Pats come up short in Teddy Bear Toss game, losing 8-5 to Kelowna

Over 2,000 stuffed animals packed the Brandt Centre Saturday night, as part of The Regina Pats 29th Teddy Bear Toss game. (Courtesy: Keith Hershmiller Photography)

Local hockey fans did their part with over 2,000 stuffed animals donated Saturday as part of The Regina Pats 29^th Teddy Bear Toss game.

The Rockets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before Matthew Paranych set of the Teddy Bear Toss frenzy with a goal at the 10:58 mark. The Brandt Centre crowd responded by tossing 2,182 stuffed animals onto the ice.

The event, which supports local charities and families during the holiday season, encourages Pats fans to bring a new stuffed toy to throw onto the ice as soon as the Pats score their first goal of the night.

Although the Teddy Bear Toss has been celebrated by the team for nearly three decades, it is also a tradition across the WHL.

A large portion of the collected stuffed toys will be donated to the Salvation Army, according to the Pats, with donations also going to several other local charities.

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Paranych’s goal ignited the Pats offence with Regina taking a 3-2 lead by the end of the first period. The Rockets led 4-3 after two periods and sealed an 8-5 victory by outscoring the Pats 4-2 in the third frame.

Pats rookie Maddox Schultz scored twice, the first goals of his WHL career. Schultz, who is splitting the campaign between the Pats and U18AAA Regina Pat Canadians, has two goals and four assists in 10 games with the Pats. He has 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points in 13 games with the Pat Canadians.

The Pats will play their final game before the WHL holiday break on Dec. 17 when they will play host to the Prince Albert Raiders. Their first game after the break is Dec. 27 in Saskatoon against the Blades.

-- With files from Jeff DeDekker