Harvey the Hound in the running for Best NHL Mascot in USA Today Sports Readers Choice Awards

Calgary Flames' mascot Harvey the Hound tries to spur on the team during third period NHL hockey action against the Colorado Avalanche in Calgary, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. The Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 3-2.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

A fan vote is on to find out the most popular mascot in the NHL.

The Calgary Flames’ Harvey the Hound is one of 20 mascots up for the honour in USA Today’s Sports Readers Choice Awards for Best NHL Mascot.

Harvey, the league’s first mascot, is described as being able to get the fans riled up, and getting under people’s skin.

That might be a reference to the night in January, 2003, against the Oilers, when Harvey riled up a Saddledome crowd so effectively that head coach Craig MacTavish ripped Harvey’s fabric tongue right out of his mouth.

For more information about other hockey categories and to cast a ballot for Harvey, go here.