Teddy Bear Toss Expected to Reach Milestone
November 27, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors of the West Coast Hockey League are set to host their Fourth Annual Teddy Bear Toss against the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Saturday night at Centennial Garden. Game time is 7:00pm and the doors open at 6:00pm.
The Teddy Bear Toss is sponsored by CBS-29, KERN 1410 and Home & Leisure Superstore, and it has been held in each of the last three seasons. Fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal or teddy bear to the game, and when the Condors score their first goal in the game, throw them on the ice. They will be collected and donated to the United Way of Kern County, who will distribute them to needy kids throughout the Bakersfield area during the holiday season.
The number of stuffed animals collected has increased each season, topping out at 2,900 a season ago. Over 8,500 have been collected in the event's history, and this season's Teddy Bear Toss is expected to surge well past the 10,000 mark in it's Condors history. Last season, Jeff Goldie scored the goal that brought the tossing of the teddies, while Jamie Cooke scored the goal in each of the first two seasons.
"This is an exciting event for everyone: the players, the fans, the front office, the sponsors, the United Way, and of course the children that benefit," said Condors President & GM Matthew Riley. "When the Condors score that first goal, all you can see is thousands of teddy bears and stuffed animals, seemingly raining from the rafters. It's truly a sight to see, so you'll want to come out, bring a teddy bear, and be a part of this historic night.
Saturday is also the first Big Buddies Night of the season. In the Big Buddies program, which is sponsored by the Active 20/30 Club, local business purchase blocks of tickets and donate them to non-profit organizations in Bakersfield. Over 1,500 tickets have been donated by local businesses to over 15 organizations for the night.
With the Condors in the midst of a six-game win streak, the hair has been flying off at the garden. Fans can have their hair lopped off Paul Kelly-style at Saturday's Game. The Condors front office has vowed to keep the shaving going with each successive Condors victory. Last weekend's victory over Long Beach lead to Director of Merchandise & Team Operations Deric Voelker going bald. The cuts will be offered free of charge, by the Hot Spot Salon, for anyone wishing to join the Condors Army. Last Saturday, 50 members were inducted into the army via their haircut.
Joe Cannon, from the U.S. Marine Corps, will return to sing the National Anthem again this Saturday. All four home wins for the Condors this season are when Cannon steps behind the microphone.
The Condors game on Saturday night is sandwiched between a set of road contests this week. The team plays in Long Beach tonight at 7:00pm and then travel south to San Diego to take on the Gulls Friday night. They head back down to Long Beach on Sunday for a 4:00pm contest.
On Sunday, the Condors will host a public skate at Centennial Garden from 1:00 - 3:00pm. Admission is just $7.00, with skate rental available for $3.00.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Centennial Garden Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at ticketmaster.com or stopping by any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets and group outings may be purchased by calling 324-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the Condors office next to Centennial Garden.
ECHL Stories from November 27, 2002
- Steelheads Sign A.J. Begg - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads Feast on Aces - Idaho Steelheads
- Bombers Receive Former OSU Captain Crain from Sea Wolves - Dayton Bombers
- Aces Loses Sixth Straight to Idaho - Alaska Aces
- Aces Beef Up - Alaska Aces
- Teddy Bear Toss Expected to Reach Milestone - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Teddy Bear Toss This Friday - San Diego Gulls
- Grrrowl Beat South Carolina, 4-3 - Greenville Grrrowl
- Blades Acquire Brown From Augusta - Florida Everblades
- Stingrays Sign Concannon For Busy Week - South Carolina Stingrays
- Crain Traded to Dayton - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Louisiana game notes vs. Pensacola, 11/28 - Louisiana IceGators
- Renegades Game Night - Richmond Renegades
- Generals Defensemen with Jackson - Greensboro Generals
- Quintet of Bombers to Skate with Fans at Riverscape on Sunday - Dayton Bombers
- All Along The Coast - ECHL
- Falcons Loose in Shootout to Gulls - Fresno Falcons
- Grrrowl Add Defenseman for Long Holiday Weekend - Greenville Grrrowl
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