Canes ready to see toques and teddies fly

By Lethbridge Herald on December 5, 2024.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The most anticipated Lethbridge Hurricanes game of the year arrives tonight with the annual Toque and Teddy Toss event.

Kathy Hong, Hurricanes director of marketing and communications, said “ It’s huge” when seeing Lethbridge come out and support the game.

“The guys love it,” said Hong.

“Some of the newer guys had heard from our vets how the atmosphere is really different in the building when we do have a super full crowd. This game, in particular, …there’s always so much excitement.”

This year’s goal is to collect over 4,800 and 1,800 toques for different Lethbridge organizations.

“So we’re really, really hoping that our fans  … and our community come through and really help support us through each (of) those goals for all the people who are requesting bears and toques this year,” said Hong.

Hong things the impact is longstanding after the toss for the Hurricanes.

“We always hear from fans afterwards, like even many years down the road, how when their child was in the hospital, they were able to get a teddy bear during their visit and how much happier it made the child,” said Hong.

Hong predicts Kash Andresen to score the toss goal.

This is Cameron Norrie’s first time experiencing the Toque and Teddy Toss game.

“(I) haven’t thought about it too much but  yeah maybe a little celly in there,” said Norrie, when asked what he’d do if he got the toss goal.

Norrie sees there being lots of excitement.

“Hopefully the building’s going to be bumping,” said Norrie.

“So yeah it’s going to be fun.”

Norrie thinks Andresen will notch the toss goal.

Miguel Marques, who was last year’s toss scorer, looks at the Toque and Teddy Toss game as that once a year where the arena is packed and everyone is excited.

“All the kids are here and it’s kind of a fun event for them too. So I think just kind of seeing the bears come down’s a cool moment,” said Marques.

Marques picks either Will Sharpe or Tristen Doyle to score the goal to make the arena rain bears.

Fans are encouraged to bring a toques or teddy bears in a clean clear bag  tonight and throw them on the ice when the Hurricanes score their first goal of the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight.