Tigers Teddy Bear toss predictions

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 6, 2024.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Who will unleash the teddy bears Saturday night?

The News anonymously polled Medicine Hat Tigers’ players and coaches for their predictions of who will score that fateful first goal at the Medicine Hat News Teddy Bear Toss game against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday.

There were 16 players named in the predictions, with eight receiving two or more votes.

Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt received the most votes (six).

Wiesblatt scored the ‘Teddy Bear Toss goal’ in 2022, finding twine with 5:33 left in the third period of a 2-1 loss to the Saskatoon Blades on Dec. 3.

Forward’s Ryder Ritchie and Ethan Neutens each received three votes, Ritchie scored the Prince Albert Raiders’ teddy bear goal in 2022.

Defenceman Jack Kachkowski and forwards Kadon McCann, Liam Ruck, Mat Ward and Carter Cunningham all received two votes.

Seven skaters received one vote, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, Hunter St. Martin, Veeti VÃ¤isÃ¤nen, Niilopekka Muhonen, Markus Ruck, Andrew Basha, Marcus Pacheco and Gavin McKenna.

Fans attending Saturday’s game are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals or winter gear to be thrown onto the ice after the first Tiger goal. All items should be bagged to keep moisture out.

All donations will be split between the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund, Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation, the Salvation Army and the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter.

Cayden Lindstrom scored the ‘Teddy Bear Toss goal’ last season, unleashing 2,144 bears and 1,409 toques, mitts and socks from the stands.