Gritty Mania Grips Ocean City as Flyers Caravan Rolls Into Town

mvitale

The Flyers Ice Team.

By MADDY VITALE The Philadelphia Flyers Community Caravan made a stop in Ocean City on Wednesday outside the Ocean City Civic Center, where children and adults enjoyed games, autograph signings from Flyers alumni and had tons of fun. One of the highlights for fans, of course, was getting to meet the lovable, very orange, googly-eyed Flyers mascot Gritty. In addition to the Flyers alumni, there were some other special guests, including Flyers in-arena host Everett Jackson, who kept the excitement coming by pumping up the crowd with cheers. The Flyers Ice Team also made an appearance. Children cheered and clapped as Gritty made his grand entrance outside of the Civic Center. He high-fived kids and even tossed a few bags in for a cornhole game while posing for photos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StACha1iAEQ Before the event officially began, Flyers governor and Ocean City resident Dan Hilferty surprised children who were in a city-run morning sports camp. This week’s camp was street hockey. Kids enjoyed Flyers giveaways and games. Later on, fans lined up to meet some of the Flyers alumni who signed autographs, including Bob Kelly, Dave Schultz, Brad Marsh, Scott Hartnell, Doug Crossman, Brian Propp and Riley Cote. Lucas and Katie Groff, of Oley, Pa., made the trip with their children, Tyler, 10, Emily, 9, and 6-year-old son, Connor, to enjoy the festivities and meet some of the Flyers. The family happily waited in line to have the players sign some of their Flyers gear and memorabilia. When asked whose autographs the family got, Tyler Groff exclaimed, “All of them. It’s amazing!” Katie Groff noted that it was a nice event. “I like that they take the time out of their summer for the fans,” she said. “We are real Flyers fans and you can’t beat this,” Lucas Groff said. “And the weather is beautiful.”