The Saskatoon Blades are holding a Teddy Bear Toss this year…just not like they usually do it!
Because of the lack of W-H-L games being played right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the collecting of teddy bears and plush toys via a Bridge City Bunch player scoring a goal to start the Blue and Gold’s scoring during a designated game has given way to a “drive-thru” style of Teddy Bear Toss. Next Friday, December 18, between 4 and 7 p.m., fans are invited and urged to bring new teddy bears and plush toys to SaskTel Centre. Upon entering the building grounds, plastic bags will be handed out to vehicles to wrap their donations in before proceeding along Bill Hunter Avenue towards SaskTel Centre where they will then be able to toss the plastic bags into two inflatable mini-rinks. Once the three hour Teddy Bear Toss is done, the donations will be cleaned and given to the Saskatoon Salvation Army for their annual Christmas Hamper campaign. In addition, fans are encouraged to wear their Blades’ apparel and decorate their vehicles for a change to win prizes. Pokecheck will also be on hand for the festivities, which will include holiday music and Christmas decorations. Following is the news release from the Blades…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatoon Blades are pleased to announce the 2020
Teddy Bear Toss Drive-Thru presented by SaskTel on Friday, December 18th,
2020, in the SaskTel Centre parking lot. Teddy Bears and plush toys collected will
be donated to the Salvation Army in Saskatoon in support of their annual
Christmas Hamper campaign.
“With our season still on hold, we aren’t able to host the traditional Teddy Bear
toss game night, but we still wanted to create a way to deliver toys again this year,”
explained Saskatoon Blades director of business operations Tyler Wawryk. “And
thanks to our partners at SaskTel, WinMar Saskatoon, and Saskatchewan Blue
Cross, we’re able to pivot to a physically distant and safe way of still collecting
these donations and getting them in the hands of children in need this holiday
season.”
Fans are being to encouraged to purchase new Teddy Bears or plush toys to donate,
wrap them in plastic bags, and drive down Bill Hunter Avenue towards SaskTel
Centre where they will then be able to toss their bears into two inflatable minirinks provided by Saskatchewan Blue Cross, which will be located on both sides of
the lane. Plastic bags will be provided to vehicles at the entrance. After donating
their early Christmas gift, vehicles will turn left in front of the Sasktel Centre and
drive down Gordie Howe lane to exit, giving long-time Teddy Bear Toss
contributors and fans a chance to support the local branch of the Salvation Army,
and spread some holiday cheer.
Once the bears and toys have filled the mini-rinks, professionals from WinMar
property restoration will be taking them for a weekend cleaning.
“We’ll be placing the teddy bears into a comfortable quarantine inside our shop,”
says Kelly Rapko, general manager of WinMar Saskatoon. “The teddy bears will
first go through a rigorous screening process before receiving a weekend of
pampering, including a hot bath and a refreshing mist of botanical disinfectant. The
teddy bears will then experience the trip of a lifetime, first visiting the Salvation
Army before finding their way into the arms of loving children, ready to share their
affection over the holiday season.”
The annual Teddy Bear Toss game is one of the Blades most well-attended,
popular contests of the year, with thousands of toys launched onto the ice after the
team’s first goal. Tristen Robins has had the magic stick for the last two seasons,
scoring opening markers against Prince Albert to catapult a flurry of fur from the
stands. Although the coronavirus pandemic has eliminated the traditional version
of the event, the team is excited to give fans a different genre of the Teddy Bear
Toss and help support a local organization in need.
To better enhance the fan experience, the Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss presented
by SaskTel will also feature Christmas decorations, holiday music, and a special
visit from Pokecheck. Fans are encouraged to don their Blades apparel and
decorate vehicles for a chance to win prizes. Blades TV will also be on hand,
shooting a video to be pieced together following the event. The Teddy Bear Toss
Lane opens at 4:00p.m. and closes at 7:00p.m.
SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatoon Blades are pleased to announce the 2020
Teddy Bear Toss Drive-Thru presented by SaskTel on Friday, December 18th,
2020, in the SaskTel Centre parking lot. Teddy Bears and plush toys collected will
be donated to the Salvation Army in Saskatoon in support of their annual
Christmas Hamper campaign.
“With our season still on hold, we aren’t able to host the traditional Teddy Bear
toss game night, but we still wanted to create a way to deliver toys again this year,”
explained Saskatoon Blades director of business operations Tyler Wawryk. “And
thanks to our partners at SaskTel, WinMar Saskatoon, and Saskatchewan Blue
Cross, we’re able to pivot to a physically distant and safe way of still collecting
these donations and getting them in the hands of children in need this holiday
season.”
Fans are being to encouraged to purchase new Teddy Bears or plush toys to donate,
wrap them in plastic bags, and drive down Bill Hunter Avenue towards SaskTel
Centre where they will then be able to toss their bears into two inflatable minirinks provided by Saskatchewan Blue Cross, which will be located on both sides of
the lane. Plastic bags will be provided to vehicles at the entrance. After donating
their early Christmas gift, vehicles will turn left in front of the Sasktel Centre and
drive down Gordie Howe lane to exit, giving long-time Teddy Bear Toss
contributors and fans a chance to support the local branch of the Salvation Army,
and spread some holiday cheer.
Once the bears and toys have filled the mini-rinks, professionals from WinMar
property restoration will be taking them for a weekend cleaning.
“We’ll be placing the teddy bears into a comfortable quarantine inside our shop,”
says Kelly Rapko, general manager of WinMar Saskatoon. “The teddy bears will
first go through a rigorous screening process before receiving a weekend of
pampering, including a hot bath and a refreshing mist of botanical disinfectant. The
teddy bears will then experience the trip of a lifetime, first visiting the Salvation
Army before finding their way into the arms of loving children, ready to share their
affection over the holiday season.”
The annual Teddy Bear Toss game is one of the Blades most well-attended,
popular contests of the year, with thousands of toys launched onto the ice after the
team’s first goal. Tristen Robins has had the magic stick for the last two seasons,
scoring opening markers against Prince Albert to catapult a flurry of fur from the
stands. Although the coronavirus pandemic has eliminated the traditional version
of the event, the team is excited to give fans a different genre of the Teddy Bear
Toss and help support a local organization in need.
To better enhance the fan experience, the Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss presented
by SaskTel will also feature Christmas decorations, holiday music, and a special
visit from Pokecheck. Fans are encouraged to don their Blades apparel and
decorate vehicles for a chance to win prizes. Blades TV will also be on hand,
shooting a video to be pieced together following the event. The Teddy Bear Toss
Lane opens at 4:00p.m. and closes at 7:00p.m.
