Meet a MASCOT

STINGER | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

STINGER, AT 6-FOOT-9, IS an oversized yellow jacket wasp who gets his green coloring from a combination of the natural bee yellow and the blue of the coats worn by Union soldiers from the Buckeye State during the Civil War (from whom Columbus draws its nickname.)

He was unveiled to the public in 1998 and appeared on a uniform shoulder patch from Columbus’ first season in 2000 through to the end of 2002-03. He’s also been featured on a goalie mask, when Keith Kinkaid donned a depiction of Stinger on his lid during his brief stint in central Ohio last season.

Like the buzzing insect upon which he’s based, Stinger is a feisty sort, known to throw barbs at playoff opponents on Twitter. He tweeted a picture of his keyboard – without a “caps lock” key – with the hashtag #nocaps in advance of the Blue Jackets’ 2018 series with Washington, and he exchanged jabs with Boston Bruins fan and controversial sports blogger Dave Portnoy before last year’s Round 2 matchup between the two teams.