Thousands of stuffed toys cascade onto the ice at the Saddledome
Fans tossed thousands of stuffed toys onto the ice in the second period of the Hitmen game for the annual Teddy Bear Toss Saturday.
The Calgary Hitmen were down 2-0 in the second against the Lethbridge Hurricanes when a goal from forward Cael Zimmerman triggered the teddy downpour.
According to the team, there were 15,324 toys tossed onto the ice by fans. Over 50 local agencies, including the Alberta Children’s Hospital, will share the donations.
“For 27 seasons our fans have backed this incredible charitable cause and we would once again like to thank them for their tremendous support,” said Hitmen Manager of Business Operations Rob Kerr. “This game has become a holiday tradition and the bears collected today will have a significant impact in our local community.”
There have been 417,932 bears and toys donated to the community since the tradition began in 1995, added the team.
The Hitmen also wore special teddy bear jerseys for the game which will be auctioned off between Dec. 8 and 15.
The Hitmen did lose the game in overtime, but they ended up with a win for charity.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.