The Coachella Valley Firebirds will conduct their fourth annual Teddy Bear Toss Night at Friday evening’s American Hockey League game against the Bakersfield Condors at Acrisure Arena.
Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used stuffed animals to be tossed onto the ice following the Firebirds’ first goal. The toys will be collected and donated to the fire and police departments throughout the Coachella Valley for children in need.
The team has collected more than 50,000 stuffed animals during the first three Teddy Bear Toss Nights, including 15,287 last season.
Teddy bear tosses are Christmas season staples in minor league and junior hockey.
The Kamloops (British Columbia) Blazers of the Western Hockey League are credited with being the first team to hold a teddy bear toss, during the 1993-94 season. The Hershey Bears of the AHL claimed hockey’s teddy bear ross record with 102,343 stuffed animals tossed Jan. 5, surpassing their previous record of 74,599 in 2024.