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CLEVELAND — As of tonight, Cleveland Monsters hockey is officially back in action.
That’s right, Northeast Ohio — while most of you are busy wasting your Sundays watching the Browns inevitably break your heart or more understandably cheering on our undeniably lovable Guards or Cavs (who, let’s be honest, have also been breaking our hearts for far too long…), there’s another sports team in town that just doesn’t get enough love from Cleveland fans.
In case you’re not in the know, the Monsters are Cleveland’s beloved AHL affiliate to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. They debuted in 2006 as the Lake Erie Monsters before embracing the “CLE” in 2016 — and it didn’t take long for the city to rally around its new team.
For those of you who haven’t yet discovered the joy of supporting this crew, don’t worry — I’ve got you covered.
Let’s start with this: The Monsters actually brought home the Calder Cup back in 2016, defeating the Hershey Bears in overtime. And yes, it was as sweet as it sounds.
Another thing to love? Their mascot. I’ll say it — Sully is the best mascot in the league, and it’s not even close.
Officially known as Sullivan C. Goal, he can be seen hyping up fans at every home game. Admittedly, the AHL mascot bar isn’t that high: Coco from Hershey couldn’t be less intimidating, Gulliver from the San Diego Gulls looks like Sully’s scuzzy cousin, and Belly from the Belleville Senators… honestly, I still can’t tell what that thing is supposed to be.
But Sully? He’s the real deal.
The return of the Monsters also means the return of one of the best rallying cries in sports: “Fear the Depths.” You’ll hear it echo through Rocket Arena all season long — and maybe even a little too often from me.
And it’s not just the players or the mascot that make this team special — it’s the fans. The Monsters have led the AHL in attendance over the last couple of years, and once you go to a game, it’s easy to see why. Between the high-energy atmosphere, the intermission games (yes, even hockey tic-tac-toe), and the electric sense of Cleveland pride, this is one team that knows how to keep things fun.
Hockey’s back in Cleveland, folks. Time to “Fear the Depths.”