The San Diego Gulls will conduct a teddy bear toss at Saturday evening’s game against the Stockton Heat at Valley View Casino Center.
Fans are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear to the game and toss it onto the ice when the Gulls score their first goal.
All bears will be donated to the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital.
Upon entry to the arena, all bears must be wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Bears can be wrapped for free during the pregame tailgate party or at any merchandise stand.
Gulls teddy bears will be available for $20 each at all merchandise stands.
There were 16,520 stuffed animals tossed to the ice during last season’s teddy bear toss and 15,174 in 2015 during the Gulls inaugural season in the American Hockey League.
Both of the Gulls teddy bear tosses have not gone according to plan.
Gulls fans proved to be premature in their toss in 2015. Fans tossed bears after Michael Sgarbossa put the puck into the net as the first period neared its end. However, after video review, it was determined the puck crossed the goal line after time expired, nullifying the goal.
Other fans waited and tossed teddy bears onto the ice after Shea Theodore scored the Gulls’ first goal in a 3-2 overtime victory over the San Jose Barracuda.
The Gulls were held scoreless in last year’s teddy bear toss game until there were 20 seconds left to play, so the toss was held during the third period’s second media timeout with 9:26 remaining.
Teddy bear tosses are Christmas season staples in minor league and junior hockey.
The Kamloops (British Columbia) Blazers of the Western Hockey League are credited with being the first team to hold a teddy bear toss, during the 1993-94 season. The WHL’s Calgary (Alberta) Hitmen claimed a record when 28,815 bears hit the ice at their Dec. 6, 2015 game.
—City News Service
