Bakersfield Condors Continue Minor League Hockey's Teddy Bear Toss Tradition

Bakersfield Condors Continue Minor League Hockey’s Teddy Bear Toss Tradition

by Jonathan Hardacker on Sat, Dec 3, 2011 at 8:28PM

In Detroit, they throw octopi. Across minor league hockey, they throw teddy bears.

Thousands of stuffed animals rain down on the ice as a part of the Teddy Bear toss tradition, and are then donated to a local charity.

The holiday tradition was started 13 seasons ago by the ECHL Bakersfield Condors. Once the puck drops, fans wait for a player on the hometown team to score the first goal and then they let the teddy bears fly. And best of all, there are no delay of game penalties resulting from the barrage.

Last year in Calgary, the WHL's Calgary Hitmen hosted one of the most successful Teddy Bear Tosses to date. In all, 23,096 bears found their way to the ice, resulting in a 40-minute stoppage to clean up the lucky charities' spoils.

With a stick tap to Puck Daddy, check out the video below for a taste of this season's Toss from Bakersfield.