In the United States, Hershey Bears fans participated in the traditional teddy bear collection held at the Giant Center on Sunday during the game against the Rockford IceHogs. The crowd threw thousands of stuffed animals onto the ice after their team scored the first goal early in the game against Rockford. In total, more than 81,000 toys were collected in one evening. Since 2001, this tradition has collected more than 648,000 stuffed animals, which are then distributed to some sixty local charities to benefit children in need. The game ended with a 5-2 victory for the Bears in front of a packed house. Over the years, this event has become a highly anticipated highlight of American winter sports, combining entertainment and charitable giving.
