Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers.Allen Douglas

By Adam Donnelly

IT'S RAININ' BEARS

Kamloops Blazers’ teddy tradition has spread far and wide

Dec 2, 2019 | 5:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a tradition older than some members of the CFJC Newsroom. On Saturday, the Kamloops Blazers held their annual Teddy Bear Toss. From its humble beginnings here back in 1993, it’s now grown into an event that’s held across the hockey world.

“It’s really cool,” Blazers Ticketing and Promotions Coordinator David Hole said. “Obviously, it’s only my second year with the Blazers and boy, what an eye-opener it was for me last year.”

Brad Lukowich scored the inaugural teddy bear goal back in 1993, and like a bad cold, that tradition has spread far and wide across the hockey world. On Sunday, the Hershey Bears broke their own record with a teddy bear toss total of more than 45,000 bears.

“We started something in ’93 and watching where it grows now — I mean, the Vancouver Giants are doing their [Teddy Bear Toss] in Rogers Arena this year,” Hole said. “Hopefully they fill it up, and if they can beat 45,000 bears. Holy smokes that’d be fantastic.”

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Connor Zary scored the goal that triggered this year’s teddy bear rain, and this year’s Captain Zane Franklin scored last year’s teddy bear goal. They both agree the feeling of watching those stuffed animals rain down from the stands doesn’t get old.

“Never gets old,” Franklin said after Saturday’s game. “Obviously it’s for a great cause, and it’s a really cool sight when you see all those teddy bears come down. It makes this league extra special, for sure.”

“It’s always a fun one. Everyone in the crowd gets going,” Zary said post-game. “They have something to do, something gets anxious for, so do we. That’s just a fun game for us.”

Zary had an inkling he might be the guy to trigger the bear-fall this year. He even made a friendly wager with a family member before the game.

“I told my Dad before the game, ‘I think I’m going to get it this year,'” Zary said. “He put a little wager on it, said he’d give me $100 if I scored it. When I came off the ice, the first time I looked at my phone, I had a little e-transfer from him.”

The bears have already been sorted and will be delivered before Christmas, all to groups within the community that help others.