REGINA - One of the most popular games of the year for hockey fans — and for stuffed animals for that matter — takes place tonight at Brandt Centre.
It is the annual Teddy Bear Toss game between the Regina Pats and the Moose Jaw Warriors. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. at Brandt Centre and fans are encouraged to get to the arena in plenty of time, so they don’t miss any early goals that could cause bears to rain down onto the ice.
Fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal to the game ready to toss onto the ice as soon as the Pats score their first goal. Those will be collected and donated to the Salvation Army and local charities for distribution around Regina. There will also be a limited number of stuffed animals available in the concourse or for purchase at the Pats Store if you don’t have one to bring.
The Teddy Bear Toss is a Western Hockey League tradition. It’s unclear when the first Teddy Bear Toss game took place but most accounts point to the game Dec. 5, 1993 hosted by the Kamloops Blazers.
Since then it has spread throughout the rest of the Western Hockey League and hockey world.
The Regina Pats held their first Teddy Bear Toss game on Dec 11, 1996 with Derek Morris scoring the club’s first ever Toss goal against Moose Jaw. Saturday night will mark their 28th Teddy Bear Toss game.
The Pats go into this game on a four-game Teddy Bear Toss win streak. Sam Oremba scored the Teddy Bear Toss goal against Swift Current last year while Tanner Howe scored the goal the previous two years. This year, a brand-new Pats player has an opportunity to add his name to that list of goal scorers.
“It’s a really exciting time. To me, it’s my favourite game of the entire year,” said the Pats’ Manager of Broadcast and Hockey Communications Dante De Caria. He says the club has a goal of collecting 3,500 stuffed animals this year, topping the around 3,000 that got tossed last year.
“We need all the help we can get from the community to make this goal happen,” said De Caria.
De Caria said that when he first got the opportunity to broadcast a Teddy Bear Toss game, he “brought 10 different stuff toys (and) threw them from the broadcast booth under the ice.”
“We’re going to be doing the exact same thing on Saturday when the Pats score their first goal.”
Most heartwarming is what takes place long after the game as the stuffed animals are distributed across Regina and wind up under the Christmas tree for kids in need.
De Caria recounts that last year the Pats players went to one of the local hospitals and delivered stuff bears straight to kids’ hands while they were going through what was a trying time for them during the holidays.
“I know the players were quite emotional coming out of that. Unfortunately, this year we won’t be able to do that because the players are heading out on their Christmas break starting on Sunday, but just really excited to see those stuffed toys get into peoples’ hands that need them.”
"We are incredibly excited to host the annual Teddy Bear Toss on December 14," said Regina Pats CEO Gord Pritchard in a statement.
"This game has become a beloved tradition for our fans and the community. Every year, it’s heartwarming to see the generosity and spirit of the Regina Pats supporters as they help bring joy to children in need. We’re proud to continue this tradition and make a positive impact, both on and off the ice. We can’t wait to see you this Saturday, and make it rain bears at the Brandt Centre."
Tickets for the Teddy Bear Toss game are available on Ticketmaster or at the Brandt Centre box office, or the Pats’ business office at 1463 Albert Street. For those unable to attend live, you can tune in to the live audio stream or the radio broadcast tonight on 620 CKRM.
