December 3, 2015
Calgary Hitman Keegan Kanzig ‘floats’ over a pile of teddy bears tossed to the ice after his team scored the game’s first goal, giving fans the nod to hurl their teddy bears onto the ice as gifts for sick kids. Played Dec 6 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, the game set a new record this year with 28,815 bears tossed.
Story by Kerri Robins; Photo courtesy of Brad Watson
The warmest, fuzziest blizzard you could ever imagine is boosting the spirits of sick kids across Alberta after thousands of cuddly stuffies took to the air at hockey rinks around the province recently for the annual Teddy Bear and Tuque Toss.
Thanks to a partnership between the Western Hockey League (WHL) and Petro-Canada, fans are encouraged fans to let the fur and tuques fly from the stands onto centre ice the moment the first goal is scored.
“Teddy Bear and Tuque Toss games during the holiday season have become one of the most highly-anticipated events for both WHL member clubs and our fans each year,” says WHL Commissioner Ron Robison.
“The WHL and our Member Clubs believe giving back to the community is extremely important and this tradition helps to lift spirits and give back at a time of year when it may matter most.”
In support of children’s hospitals throughout the province, this month the tradition marks its 21st anniversary.
Calgary fans at the Dec. 6 Saddledome match-up between the Calgary Hitmen and the Swift Current Broncos have already set a new world record of 28,815 teddys tossed — besting the previous record of 26,919 from the 2007 match-up between the Hitmen and the Prince George Cougars.
Adding to the record bounty, in Edmonton, 12,655 bears hit the ice as the Swift Current Broncos took on the Edmonton Oil Kings, while 3,320 bears and 546 tuques learned to fly in Lethbridge as the Red Deer Rebels faced off against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Here’s the schedule of this month’s Teddy Bear and Tuque Toss games:
