Thunder Teddy Bear Toss Shatters Record Numbers

Published on February 17, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," announced a new record of 4,348 teddy bears and other stuffed animals officially collected from this year's "Teddy Bear Toss" event held Saturday, January 30 at Stockton Arena.

Members of the Thunder front office, select Thunder players that included Craig Valette and Bryan Young and United Way of San Joaquin County staff and volunteers spent the morning of February 9 counting thousands of teddy bears and other stuffed animals before distributing them to local underprivileged children through the Transitional Learning Center during a lunchtime pizza party at the United Way of San Joaquin County headquarters.

This year's event, presented by Jackson Rancheria, California Water Service Company, KAT Country and News10, came to a crescendo when a near sellout crowd of 9,158 threw stuffed animals ranging from bears to frogs onto the ice immediately following the Thunder game against the Victoria Salmon Kings, a 1-0 shootout win for Victoria.

Volunteers from the United Way, Stockton and Woodbridge Fire Department, Stockton Arena staff members along with trucks courtesy of Chase Chevrolet and Bekins, cleared the ice in less than 10 minutes.

In the five-year history of the event, Thunder fans have helped donate over 18,800 stuffed animals to local children's charities.

"Once again, Thunder fans and the United Way came through for the community in one of our favorite, signature events," said Thunder president

Dan Chapman. "Even in tough economic times, our community's strength in numbers always prevails with how they come through at the gate and through their donations."

"Once again our community, especially our children, have been blessed by the partnership our United Way enjoys with the Stockton Thunder hockey team, their wonderful staff and now more than ever their generous fans who tossed a record high 4,348 teddy bears of every size and color," said Andy Prokop, president of the United Way of San Joaquin County.

The stuffed animals, like the previous four seasons, will be distributed by the United Way of San Joaquin County to various charities and programs throughout the region, including local children's charities and to the Stockton police and fire departments to help an array of special community outreach programs.

Anthony Aiello was the only Thunder player to light the lamp (third round of a shootout) and was answered by markers from Olivier Latendresse (3rd round) and Andy Brandt (16th round), but the real winners were local children who benefit from Thunder fans, over 9,000 who stayed for the longest game in team history, a 16-round shootout. Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton earned his first career shutout.

The event has also meant continued success at the box office. Thunder fans have averaged 9,162 in attendance throughout the event's five-year history, and three times have toppled the 9,000-mark in attendance for the game.

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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