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Popular ''Teddy Bear Toss'' Event Returns Saturday

January 28, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," is scheduled to host its fifth annual "Teddy Bear Toss" Event at Stockton Arena during the Saturday, January 30 game against the Victoria Salmon Kings, starting at 8:00 p.m.

Presented by Jackson Rancheria, California Water Service Company, KAT Country 103 and News10, the event aims to help deliver new or gently used teddy bears and other stuffed animals from the hands of hockey fans across the San Joaquin Valley to local underprivileged children, courtesy of the United Way of San Joaquin County.

"The Teddy Bear Toss has become one of the most anticipated promotions each year for Thunder fans," said Thunder president Dan Chapman. "Watching thousands of stuffed animals hit the ice after our first goal is quite a sight to see, and furthermore, is indicative of our fans great generosity in knowing they will be enjoyed by worthy young people throughout San Joaquin County."

"Our Community is blessed to enjoy the fun and excitement provided by the Stockton Thunder," said Andy Prokop, president of the United Way of San Joaquin County. "This weekend, our non-profit agencies and the people they serve are also blessed to receive several thousands of wonderful teddy bears that have been shared by Thunder fans. These teddy bears will end up in the hands and hearts of so many deserving and grateful people who will be sharing their thanks and love to everyone who made this possible."

The tradition and spectacle carries on this season when all fans in attendance are asked to keep their stuffed animal until the Thunder scores its first goal of the game and encouraged to throw their stuffed animal onto the ice. Over the last four seasons, the Thunder and United Way of San Joaquin County have collected over 14,500 stuffed animals.

Last year, the Thunder and the United Way distributed over 3,500 bears and other stuffed animals after the Thunder's Igor Gongalsky scored the first goal in the first period of the January 17 game against the Idaho Steelheads. Stockton fans littered the ice with teddy bears and other stuffed animals, as volunteers from the Woodbridge Fire Department, the Stockton Fire Department, the United Way and other volunteers collected the donations.

The event has also meant success on the ice and at the box office for the Thunder. In four games of the annual event, the Thunder is 2-1-1 and defeated Idaho, 4-3 in last year's game in front of 7,884 fans. Coming in droves for the annual event, Thunder fans have averaged 9,162 in attendance and three of the four annual games have attracted sellout crowds to Stockton Arena.

The proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

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