Forget tea, take your Teddy to hockey

It’ll be raining bears at the Spokane Arena on Saturday.

After the Spokane Chiefs’ first goal of the night, fans will send stuffed animals flying down to the ice for the annual Teddy Bear Toss.

The event is one of the most popular on the schedule, said Jay Stewart, the Chiefs’ vice president of sponsorships.

“It just has a completely different atmosphere … it’s a little more festive,” he said.

“A lot of people, they use this as their opportunity to give back to the community.”

Stewart said it’s fun watching the anticipation build as people wait for that first goal. Often there will be some close calls, and “You can see them starting to cock their arms.”

The toys – last year there were 6,124 – will be donated to the Christmas Bureau, which provides gifts, books and food vouchers to families in need.

And though the Teddy Bear Toss is particularly fun, any game is an affordable and family-friendly evening out, Stewart said. Other popular promotions include Buck Night with $1 hot dogs, sodas and Fudgsicles (the next is Dec. 27); Military Night (Jan. 30); and Breast Cancer Awareness Night (Feb. 20).

And, when you’re at the Arena, there’s so much more to the experience than just the game, Stewart said. There’s the video wall, kids dancing and the crazy things other fans are doing.

Plus, on the outer concourse there’s the Kids Zone where children can make posters, get their face painted, do a puck shoot and “slap high fives with our mascot Boomer,” he said.

“It’s such a different kind of event than watching a game on TV,” Stewart said. “There’s so many different things that are going on in the building.”

Kimberly Lusk

Teddy Bear Toss: 7:05 p.m. Saturday, vs. Tri-City Americans

Next game: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, vs. Everett Silvertips, player magnet giveaway for first 1,000 fans

Where: Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave.

Tickets: $10 to $22, available through TicketsWest outlets and at www.ticketswest.com

Info: (509) 535-PUCK or http://spokanechiefs.com/