The Calgary Hitmen held its 18th annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday in a 4-1 win over the Kootenay Ice.
A roaring 16,912 fans threw 21,453 stuffed toys onto the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“It’s unreal. Before the game, all the guys were thinking about who was going to score the goal. Everybody wants to score this goal,” Pavlo Padakin told the team’s website. Padakin triggered the furry frenzy with his goal 13:27 into the first period.
“I saw each of the teddy bear goals on YouTube when the Calgary Hitmen drafted me this year,” Padakin said smiling. “I just never thought I’d score that goal.”
Calgary now holds an 8-3-0-0 record in the annual event.
The bears have been donated to over 50 local agencies including Alberta Children’s Hospital, Stephen’s Backpacks, Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, YWCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and Calgary Food Bank.
