The Ottawa Senators and their fans are taking their love for the "Sickos" meme to a new level.
While no spectators are currently allowed to attend Senators home games, the team started accepting cutout submissions earlier this week, according to NHL.com's Pat Pickens. Fans seized on the opportunity.
SENS SICKO that will fit the SENS cardboard cutout template...
— Andrew King (@twitandrewking) March 10, 2021
Feel free to download and upload...! Enjoy! Not sure how I can get everyone a hi-res version, but here it is.
Happy to send you the hi-res version @Senators
Have fun Ottawa Sickos! #SensSickos pic.twitter.com/ecAbne5hjv
Hey #Sens fans, we spoke to @KartoonistKelly, the creator of the original art that inspired #senssickos and he’s loving what you’re doing with it and the fact that it’s helping a great cause @CanadasLifeline #teamwork #rallycry
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 13, 2021
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: https://t.co/V1SlSofP26 pic.twitter.com/8J6xjoaqQo
The team's official customizable cutouts cost about $75 each, and one of the three templates is inspired by the meme.
Twitter user @brochenski is credited with starting the "Sens Sickos" movement, having shared memes incorporating the popular cartoon for more than a year, according to The Athletic's Ian Mendes.
The original "Sickos" image comes from a drawing by Ward Sutton, a.k.a. Stan Kelly. It was published in The Onion in 2015 and has since gained widespread appeal online.
Senators fans adopted the meme in February 2020 as many rooted for the lottery-bound team to lose. It's taken on new life this season, particularly after Ottawa's stunning comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 15 and the Montreal Canadiens' firing of head coach Claude Julien following consecutive losses to the Senators later in the month.
