Plymouth Whalers' Annual Teddy Bear Toss, Salute to Heroes Happens Saturday

When the Plymouth Whalers host the Guelph Storm on Sat. Dec. 7 at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena, they’ll be asking fans to bring a furry little friend along to help support a great cause.

Saturday is the Whalers 14th Annual Teddy Bear Toss.  If you are new to the Teddy Bear Toss, the first time the Whalers score, fans are encouraged to throw their stuffed animals on to the ice.  Once the stuffed animals are collected, Plymouth Community United Way will find great homes for the comforting toys.

Last season, Plymouth left wing Matt Mistele scored at 11:21 of the first period to trigger the rain of stuffed animals out of the crowd and onto the ice surface.

VIDEO: See Mistele's goal last season and the Teddy Bear Toss.

After the Whalers’ most successful Teddy Bear Toss last season, Plymouth is enlisting the help of WDIV’s Chuck Gaidica and local corporate sponsor Family Heating Cooling & Electrical, Inc. to try to top last season’s Teddy Bear Toss.

“We’re always very excited and a little anxious to see the first Whalers goal,” said Dawn Frey, Senior Vice President of Advertising for Family Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Inc.  “But when the stuffed animals come raining down, there’s nothing but smiles in the building.  Everyone involved is contributing something to make Saturday a special night.  It’s all about the right stuff – good people contributing to a great cause.”

When fans arrive at the game, they’ll be invited to purchase one of Gaidica’s Cuddle Alert Bears for just $5 to throw on the ice.  They also have the option to bring a new stuffed animal to the game.                                                                                             

Saturday’s game is also Plymouth’s 11th Annual Salute to Heroes Night. Veterans and current Armed Forces members will receive a complimentary ticket (with ID), while family members can purchase tickets for $10.

Tickets are still available onhttp://www.plymouthwhalers.com, or call the Plymouth Whalers Box Office at 734-453-8400. Military & their families are encouraged to call the box office early for tickets.

Gaidica is an Emmy Award-winning television and radio personality. He invented the phrase "Cuddle Alert" during his weather reports as a fun, call-to-action phrase during cold weather outbreaks.  As America’s Cuddle Alert expert, Gaidica is the author of an award winning children’s book, “Tommy Starts Something Big.”   His Cuddle Alert Teddy Bears promote the healing effects of touch.

Find out more about Gaidica’s Cuddle Alert by going online tohttp://www.cuddlealert.com/

Owned and operated for 45 years by George Klempert and his family, Family Heating, Cooling and Electrical, Inc. has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau for 32 years and has earned the reputation for outstanding customer service at a fair price in Southeast Michigan.

Find out more about Family Heating Cooling and Electrical, Inc. by going online tohttp://www.familyheating.com

Here is a list of recent Plymouth players who scored the first goal on Teddy Bear Night:

Dec.1, 2012 – Matt Mistele, 11:21 first period.

Dec. 3, 2011 – Alex Aleardi, 5:41 first period.

Dec. 4, 2010 – Alex Aleardi, 3:44 first period.

Dec. 5, 2009 – Michal Jordan, 19:32 second period.

Dec. 13, 2008 – Christian Steingraber, 16:41 first period.

Dec. 8, 2007 – AJ Jenks, 12:38 first period.

Dec. 9, 2006 – AJ Jenks, 1:51 first period.

Dec. 10, 2005 – Dan Collins, 13:16 first period.

Dec. 11, 2004 – Cory Tanaka, 17:51 first period.