On Saturday, February 23, a crowd of 7,441, tossed 7,202 bears on the ice during the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by WPS Health Insurance. In its 20th year, the Teddy Bear Toss has collected more than 100,000 stuffed animals.
The bears came out late in the second period when forward Noah Prokop scored.
In the 20-year history of the Teddy Bear Toss, the Gamblers and their fans have tossed and donated 119,888 stuffed animals to local hospitals and other charities across Northeast Wisconsin.
Dating back to 2000, the Teddy Bear Toss is a one time yearly event, where fans are asked to bring a new Teddy Bear to the designated game. When the Gamblers score their first goal, fans are encouraged to throw their bear(s) on the ice. In its first year, the team collected a little over 400 bears.
