Garrett Mitchell’s first period goal on Sunday gave the Bears a 1-0 lead. But more importantly, it unleashed a hailstorm of plush toys from the GIANT Center’s stands.
During the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss, Hershey Bears fans set a new franchise record when they threw 20,662 stuffed animals to the ice. The result was pure chaos.
After Mitchell rifled a wrist shot past Kristers Gudlevskis to the far post, the Bears captain raised his right leg into the air to celebrate. Mitchell’s celebration then went amok when he mistakenly skated overtop a blue bunny rabbit that had just fallen to the ice. Mitchell plopped over onto his back as a result, and laughed uncontrollably as he got back to his feet.
The annual charity event resulted in hundreds of stuffed animals were thrown to the ice within seconds of Mitchy’s goal.
Bears players were pelted by stuffed toys at the bench. Prospect defensemen Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey ingeniously used their sticks as bats to knock the furry toys onto the ice.
Several stuffed animals, the size of actual bears, made it to the ice as well.
But it took a group effort.
Several Hershey Bears players helped collect the stuffed animals and put them in bags.
Several Bears hid in the pile of plush to escape the extra work.
9,042 fans were in attendance for the Bears 4-2 victory.
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