The Calgary Hitmen’s annual Teddy Bear Toss has become a beloved tradition at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Since the event’s inception in 1995, the team has collected almost half a million stuffed animals for distribution to kids in the community, including patients at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Article content
Of the 457,163 total teddy bears and other stuffies, more than 21,000 of them hit the Dome ice on Sunday, when Calgary Hitmen forward London Hoilett scored just a little over nine minutes into the game against the Prince Albert Raiders.
Here’s a look at some other memorable moments tied to the Calgary Hitmen’s Teddy Bear Toss over the years, as captured by our photographers.
Calgary Hitmen London Hoilett was also the hero last year, scoring on Moose Jaw Warriors goalie Jackson Unger to unleash the teddy bears during the Calgary Hitmen’s 27th annual Enmax Teddy Bear Toss at the Scotiabank Saddledome on December 4, 2022.Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia file Calgary Hitmen smile after Cael Zimmerman scored the first goal against the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game in Calgary on December 4, 2021.Gavin Young/Postmedia file Calgary Hitmen Carson Focht helps gather up the teddy bears after scoring during the Teddy Bear Toss game against Red Deer Rebels at the Saddledome on Sunday, December 1, 2019. Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia CalgaryAzin Ghaffari/Postmedia file Calgary Hitmen forward Kaden Elder hands out teddy bears to kids at the Alberta Children’s Hospital on December 10, 2018. Hitmen players distributed some of the thousands of bears collected at Sunday’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game.Gavin Young/Postmedia file Fur flies from the stands after Calgary Hitmen Vladislav Yeryomenko scores on Moose Jaw Warriors goalie Adam Evanoff to kick off the 23rd Teddy Bear Toss at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday, December 10, 2017.Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia file Layne Bensmiller, left, and Radel Fazleev of the Calgary Hitmen dive into a pile of stuffed toys during the 21st annual Teddy Bear Toss at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015.Lyle Aspinall/Postmedia file Pavlo Padakin flies into a pile of stuffed toys after he scored the first Calgary Hitmen goal of the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers in the annual Teddy Bear Toss at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 1, 2013.Mike Drew/Postmedia file