penticton Vees.
US contestants include Biscuit the Bulldog from Allen Americans Hockey Club in Texas, and Nugget, a donkey representing the Rapid City Rush hockey club from South Dakota; both are from minor professional hockey league ECHL. Finally, Victor E. Tigers of Fayetteville, Tennessee, is the only high school competitor participating in the games this year.
“I just wanted to find a way to have fun and there weren’t a lot of full-family, all-ages events,” said event organizer Cori Inman. “And mascots are just something that can cheer people up through difficult times.”
Rocco said bringing happiness to children and adults alike is his main purpose in life.
“I always tell people smiles are really contagious,” he said. “When you can walk in a room and people light up it’s a great feeling.”
He is ready to face his competition, including one mascot in particular he added.
“There’s a little rivalry happening with me and Sniper,” he said of the Vernon mascot. “Maybe on the inside I secretly want to win.”
Awards will go to teams as well as a final prize for the top individual mascot, said Inman.
“We’ve had a company out of Texas donate a mascot-sized champion ring,” she said. “The ultimate mascot champion will win that ring and a second rendering will be auctioned off.”
Rocco said he has been preparing for the contests for some time now and is feeling ready.
“Everything I’ve been doing for the last couple of months has been leading up to go to this,” he added. “The playoff run was great training grounds.”
The ultimate prize is supporting worthy causes and making people forget their troubles for a moment, said Rocco.
“If we can just show up and make a moment of joy, and make some kids smile, I’m happy.”
