Steelheads Host Teddy Bear Toss Saturday

I wish my mom could come back to Idaho to see this Idaho Steelheads tradition!

If you know me at all, you know I love going to Idaho Steelheads games.  I grew up on hockey.  Even though my dad was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, he's a fierce Boston Bruins fan.  My childhood memories are full of watching him videotape himself win the Stanley Cup as the Bruins way back when the EA Sports game was on DOS or Windows 93.  Oh and there was this time he took us to the Hockey Hall of Fame during a family vacation and had me play goalie in one of the interactive exhibits. (I was horrible, it was horrible and I fear the pictures of it will return one day for Throwback Thursday.) I've never beer to an NHL game, but I've taken advantage of going to the ECHL games here in Boise.

When my mom was in town, I took her to a game and had to explain to her it was tradition for a Steelheads fan to through a fish on the ice after the Steelies scored their first goal.  That tradition will be a little different at their game against the Alaska Aces on Saturday.

Saturday is the 19th Annual Steelheads Teddy Bear Toss for Tots.  Fans are asked to bring a new stuffed or plush toy with them to the game.  After the first Steelheads goal, fans will through their toys onto the ice.  They'll be collected by the United States Marine Corps and donated to Toys for Tots. If you don't have a chance to buy one before the game, the Steelheads Boosters will be selling toys in the lobby.

Last year, the Steelheads collected a record 3,068 stuffed animals during the game and hope to break that record this year.

The puck drops Saturday at 7:10 p.m.