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Home / Sport

Ice hockey's teddy bear toss tradition in full swing

By Cheree Kinnear
NZ Herald·
11 Dec, 2017 08:13 PM2 mins to read

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The stuffed animals from the 'Teddy Bear Toss' are collected and donated to the Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. Source: KHQ-TV
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Labelled among the best and cutest of ice hockey traditions, the Teddy Bear Toss sees spectators throw thousands of stuffed toys onto the ice.

The tradition was invented by major Canadian hockey team, the Kamloops Blazers, and has since become popularised by many junior and college hockey teams.

Canadian major junior ice hockey team, the Calgary Hitmen, have made the custom an annual December tradition titling it the Calvary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss, where after the home team scores their first goal fans throw the bears onto the ice in celebration.

Since the annual tradition begun 23 seasons ago, the Calgary Hitmen have donated 347,948 stuffed toys to local hospitals and charity groups.

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In 2015 the Hitmen set a new World Record of 28,815 teddy bears thrown and collected in one game.

Over the weekend Hitmen fans showered the ice with 24,605 stuffed animals benefiting 60 local agencies and charities.

We were busy loading up getting ready for our hospital visit đŸ» pic.twitter.com/M2ysW3C0zB

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) December 11, 2017

After another successful @TheBrick Teddy Bear Toss, this is what it’s all about! We are at the @ACHFKids ready to give these Brickley Bears a new home! pic.twitter.com/tRT5iMyS3U

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) December 11, 2017

An extra intermission was added to the match after the game had to be stopped for 35 minutes in order to collect all the toys.

The tradition has spawned some incredible moments in college hockey with leagues like AHL and NCAA holding their won Teddy Bear Toss nights benefiting various charities.

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There's always that one guy who has to take it a step further. Even at a teddy bear toss. pic.twitter.com/qGv8biQheL

— Andrew Zadarnowski (@AZadarski) December 3, 2017
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