MASCOT REVOLT?

Just when the Saint John Sea Dogs get a great mascot, many want him to go away.

Station Nation was cruising around Facebook on Sunday evening (what else would we be doing) and stumbled across a group called “5,000 member or more to bring Splash back to the Sea Dogs!!!”

We were shocked to find this group, as the new mascot “Fleaburn” is easily the best in the entire Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and has single handedly kept the team in the Rivalry Cup race.

Splash, the previous mascot, was about as good as a painted cardboard box. He handed over the mascot role to Fleaburn on opening night this season. Since then, Fleaburn has been nothing less than spectacular and even had a stuffed toy produced of him that can be bought at Sea Dogs Styles.

“As you may know we lost Splash our great Saint John Sea Dogs Mascot and now stuck with Fleaburn,” reads the information part of the page. We will not release the makers name for privacy reasons.

“I myself did not like this and want to see how many people are on the same page as me,” said the page. “So if you want Splash back let’s try to get recognized and make this group big. All you have to do is join and then invite all your friends. We will not take no for an answer! Please show your support to our beloved Splash!”

The page already has 351 fans and many of the comments are negative towards to new Sea Dogs mascot. Luckily, a few readers of this very blog have gone on the page to try and show fans that Fleaburn is overall a better mascot.

Station Nation contacted Fleaburn via Facebook to see what he thought of the group.

“I fully understand what they are going through,” said the huge tongued creature. “Splash was a big part of the Sea Dogs and a great mascot, a lot of people were sad to see him go and change is hard, all I can ask is people give me a chance and hopefully like what they see.”

Fleaburn also said he is willing to listen to what the fans have to say.

“I’m always willing to here from the fans whether it’s praise or criticism. Mascots are for the people, to make the game experience better and it can’t improve without feedback.”

Fleaburn created his own Facebook page a few months ago and currently has 192 friends.

The hate towards Splash began last season and grew dramatically from a couple of articles by columnist Peter McGuire in the Telegraph-Journal. It was announced prior the playoffs last season that Splash would be retiring and no replacement would be named until the 2009-10 regular season.

One poster on the page seems very determined to believe that Splash left because teenagers kept hitting him on the head - no joke.

Here is the page if you want to check it out.

Although it’s unlikely that if the group gets 5,000 members Splash will return, be sure to add Fleaburn as your friend on the social networking site.