Well, it seems Gritty earned that nickname based on the story that surfaced yesterday saying the mascot is being investigated for an alleged assault involving a 13-year-old boy.
Police say the incident happened during a November photo-shoot with fans and the seven-foot furry orange creature at Wells Fargo Center.
According to the boy's father, the Flyers invited him and his son to meet Gritty as a way to thank them for being season ticket holders.
The boy’s dad alleges that, after the photo was taken, his son playfully patted Gritty on the head. The mascot hopped out of his chair, "took a running start" and punched the teenage boy in the back.
The dad admitted in an email that he knew “it was not correct for my son to harmlessly tap him on his head, but for a Flyers employee to throw a full punch at someone with his back turned and hurt a 13-year-old boy is assault, unprofessional and unacceptable for your organization.”
The Flyers said in a statement yesterday that they took the allegations seriously but “found nothing to support this claim.”
A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department said the investigation into the incident "is active and ongoing."
Source: NBC News