MASON CITY, Iowa – The Teddy Bear Toss has become a holiday tradition recognized far and wide across the hockey landscape – in fact, in one 2019 promotion, the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears collected more than 45,000 stuffed toys.
While it’s safe to say this Friday’s game between the North Iowa Bulls and St. Cloud Norsemen won’t quite match that mark, the Bulls will look to bust the collection bags again this Friday night when they host their 10th annual Teddy Bear Toss at the Mason City Arena, presented by CURRIES, part of the ASSA ABLOY group.
Fans are invited to bring stuffed toys with them to Friday’s game, and fling those toys onto the ice after the Bulls score their first goal of the game. All teddy bears (and other stuffed toys) that are tossed onto the ice will be donated to the Salvation Army in Mason City in conjunction with Toys For Tots.
The Bulls have set the bar awfully high for the Teddy Bear Toss in recent years – last year’s exhibition game against the Sheridan Hawks saw a brief bear-related delay just 2:19 into the game after a goal from Max Savaloja. The wait was even shorter in 2019, with the final Teddy Bear Toss at the North Iowa Ice Arena coming in at a bear-y quick 45 seconds. Only in the Bulls’ very first Teddy Bear Toss – a 2-1 win over the Breezy Point North Stars in 2012 – did fans have to hang onto their bears through the first intermission.
Younger fans are also encouraged to write their letters to Santa Claus and drop them off in the mailbox at the North Iowa Bulls’ front office. Letters should be addressed to Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada H0H 0H0, along with the child’s name and phone number just in case Santa’s elves need to get in touch to have questions answered.
This game is also another “Friday Night Lights” game, with postgame autographs from selected North Iowa Bulls players, and season ticket holders will receive special $3 pricing on all beers up to the opening puck drop as part of the Bulls’ season ticket holder Happy Hour special.
Friday’s game, the Bulls’ first-ever home meeting with the Norsemen, is slated for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop at the Mason City Arena. Tickets for Friday’s game, and all North Iowa home games, are on sale now – to purchase advance tickets to any upcoming Bulls home game, call 641-423-4625 or click here. Updated news and information on North Iowa Bulls hockey are always available at www.northiowabulls.com, and by following the team’s social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.