Flyers mascot Gritty cleared of assault allegation

Police in Philadelphia cleared Gritty, the Flyers’ fuzzy, orange mascot, of allegations of assault.

Gritty was under investigation for an alleged physical assault of a 13-year-old boy during a photo shoot at the team’s arena in November. In a news release Monday, police announced the investigation was over.

“That investigation, which has been completed and is no longer active, determined the actions of the individual portraying the Flyers’ mascot did not constitute physical assault as alleged,” the news release stated.

Chris Greenwell, the boy’s father, wrote in a Facebook post last month that his son, Brandon, was “punched and injured” by Gritty at an event for season ticket holders, and the organization “tried to bribe me not to speak about it.”

In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Greenwell said after a photo was taken, his son patted Gritty on the head and then walked away. The mascot got up, “took a running start,” and “punched my son as hard as he could.”

The Flyers said in a statement last month its internal investigation showed no wrongdoing.

Greenwell, who said he won’t renew his season tickets, said his son saw a chiropractor and was diagnosed with a back bruise.

It has been a streaky season for Buffalo Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton. After winning his first six games of the season, Hutton went into such a severe slump he lost his starting job to Linus Ullmark.

But with Ullmark expected to miss most of the month with a right leg injury, Hutton is back in the Buffalo net. He snapped an 0-8-4 skid on Saturday, his first triumph since Oct. 22.

Hutton will look to make it two wins in a row when the Sabres host Colorado on Tuesday.