The annual Teddy Bear Toss at the Calgary Hitmen game was a huge success, with thousands of stuffed animals being thrown onto the ice by enthusiastic fans.
The event, which took place on Sunday, December 12th, saw a record-breaking 29,635 teddy bears being collected and donated to local charities. This surpassed last year’s total of 28,815 bears.
The tradition of the Teddy Bear Toss began in 1995 and has since become a beloved tradition for both fans and players. This year, the bears were thrown onto the ice after the Hitmen scored their first goal against the Swift Current Broncos.
The bears were then collected by volunteers and loaded onto trucks to be distributed to various organizations, including the Calgary Food Bank, the Salvation Army, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Hitmen captain, Cael Zimmerman, expressed his gratitude for the support from the fans and the impact the event has on the community. “It’s amazing to see the generosity of our fans and how much this event means to them,” he said.
The Teddy Bear Toss not only brings joy to those who receive the donated bears, but it also serves as a reminder of the true spirit of the holiday season – giving back to those in need.
The Hitmen organization has been hosting the Teddy Bear Toss for 26 years and has collected over 400,000 bears in total. This year’s event was made even more special as it marked the return of fans to the Saddledome after a year of games being played without spectators due to the pandemic.
The success of the Teddy Bear Toss is a testament to the generosity and kindness of the Calgary community. It is heartwarming to see the impact that a simple stuffed animal can have on those in need.
The Hitmen organization and their fans have once again shown that sports can bring people together for a greater cause. The Teddy Bear Toss will continue to be a cherished tradition in Calgary for years to come.
