A Look Into The New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss

As we look forward to the upcoming New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss hockey game, have you ever wondered how the event started? Here are some fun facts and history about the annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss.

Utica Pioneer’s head Coach Gary Heenan first brought the idea of having a teddy bear toss in Utica after seeing one at a game in Canada. When he approached Scot; owner of New York Sash, with the idea he jumped at the chance to be on board and has been sponsoring and organizing the game ever since. The Teddy Bear Toss has become a game that everyone looks forward to every year!

When Utica scores their first goal fans throw their teddy bears onto the ice. It will “rain down” teddy bears! Family, friends and employees of New York Sash will go out onto the ice and collect all of the teddy bears that are then loaded onto New York Sash trucks and brought to our Showroom on Oriskany Blvd in Whitesboro. Once the teddy bears arrive, Scot and staff will spend days drying, counting, sorting, organizing and putting them on display for everyone to see before they are delivered to local families.

All of the donations go to local families through a collaborative toy drive with partners Operation Sunshine, Marine Corps Toys for Tots along with local schools and organizations. The first ever Teddy Bear Toss raised 459 stuffed animals and to date we have raised over 50,000 toys for local children thanks to all of your generosity.

We hope to see you at this weekend’s New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss. This year the game is going to be broadcasted live on WKTV! If you can’t make it to the game, but would still like to donate, donations can be dropped off at our Showroom at 349 Oriskany Blvd in Whitesboro.

Thank you for your donations. Your donation helps to make a child’s Christmas happier and merrier!