Bears fly for the Teddy Bear Toss

For anyone who hasn’t seen this before, this is a Teddy Bear Toss.

After the home team’s first goal, fans throw stuffed animals onto the ice. The game pauses, crews clear the surface, and every toy is donated to children’s hospitals, charities, and families in need.

Yes, it delays the game.

Yes, it makes a mess.

And yes, it’s still one of the best things sports fans do every year.

Where did it start?

The tradition began in 1993 in Canada with a junior hockey team and quickly spread across leagues and countries as one of sports’ most unique charity moments.

Fun stat:

The all-time record stands at 74,599 stuffed animals collected in a single game.