By Tommy Bonnet
A record-breaking 1,400 stuffed toys were thrown on to the ice at Nottingham Arena as part of an ice hockey Christmas tradition.
The Nottingham Panthers invite fans to take part in the ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ every December – involving supporters bringing along toys to donate to local children in need.
This year the toss took place on Sunday, December 1 during the Elite League game against Dundee Stars.
Panthers scored just over two minutes into the game through Sam Herr – triggering the moment fans are invited to rain bears down onto the ice. More than 1,400 landed – a record in the decade-long history of the event.
The teddies were escorted off the ice by players, volunteers and figure skaters to be transported to the Renewal Trust in Cherry Lodge, Sneinton, where the toys are being sorted and cleaned by volunteers to be sent out to various charities across Nottingham.
Fans are asked to wrap the bears in bags before they are thrown onto the ice, to avoid them getting too wet to dry out before they can be sorted and distributed.
Community Lead at the Renewal Trust, Nic Williams said: “After the sort out today they’ll be collected by 15 different organizations, including local primary schools, special schools, a number of women’s aids and women’s refuges, and then also a number of social housing projects in the area – so they’re all going to really good homes.
“It’s really good to be able to to give back. And this morning is all about the volunteers giving back, and it’s so amazing to see the Panthers fans there and all those teddies on the ice, which is just spectacular in itself.
“We know that it’s a cost of living crisis right now, and we know that some people really do struggle. So to be able to help them just have that extra toy to give their child at Christmas, they might not get anything else. We don’t know everyone’s circumstances.
“So if we can make that little bit of difference, it really is important. So a huge ‘thank you’ to the Panthers fans who make Christmas so special.”
One of the volunteers present for the round-up of the teddies was Glyn Williams, a Church At Community Lead.
She said: “It’s part of being in the community. Christmas is more about giving than accepting and receiving.
“In the community we talk to and know the parents and children (that the teddy’s will go to). They think it’s marvellous, they’re always grateful for them.”
“Its getting harder for people and it’s how they manage it, it’s important helping people.”
Last year around 800 teddies were collected from the toss, with almost double gathered this December – and the most ever collected.
Lisa Rawding, Fan Liaison Officer for Nottingham Panthers said: “We promoted it on all our channels and it’s great to see all the generous donations from the fanbase.
“It’s absolutely magical, such a buzz the amount of teddies you see on the ice, we try to involve the players, they think it’s great fun.”
The first-ever Teddy Bear Toss occurred in December 1993, with the Canadian hockey team Kamloops Blazers, when a goal prompted fans to throw more than 2,400 bears onto the ice.
The tradition spread throughout the Canadian Hockey League, and then around the world – with the record in a hockey match claimed by the Hershey Bears, when 74,599 stuffed animals were thrown onto ice.
Panthers went on to win the game against Dundee 3-2.
