Hitmen continue strong Teddy Bear Toss tradition
Wednesday December 10, 2014
With the don of December comes Teddy Bear Toss season across the Canadian Hockey League. A home goal triggers a flood of critters large and small making their long descent to the ice surface in one of junior hockey’s most anticipated nights of the year, all for a good cause.
The Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen have a long standing tradition, with their annual Teddy Bear Toss festivities dating back to their inaugural season in 1995. Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Radel Fazleev pulled the trigger on the goal that sent 25,214 stuffed animals airborne just 1:38 into action on Sunday in Calgary. The figure of 25,214 is the third-highest total collected in Hitmen history, falling just 1,705 short of the world record of 26,919 they set in 2007. The Hitmen took the opportunity to distribute some of the teddy bears to children on Monday.
Over the 20 year span of the event in Calgary, the Hitmen have collected a grand total of 270,604 stuffed animals and have won 15 of their 20 Teddy Bear Toss games. Oddly enough, Fazleev’s goal marks the third straight season a Hitmen CHL Import Draft selection has launched the bears as Ukrainian forward Pavel Padakin, now of the Regina Pats, did so in both 2012 and 2013.
Three hours north, the Edmonton Oil Kings put forth a strong Teddy Bear Toss showing of their own on Saturday, setting a new franchise record. Still sporting the moustache that guided him to an impressive Movember campaign, Andrew Koep got the fur flying just 51 seconds into the first period as 11,492 stuffed animals rained down at Rexall Place.
Elsewhere in the CHL, strong Teddy Bear Toss traditions continue in Portland as the Winterhawks collected 10,578 stuffed animals on draft eligible forward Paul Bittner’s goal just 2:59 into action.
The Kitchener Rangers have led the way in Ontario, collecting a franchise record 9,882 plush pals on Tuesday night as captain Liam Maaskant lit the lamp against his old Erie Otters mates just 1:12 into the game.
Just two days earlier in London, Knights’ forward and Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak netted the Teddy Bear Toss goal at Budweiser Gardens sending 9,077 stuffed animals to the ice at the 8:15 mark of the first period in a big 5-4 overtime win over the North Bay Battalion.
The Teddy Bear Toss festivities continue across the CHL this weekend, as hockey fans across the country continue to demonstrate their charitable generosity in rinks large and small.