Next year, when the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be co-hosted by Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia, the official mascot of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be Spiky.
The hedgehog was the main face of the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship which took place in Riga, Latvia. Unfortunately this tournament was held under strict COVID-19 restrictions and hockey fans did not get a chance to meet and greet Spiky. Miracleo, the mascot of the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, became the favourite of the Tampere and Helsinki spectators last year.
Tampere and Riga won with their bid to host the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship few months ago on 28 May. Both organizing committees had a very intensive work schedule, so decisions had to be made quickly and thoughtfully. The organizing committees of both countries have so far been able to find a great common language. A proof of that is the comeback of Spiky.
"We are pleased that Spiky will be introduced to a wider hockey audience. Unfortunately due to strict restrictions of the 2021 IIHF WM we did not succeed to do this. Hedgehog Spiky is great solution and hockey fans will love him! I would like to express my gratitude to my Finnish colleagues, with whom we reached this decision quickly and professionally," LOC Riga manager Edgars Buncis.
The hedgehog, one of the most common animals in the world, is associated with being very smart and quick-witted. Everyone can envy the speed of its reaction. And even though the animal is not big at all, it always fights to the end, using not only spines, but also its sharp teeth.
The hedgehog was the main face of the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship which took place in Riga, Latvia. Unfortunately this tournament was held under strict COVID-19 restrictions and hockey fans did not get a chance to meet and greet Spiky. Miracleo, the mascot of the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, became the favourite of the Tampere and Helsinki spectators last year.
Tampere and Riga won with their bid to host the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship few months ago on 28 May. Both organizing committees had a very intensive work schedule, so decisions had to be made quickly and thoughtfully. The organizing committees of both countries have so far been able to find a great common language. A proof of that is the comeback of Spiky.
"We are pleased that Spiky will be introduced to a wider hockey audience. Unfortunately due to strict restrictions of the 2021 IIHF WM we did not succeed to do this. Hedgehog Spiky is great solution and hockey fans will love him! I would like to express my gratitude to my Finnish colleagues, with whom we reached this decision quickly and professionally," LOC Riga manager Edgars Buncis.
The hedgehog, one of the most common animals in the world, is associated with being very smart and quick-witted. Everyone can envy the speed of its reaction. And even though the animal is not big at all, it always fights to the end, using not only spines, but also its sharp teeth.