Teddy bear toss
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A Teddy bear toss is a popular Christmas season promotion at many minor and junior hockey arenas throughout North America. Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears to the game, and to throw them onto the ice when the home team scores its first goal. The toys are then gathered up to be donated as Christmas presents to hospitals and charities. In many cases, the players themselves personally donate some of the bears to children at area hospitals. The tradition is said to have started in Kitchener, Ontario at Kitchener Rangers games.
Perhaps the most successful example of the 'Bear Toss' is the Calgary Hitmen's annual toss game, which they bill as "the worlds largest teddy bear toss." On December 04, 2005, Hitmen fans broke their own CHL record when [13,650] bears were thrown onto the ice after Brodie Dupont scored midway through the first period.
This years event was also a major success in Portland, where Winter Hawk fans threw [10,742] bears onto the ice when Brandon Dubinsky scored the Hawks first goal. Including corporate donations, the Winterhawks sent [21,067] bears to area charities.
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