Photo: Joe Noyes/NoVa Caps
It’s one of the greatest traditions in all of hockey. The Hershey Bears annual Teddy Bear Toss game. It’s rumored the players have a bet and/or pool of money for the one who pots the toy-tossing tally, but regardless, it’s a tremendous honor for any player to score the frenzy-igniting goal.
This year’s event was held on Sunday against the Bridgeport Islanders. Unfortunately, the Islanders blanked the Bears, 2-0. Bridgeport goaltender Jakub Skarek made 39 saves to silence a Bears offense in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,583.
As a result of the shutout, the Bears faced something they hadn’t faced before in the history of the event. No teddy-tossing goal. In fact, the toss has never advanced to the third period, with goals being scored five times in the second period, and the rest being scored in the first period of play. Liam O’Brien scored the latest goal in the event’s history in 2017, initiating the toy toss at 13:27 of the second period.
An announcement was made to the crowd at Giant Center with 3:06 remaining in regulation, asking fans to refrain from throwing teddy bears until after the game. The announcement was met with a steady stream of boos from the Giant Center faithful.
Later, following a stoppage in play, with just five seconds remaining in regulation, fans decided to begin tossing their plush animals.
Bears fans decide enough is enough and start the Teddy Bear toss on their own. Bears losing 2-0 with 5 seconds remaining in regulation. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/B8aInxCrc4
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 29, 2023
The Bears reportedly contacted the league office and the final five seconds of the game were ultimately erased, thus ending the contest. Bears’ defenseman Vinny Iorio had a message for the fans following the game:
A message to Bear Nation from defenseman Vincent Iorio. pic.twitter.com/oGYTTufUw4
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 30, 2023
In the end, it was another record-setting night in Hershey, as the team announced Sunday evening that they had collected 67,309 teddy bears, a new world record. Hershey set the old world record last season with the 20th anniversary toss. accumulating 52,341 bears;
At the end of the day, the children of our community are the true winners. #TeddyBearTossHershey has once again established a new WORLD RECORD of 67,309 teddy bears collected for over 35 local charities. THANK YOU for your generosity! #HersheyBearsCares pic.twitter.com/fPwgU8nnM6
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 30, 2023
The Bears have conducted the much-anticipated event since 2001, collecting over 300,000 stuffed animals as part of the club’s Hershey Bears Cares initiative, which “showcases the philanthropic activities and volunteer efforts of Bears players and staff members throughout the community.”
Teddy bears and stuffed animals are collected annually by the Hershey Bears and their fans and donated to more than 35 local organizations including Dauphin County Children and Youth Services, Cocoa Packs, Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg, Palmer Lions Club, and Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area.”
Scenes From Hershey:
Della Young/NoVa Caps
Photos: Joe Noyes/NoVa Caps
By Michael Fleetwood