The 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Organisation Committee has released the new mascot visual.
The new official mascot will be a traditional Slovak animal – a bear. The fans can vote for the name through the official Facebook profile.
The new official mascot for the 2019 WM, from May 10 to May 26 in Bratislava and Košice, will be a traditional Slovak animal. The 2011 mascot Goooly the Wolf who was entertaining fans at the Championship in 2011 is going to be replaced with a bear. “We believe that the ice hockey teddy will bring good luck to our team, as well as to other teams, and at the same time win the hearts of fans from all over the world,” said the OC Chairman Igor Nemeček.
The team composed of designers, idea makers and an illustrator was working on the new mascot. The creative process lasted several months and had various phases. “At first we had to find a suitable symbol, then suitable visual appearance, which had to fulfil production and communication criteria. Finally we have completed the artistic performance,” said the creative director Juraj Dvorecký from the agency Wiktor Leo Burnett, who was working on the bear’s appearance. “The final mascot won among three proposals, all of them were really strong candidates. We were deciding among ram, wolf, and bear.”
The mascot wears hockey equipment and accessories inspired by Slovak folklore. Shepherd’s belt and hat make him a real Slovak man ready to face challenges. His ice hockey body posture is complemented by poses from Slovak folklore dances, which supports his national character.
“A Bear as a mascot representing Slovakia symbolizes strength, bravery, and fighting spirit. At the same time it is a typical animal from our nature, and has an important position in Slovak folklore. These are the reasons why the bear is the natural successor of Goooly the Wolf. Last but not least, it also symbolizes the desire to regain the strength of Slovak ice hockey. There is a reason for the saying ‘strong as a bear‘,” explains the Head of Media and Communication Michaela Grendelová.
The name of the new mascot will be decided by the fans at the official Facebook profile of the Championship. The direct link to the voting post is here.
“The fans were deciding about the mascot also eight years ago. Back then we received 14 504 different name proposals,” said Michaela Grendelová.
The name of the new mascot will be known to the public on August 27, 2018. The Facebook competition will have two rounds - during the first week fans can submit their suggestions for a mascot name. Subsequently, the OC selects the two most interesting and the most appropriate names that the fans will vote on. The author of the winning name and one of the drawn voters will receive interesting prizes with the World Championship logo.
Originally it was supposed to be Goooly the Wolf in the hockey jersey that would entertain the fans in Slovakia during the 83rd World Championship.
“This mascot was extremely popular in 2011, and had positive feedbacks also later. Slovak Ice Hockey Federation used Goooly at different events where there were children. We were thinking about changing only his jersey to the current logo, but then we thought to bring something new. We will let Goooly the Wolf take a rest,” adds Grendelová.
The new official mascot will be a traditional Slovak animal – a bear. The fans can vote for the name through the official Facebook profile.
The new official mascot for the 2019 WM, from May 10 to May 26 in Bratislava and Košice, will be a traditional Slovak animal. The 2011 mascot Goooly the Wolf who was entertaining fans at the Championship in 2011 is going to be replaced with a bear. “We believe that the ice hockey teddy will bring good luck to our team, as well as to other teams, and at the same time win the hearts of fans from all over the world,” said the OC Chairman Igor Nemeček.
The team composed of designers, idea makers and an illustrator was working on the new mascot. The creative process lasted several months and had various phases. “At first we had to find a suitable symbol, then suitable visual appearance, which had to fulfil production and communication criteria. Finally we have completed the artistic performance,” said the creative director Juraj Dvorecký from the agency Wiktor Leo Burnett, who was working on the bear’s appearance. “The final mascot won among three proposals, all of them were really strong candidates. We were deciding among ram, wolf, and bear.”
The mascot wears hockey equipment and accessories inspired by Slovak folklore. Shepherd’s belt and hat make him a real Slovak man ready to face challenges. His ice hockey body posture is complemented by poses from Slovak folklore dances, which supports his national character.
“A Bear as a mascot representing Slovakia symbolizes strength, bravery, and fighting spirit. At the same time it is a typical animal from our nature, and has an important position in Slovak folklore. These are the reasons why the bear is the natural successor of Goooly the Wolf. Last but not least, it also symbolizes the desire to regain the strength of Slovak ice hockey. There is a reason for the saying ‘strong as a bear‘,” explains the Head of Media and Communication Michaela Grendelová.
The name of the new mascot will be decided by the fans at the official Facebook profile of the Championship. The direct link to the voting post is here.
“The fans were deciding about the mascot also eight years ago. Back then we received 14 504 different name proposals,” said Michaela Grendelová.
The name of the new mascot will be known to the public on August 27, 2018. The Facebook competition will have two rounds - during the first week fans can submit their suggestions for a mascot name. Subsequently, the OC selects the two most interesting and the most appropriate names that the fans will vote on. The author of the winning name and one of the drawn voters will receive interesting prizes with the World Championship logo.
Originally it was supposed to be Goooly the Wolf in the hockey jersey that would entertain the fans in Slovakia during the 83rd World Championship.
“This mascot was extremely popular in 2011, and had positive feedbacks also later. Slovak Ice Hockey Federation used Goooly at different events where there were children. We were thinking about changing only his jersey to the current logo, but then we thought to bring something new. We will let Goooly the Wolf take a rest,” adds Grendelová.
The new mascot is here!
The mascot of the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Slovakia will be a bear!