Rangers Host 18th Annual Teddy Bear Toss on December 4

The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club will hold its 18th Annual Teddy Bear Toss Game on Tuesday, December 4th. The team will host the Guelph Storm at 7:00 pm and fans attending the game are invited to bring a new or gently-used teddy bear with them to the rink. Immediately following the Rangers’ first goal, the crowd can throw their plush animals onto the ice surface, where they will be collected and distributed to local charitable organizations, just in time for the holidays.

Zellers will be on hand in the North Concourse to sell bears during the game. All proceeds from the sales benefit Cystic Fibrosis and their other charities.

This year marks the 18th season that the ice at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium will be filled with the feel-good childhood toys. Last December, Zach Lorentz scored the Teddy Bear goal at the 7:54 mark of the first period in the Rangers’ victory over the London Knights. Rangers Nation outdid itself in 2011, sending a record 7,762 cuddly stuffed animals sailing to ice level, bringing joy to children across the  Waterloo Region.

Over the past 17 years, Rangers fans have generously donated an incredible 82,757 bears for local charitable groups.

Groups interested in the teddy bears can download a recipient form by CLICKING HERE. Groups may then fax their completed form to 519-576-7571 or email them to Brad Sparkes at [email protected].

Past teddy bear goal scorers and bears collected:

1995-96- PAUL TRAYNOR (1,452)
1996-97- DARCY HARRIS (2,092)
1997-98- JEFF AMBROSIO (2,100)
1998-99- SERGE PAYER (3,896)
1999-00- MIKE MAZZUCA (4,265)
2000-01- STEVE EMINGER (4,305)
2001-02- JEFF SZWEZ (4,607)
2002-03- EVAN MCGRATH (5,051)
2003-04- JESSE BOUCHER (5,069)
2004-05- MIKE DUCO (5,096)
2005-06- YVES BASTIEN (5,472)
2006-07- KEVIN HENDERSON (5,666)
2007-08- JUSTIN AZEVEDO (6,013)
2008-09-JASON AKESON (6,528)
2009-10- JASON AKESON (6,831)
2010-11 – MATT TIPOFF (6,952)
2011-12 – ZACH LORENTZ (7,762)