The Calgary Hitmen are set to play in the franchise’s 29th annual Enmax Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
With bear requests at an all-time high, the Western Hockey League team is calling on fans and the community to help fulfill the need.
“As an organization we make it our goal every year to meet the request for bears, which is almost at 30,000,” said Amy Bontorin, the Hitmen’s business operations manager. “We are calling on the community and hockey fans to come together to help us in our mission.”
The bears will be donated to more than 70 local agencies this holiday season. Fans are asked to bring a new or gently used small- or medium-sized stuffed toy to toss onto the ice when the Hitmen score their first goal against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Game time is 4 p.m.
The bears will then be stored overnight courtesy of Driving Force, which providing the Hitmen with two 26-foot trucks.
The Hitmen will be back at the Saddledome on Monday from 7-10 a.m. when organizations will come to collect their bears. The team will then head out to deliver bears in person to the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
The Hitmen are proud to partner with Enmax for another season.
“It’s heartwarming to see our community come together for the Teddy Bear Toss, a tradition that goes beyond the game,” said Enmax CEO and president Mark Poweska. “At Enmax, we’re committed to making our community better by supporting initiatives that bring people together and make a meaningful difference, like the Teddy Bear Toss. Thanks to the Calgary Hitmen, hockey fans and Enmax volunteers and their families for helping ensure the holiday season is brighter for thousands of families across Calgary.”
Tickets for the game are available at chl.ca/whl-hitmen.
The Teddy Boss Toss game will conclude a busy weekend for the Hitmen (11-7-3-1), who host the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday (6 p.m.) before hitting the road to face the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday (7 p.m.)