Once a year, Hershey Bears fans are requested to bring stuffed animals to a game and then “toss” them onto the ice after the Bear’s score their first goal. The stuffed animals are donated to local charities where they are given to children for the holidays. The Bear’s set a record, collecting 20,662 stuffed teddy bears.
The team hosted its annual Teddy Bear Toss event at the Giant Center on Sunday evening, as the Bears hosted the Syracuse Crunch. Garrett Mitchell’s first period goal launched this year’s toss:
6,400 of the 20,662 Bears came from the Mechanicsburg community. Way to go!! @MMS_principals #communitypride pic.twitter.com/JUi6bFw4ZE
— OldBarnBrock (@OldBarnBrock) December 5, 2016
The goal came with 4:58 remaining in the first period. The delay required to collect all of the stuffed animals forced an early first period intermission, and the second period was extended to 24:58 length of play.
The captain, Garrett Mitchell, makes it rain Bears in Hershey! pic.twitter.com/oLVA432tG5
— Beids (@juliebeidler) December 4, 2016
The Children’s Miracle Network, the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg and the National Guard are some of the local groups that benefit from the bears that are thrown onto the surface after Hershey’s first goal.
Kate Severs from Children’s Miracle Network was on hand for her second Teddy Bear Toss Night. She noted that last year’s total was a record of over 18,000 bears.
The @TheHersheyBears teddy bear toss was incredible to watch! Just awesome! #HBH #DefendTheDen @HersheyPA pic.twitter.com/DRoxgLsO1g
— Ali Lanyon (@AliLanyon) December 4, 2016
#TeddyBearToss #HersheyBears pic.twitter.com/h6IIkBxl6g
— Jamie (@JamieAnneD) December 4, 2016
Last season, the Bear’s went well beyond their donation goal by collecting over 18-thousand stuffed bears during the event.
NEW HERSHEY RECORD! 20,662 Teddy Bears! Thank you fans! #TeddyBearTossHersheypic.twitter.com/0K8Ayx3jti
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 4, 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNnMGYhgvOZ/?tagged=defendtheden&hl=en
Garrett Mitchell, the captain, fittingly scored the goal for Hershey with an unassisted goal at the 4:58 mark in the first period after the Bears had several opportunities earlier including a 5-on-3 power play, but they were unable to score until Mitchell’s heroics.
Mechanicsburg Middle School also donated over 6000 bears.
These bears weren’t tossed – Lewington, Williams, and Monardo dive into the pile – photo Julie Beidler
SCENES FROM HERSHEY
Well done Hershey Fans! #hbh #defendtheden pic.twitter.com/iXpl1MfQpY
— Sam Myers (@Fireguy15) December 4, 2016
The @TheHersheyBears teddy bear toss was incredible to watch! Just awesome! #HBH #DefendTheDen @HersheyPA pic.twitter.com/DRoxgLsO1g
— Ali Lanyon (@AliLanyon) December 4, 2016
THE big bear someone… or some people, are tossing tonight at @TheHersheyBears game #HBH #DefendTheDen #TeddyBearToss pic.twitter.com/FDTUwf6r85
— Scott Steudler (@PYLrulz) December 4, 2016
Aftermath of the teddy bear toss at the @TheHersheyBears game #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/dEe2Ywy6YY
— What(?) (@markynarc) December 4, 2016
Garrett Mitchell scores unassisted! What an amazing outpouring of generosity from Bears fans! Teddy bears still on the ice. #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/8xqZtKlWMj
— Memory D’Agostino (@MemRay) December 4, 2016
More teddy bear toss pics! @TheHersheyBears #hbh #defendtheden @HersheyPA pic.twitter.com/iQTt59tDYD
— Ali Lanyon (@AliLanyon) December 4, 2016
.@TheHersheyBears Teddy Bear Toss! So many Bears thrown onto the ice. Sec 105 was flooded in the front rows with animals. #hbh #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/nOVsFKFvzu
— Tracey Brewbaker (@bretra88) December 4, 2016
@TheHersheyBears #TeddyBearToss #DefendTheDen #HBHImLovinIt It rained stuffed animals in Hershey! 💖🐻🐻🐻💖 pic.twitter.com/RswNRZznZj
— Kaylene May (@froggychic16) December 4, 2016
The count is on! Thanks volunteers & fans for support of the Teddy Bear Toss! #TeddyBearTossHershey pic.twitter.com/hS5kaBift0
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 4, 2016
#TeddyBearTossHershey pic.twitter.com/Ayx6Sio3gJ
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 4, 2016
By Jon Sorensen
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