By Nicole Catalano, Currier Times Staff///

The Curry College men’s hockey team is hosting their tenth annual Teddy Bear Toss game on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. The Colonels are facing the University of New England Nor’Easters from Biddeford, Maine, at the Canton Ice Rink.

The Teddy Bear Toss tradition dates back to 1993 when the Kamloops Blazers decided to have an event where fans brought bears to their game and when the home team got their first goal, bears were thrown onto the ice and then collected by the team to donate to children’s hospitals.

Senior defender Jake Crespo looks forward to this event each year and says it puts a smile on his face when the bears go flying.

“The Teddy Bear Toss is a great thing we do every year during the holiday season,” said Crespo. “Our goal is to raise money for charities we donate to. The organization changes from time to time but all proceeds go to the kids.”

The hockey team is selling bears in the Student Center on campus for students to purchase before the game and there will also be bears available at the game.

“You can bring your own bears but your best bet is to buy them at the Student Center or at the game itself because the bears actually thrown on the ice can not be donated unless they are wrapped,” said Crespo.

Crespo adds how much he enjoys this tradition by saying, “My favorite thing about it is seeing all the bears fly onto the ice and all of the fans smiling just as big as me, it is a surreal feeling and a blessed event to be a part of it!”

Be sure to come out to the game to cheer on the Colonels and make sure to throw your bear on the ice once Curry scores. Go Colonels!