If you are familiar with the Hershey Bears hockey team in the AHL then you might know about their teddy bear toss. Fans toss stuffed animals onto the ices after the first goal of the designated Teddy Bear Toss game. Teddy bears tossed on the ice during the designated game this year were donated to 35 Hershey area charities including: Vista Autism Services, Milton Hershey School, Harrisburg school district, Hershey Food Bank, Palmyra Lions Club, and more.
The last teddy bear toss game was Jan 7, 2024 when the Hershey Bears played the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at GIANT Center. Bogdan Trineyev scored the “Teddy Bear Toss Goal” that flooded the ice with thousands of stuffies. A record 75,599 stuffed toys were collected, breaking the previous record of 67,309 set in 2023.
Now the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled an officially licensed Hershey Bears Teddy Bear Toss Bobblehead with a cause.
The bobblehead celebrates the Hershey Bears world-famous Teddy Bear Toss, and the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will be donating $5 from every bobblehead sold to the Hershey Bears Cares initiative that the Teddy Bear Toss supports. The special edition bobblehead is being produced exclusively by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the American Hockey League.
Standing on an ice-textured base, the bobblehead features the Hershey Bears’ mascot Coco the Bear holding a bobbling teddy bear with teddy bears also covering the ice-textured base. Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,024 and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in July, are $40 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
Fun Facts About Hershey Bears Hockey
The Bears have a long and storied franchise history in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Chocolate manufacturer Milton S. Hershey first established the “Hershey Hockey Club” in 1932 to manage professional hockey teams based in Hershey, and the Bears were officially founded for the 1938-39 season when the Canadian-American Hockey League and the International Hockey League merged to form the eight-team International-American Hockey League, now known as the AHL. The Bears have played in Hershey for their entire existence, making the franchise the longest continuously operating AHL member club still located in its original city.
The most successful franchise in the history of the American Hockey League, the Hershey Bears won their 12th championship in 2023 after defeating the Coachella Valley Firebirds in seven games in the Calder Cup Finals. The team also won titles in 1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, and 2010. The Bears captured their first championship since 2010 when forward Mike Vecchione became the first player in AHL history to score a sudden-death overtime goal in Game 7 of a Calder Cup Finals, clinching the championship at 16:19 of overtime.
How To Get Hershey Bears Bobblehead
The Officially licensed Hershey Bears Teddy Bear Toss Bobblehead with a cause is available for pre-order now on the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum website.
The bobbleheads are expected to ship in July. Remember that $5 from every purchase of these unique bobbleheads go to the Hershey Bears Cares Initiative.
About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
On a Side Note
If you have never been to a semi-pro hockey game I highly encourage you to do so. About 6 years ago I was looking for something to do in the winter with my kids. I wanted something indoors something that didn’t cost a lot of money. I had heard about the Johnstown Tomahawks hockey team. I looked at the ticket prices and they were very reasonable even for good seats. It was just me and my to youngest kids at the time and we had so much fun. I talked my husband into going with us the next time. After that we were hooked. We go to several games a year now and are even considering getting season tickets. Support your local sports teams! Plus, you never know who will make it big time. You can say “Hey I saw that guy play when he played for the local team”
