Sarnia’s annual Teddy Bear Toss delivered a major win for the community on Sunday, November 30, with fans showering the ice at Progressive Auto Sales Arena with 4,375 stuffed animals that will be distributed to local children in need.
The event, now approaching its 30th year, continues to be one of the team’s most cherished traditions, and this year’s turnout marked another roaring success.
The celebration began when forward Jack Van Volsen opened the scoring early in the third period, prompting a wave of plush toys to rain down from the stands. After two scoreless periods, the goal in the third period electrified the arena and set the tone for a tightly contested matchup. The Sting went on to claim a 3–2 victory over the Flint Firebirds, sealing the win in a shootout with goals from Alessandro Di Iorio and Van Volsen.
This year’s donations will be shared among several community organizations, including the Salvation Army, the Inn of the Good Shepherd, and the Women’s Interval Home.
Since the Teddy Bear Toss began almost thirty years ago, the program has brought more than 80,000 stuffed toys into the hands of young people across Sarnia and Lambton County. Sunday’s collection continued that legacy, pairing an exciting comeback win with a strong show of generosity from the 4,407 fans who filled the arena.
