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The fur flew Friday outside Rogers Place, as local sports mascots tried to take the (mechanical) bull by the horns.
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At the end of the friendly, fluffy competition, the Oil Kings’ Louie showed the lion is also the king of the rodeo.
Five of Edmonton’s mascots competed in the mechanical bull riding competition ahead of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada National Finals this weekend. Louie was joined by the Edmonton Oilers’ Hunter, Punter and Spike of the Edmonton Elks and Stinger, the mascot for the city’s Canadian Elite Basketball League team.
“They were very entertaining, and all gave a good effort,” said Zane Lambert, a professional bull rider from Ponoka, Alta. who hosted the event. “They got on a mechanical bull and had a fun little competition. Louie ended up winning it for the Oil Kings and it was just a fun afternoon.”
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Lambert said Hunter was a close second in the competition but all five could use some more practice.
“I think they got a lot of work to do, but they definitely entertained me,” Lambert said with a laugh.

PBR Canada National Finals at Rogers Place this weekend
Lambert was the PBR Canada champion in 2013 and 2017 and is competing for his third title this weekend. He added that he’s excited to compete at home in front of an Alberta crowd.
“It feels great. We’ve been to Rogers Place once before for a Global Cup and we had a lot of fun here that year,” said Lambert. “It was just a great crowd and looking forward to the same kind of atmosphere and crowd coming this year.”
Lambert said the best bulls and the best 25 riders from across Canada will be in action competing in the event which he says is the highest quality of production the PBR can have.
The PBR Canada National Finals are at Rogers Place starting at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.