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Calgary Teddy Bear Toss is the joy you’re looking for (Video)

Greg Wyshynski
WHL
WHL

The Teddy Bear Toss has become hockey’s greatest holiday season tradition, as fans bring toys to the arena and hurl them onto the ice when the home team scores its first goal. Which is a nice change from when the road team scores the last goal, and the fans hurl their half-empty beers and profanity onto the ice.

While many teams hold teddy bear tosses, in which the toys are collected and handed out to families in need, the grandest plush-projectile celebration remains that of the WHL Calgary Hitmen. In 2014, fans at the Saddledome and tossed 25,214 cuddly toys onto the ice. In 2015, fans sold out the Saddledome and threw 28,815 toys on the ice, a new record.

Now, witness the awesomeness of this year’s Teddy Bear Toss, as Michael Zipp scored the goal that triggered the mayhem with 13 seconds left in the first period against Lethbridge.

Here’s a fan’s eye view of the moment:

And another view, from the lower bowl:

And here’s a look at the haul:

WHL
WHL

The final tally for this year’s Teddy Bear Toss, according to the Hitmen: 23,924! Not a record, but still a rather impressive haul for a bunch of hockey fans lugging “Teddy Confetti” to the game.

And besides, it’s not about the numbers. Heck, Calgary lost the game. No, it’s about … this:

During The Brick Teddy Bear Toss 2016 at the Scotiabank Saddledome, players wore special red-themed teddy bear jerseys and red helmets that fans can now bid on in support of Children’s Miracle Network.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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