The Green Bay Gamblers will take the ice at the Resch Center this Saturday, January 31, against the Dubuque Fighting Saints. While a midseason matchup against an Iowa opponent might seem routine to some fans, the game carries special meaning for children across Northeast Wisconsin.
Saturday’s contest marks the Gamblers’ annual Teddy Bear Toss, a long-running tradition that turns a night of hockey into a community-wide act of generosity. “This year will be our 27th annual Teddy Bear Toss,” said Gamblers President Jeff Mitchell.
The tradition began decades ago in Canada and has since spread across North America. In Hershey, Pennsylvania, fans set a world record last January by tossing more than 45,000 stuffed animals onto the ice during a single game. Green Bay has embraced the concept in its own way, growing the event year after year.
“The first year we had about 400 teddy bears, and it’s grown in mass since then,” Mitchell said.
Each winter, fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to the game and toss them onto the ice following the Gamblers’ first goal. The toys are collected and distributed to children and families in need throughout the region.
“The best thing about the teddy bear toss is that those stuffed animals and teddy bears go to kids in pediatric wards at Aurora BayCare and other organizations and charities in Northeast Wisconsin that focus on those families,” Mitchell said.
Over the years, Gamblers fans have donated more than 25,000 stuffed animals, making the Teddy Bear Toss one of the organization’s most impactful community initiatives. Players, coaches, and staff say the event is a powerful reminder that hockey’s reach extends far beyond the rink.
While Saturday night’s game will matter in the standings, the greater victory will come when the ice is covered in bears, dogs, and other plush toys, each one symbolizing compassion, generosity, and community spirit.
As the crowd waits for that first goal horn, they’ll also be celebrating a tradition driven by heart, and the simple comfort of a new friend for a child in need.
