OSWEGO – For the first time in 750 days, the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team will see hundreds of teddy bears sore over the boards on Saturday, December 4, when it takes on Morrisville State.
While throwing debris onto the ice typically ends in removing people from the arena, during Saturday’s annual Teddy Bear Toss, fans are encouraged to launch stuffed animals onto the ice after the Lakers’ first goal.
The event started back in 2016 with 573 teddy bears but has grown steadily each year with over 800 donated in 2019, which was the last Teddy Bear Toss the men’s team hosted in the arena. COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season, however the team did hold drive-up and virtual fundraisers around this time last year.
Lakers’ fans saw a taste of what the event is like earlier in the year, as the women’s hockey team held its toss on November 20, where 80 stuffed animals were collected. Every teddy bear thrown onto the ice and toy donated at tables around the arena will be donated to Toys for Tots, a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve that distributes toys to children whose families cannot afford them. While this might be one of the more popular charitable endeavors, philanthropy at-large is extremely important to head coach Ed Gosek and his team.
“My predecessors here have always believed that you give back to the community because one, it’s the right thing to do, but two because if you want support from the community, it’s important that it works both ways and that you give back,” Gosek said. “For us, it’s very important, and the Teddy Bear Toss is just another [way] – along with United Way and Toys For Tots – that we can help out. It’s turned into an awesome event.”
Beyond the charitable side of things, the players have an extra layer of fun with the Teddy Bear Toss itself. While every player wants to score, there is a greater incentive to be the trigger that sets off the green and gold faithful.
“[Former captain] Josh Zizek still talks about it,” Gosek said. “You want to be the guy that scores the goal to let it rain bears and stuffed animals. But [the players will] say, ‘who’s got it? Who’s getting it? Who’s bringing it down?’ We’re excited. [It’s] our last home game of the semester … We want to play well for our fans and at the same time help a great cause.”
For local Oswego State fans, they are urged to bring stuffed animals or any toys that can be donated at the game. Saturday’s contest will also be the United Way Food Drive, where fans can donate nonperishable foods. Other fans or alumni from around the globe can donate in a manner similar to the 2020 Toys for Tots fundraiser, a virtual one using a link provided by the university.
The 2020 fundraiser was rather successful given the nature of the year. Neither hockey team was able to hold a Teddy Bear Toss in the arena, but fans still raised $3,280 for Toys for Tots and United Way. Gosek hopes to see the event grow from last year, as “each year it has gotten bigger, and we have gotten more and more.”
Gosek added that he is excited to have people in the stands this time around, which should make the experience more enjoyable for him compared to last year’s drive-up toss.
“[Women’s hockey’s head coach] Mark [Digby] and I stood out there for six hours freezing our butts off while people were chucking them from their car windows, it was pretty funny,” Gosek said. “We stood out there in the fricken snow and cold.”
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