Junior Sabres Get In On The Teddy Bear Toss Phenomenon

The teddy bear toss. A hockey tradition said to have begun at Kitchener Rangers games (source: Wikipedia. Don’t hate if I’m wrong). The home team scores and the fans throw thousands upon thousands of teddy bears onto the ice, which are collected and donated to needy kids for Christmas. It’s pure spectacle and it’s ridiculously heart-warming. This year, the Buffalo Jr. Sabres get into the act.

From the press release:

The Buffalo Junior Sabres will host a “Teddy Bear Toss” during its home game against the Brampton Capitals on Monday, December 19 at the Northtown Center at Amherst, 1615 Amherst Manor Drive (between Maple and Millersport). The game begins at 7:30pm.

Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped teddy bear to the game. When the Jr. Sabres score their first goal, fans are invited to celebrate by tossing the teddy bears on the ice. Bears thrown to the ice will be collected for distribution to local needy families by the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association. Every year, the Buffalo Sabres Alumni collect and distribute items such as food and toys
to the less fortunate. Operated by the Alumni, the Jr. Sabres are eager to help bring some holiday cheer to local families in need and ask local hockey fans to consider taking part in this generous gesture.

If you’ve never seen a teddy bear toss before, here’s this year’s edition from the Calgary Hitmen. This toss saw over 25,000 – TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND – teddy bears hit the ice in the name of charity. Damn!

Head on over to the former Pepsi Center across the street from UB’s North Campus and get ready to fling a plushie when the Jr. Sabres put home their first of the night.