Arnold
Arnold the Armadillo
In 2024, a curious armadillo named Arnold rolled his way from his home in Northern Virginia to Evansville, Indiana with Virginia Ice Theatre. He arrived tucked into a suitcase, popped out in a hotel room, and immediately began his first team adventure!
Arnold found out that he loves cheese pizza! Between practices, Arnold danced in hotel lobbies, “skated” across shiny floors, and struck dramatic ending poses with the skaters. He loved exploring Evansville—wandering along the Ohio River, posing in parks, and peeking into every coffee shop that would let him visit.
From the stands in Evansville, Arnold became one of Virginia Ice Theatre’s most enthusiastic fans. Tucked into a skater’s lap, he watched other teams perform with wide, glittery eyes, tapping his tiny feet to the music. Whenever a big moment hit the ice, Arnold bounced along, dancing in the bleachers with the VIT families, wiggling his shell in rhythm like he was part of the choreography. Between numbers, he sipped proudly from tiny cans of brightly flavored cans of water as if he were a seasoned competition spectator who knew exactly how to stay hydrated in style.
By the end of the trip, Arnold chose VIT as his family. When they returned home, he moved into Jesse’s room in Northern Virginia, where he now keeps watch over skating medals, costumes, and late-night snack stashes.
Now, wherever VIT travels, Arnold goes too....
As the pizza-loving, dancing, shell-shining unofficially official mascot of Virginia Ice Theatre.
