Gritty, Bernie visit Empire State Building, Bettman at League office

Mascots from around the country visited the Empire State Building and met NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman at the League's New York City offices on Wednesday.
The Chicago Blackhawks' Tommy Hawk, Coachella Valley Firebirds' Fuego, Colorado Avalanche's Bernie the St. Bernard, Columbus Blue Jackets' Stinger, Dallas Stars' Victor E. Green, Lehigh Valley Phantoms' meLVin, New Jersey Devils' N.J. Devil, Philadelphia Flyers' Gritty, St. Louis Blues' Louie, Tampa Bay Lightning's ThunderBug, Vegas Golden Knights' Chance and Washington Capitals' Slapshot were all there to explore the Big Apple.

Their day started bright and early in the lobby of the Empire State Building, where they posed with a miniature version of New York's most iconic building before heading up to the main observatory deck.

NHL mascots tour the Empire State Building in New York City.
On the 86th floor, Bernie was on the lookout for ThunderBug.

Bernie the St. Bernard takes in the view on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City.
Bernie couldn't find ThunderBug in all the city, but there was one place he hadn't checked. So, Bernie climbed 16 flights up to the Empire State Bulding's 102nd floor. When he found ThunderBug, he was challenged to a Stanley Cup Final rematch.

Bernie the St. Bernard and ThunderBug have a rematch of the Stanley Cup Final on the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building.
Despite the views of Central Park and the Hudson River, Gritty couldn't look away from the Bernie-ThunderBug battle, or ThunderBug's half-dressed attempt to look like the Statue of Liberty.

Gritty sits on the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building in New York City.
The rematch was broken up before a victor could be crowned when Bettman called and said he was short-staffed in the office. All the mascots then headed over to the NHL headquarters.

Commissioner Bettman and the mascots talk work at the NHL office in New York City
Some mascots scattered, taking themselves on a self-tour of the office. Other mascots waited for Commissioner Bettman in the lobby. When the he appeared, he tried to hand out assignments, but the mascots fought over who'd be his right-hand man.
After trying to explain how the NHL doesn't need multiple assistants at one desk, Commissioner Bettman got back to his League duties and let the mascots decide.

Photos By: Lauren Merola