Hershey Bears set new Teddy Bear Toss world record

Well that was a bear-y exciting goal. And it set off a new world record.

Hershey Bears forward Riley Barber scored midway through the first period of an AHL game against the Binghamton Devils, which tied the game but it also sparked a teddy bear shower on the ice.

Actually, it was more of a teddy bear rain storm.

According to the team, the event set a new world record of 34,798 teddy bears collected at the event, besting the Calgary Hitmen's previous record of 28,815 back in 2015. The team's previous high mark was 25,017 collected last year.

For the event, fans are asked to bring teddy bears and throw them on the ice after the first Bears goal. Team staff collects the bears and they are donated to over 30 different organizations that help children in need.
And in keeping with the tradition of the toss, Bears players made themselves at home, jumping right into the pile.

Besides the outpouring of bears, it also racked up donations for Children's Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization that has affiliations with 170 children's hospitals.

CommunityAid, which sponsored the toss, pledged a $0.50 donation for each bear collected at the event, up to $15,000, if the new world record was set.
Additionally, acording to the Bears website, a club seat holder for the Bears will donate $1 per stuffed animal collected on behalf of the Sweigart Family Foundation.