Plymouth Whalers' Teddy Bear Toss, Salute to Heroes Night Coming Saturday

When the Plymouth Whalers host the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena, they’ll be aiming to accomplish a much bigger goal than gaining a victory against their Western Conference rival.

In teaming up with local celebrity Chuck Gaidica, Family Heating, Cooling & Electrical, the Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund and Plymouth Community United Way, the Whalers are looking to make Saturday’s 10th Annual Salute to Heroes Night and Teddy Bear Toss a dynamic, uplifting night to remember.

The Whalers’ Salute to Heroes Night was created 10 years ago to recognize and celebrate our local Armed Forces for their service to our country. In that regard, all veterans and active military with Military ID in attendance will receive a complimentary reserved ticket and their family members will receive a special $10 discounted ticket. All branches of the military will be formally recognized and awarded during the game.

The Whalers’ 13th Annual Teddy Bear Toss will also occur during this game. And, it is already off to a good start before the puck is dropped with Family Heating Cooling and Electrical donating the first 500 bears to be thrown.

If you are new to the Teddy Bear Toss, the first time the Whalers score, fans 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.

When fans arrive at the game, they will be greeted by the huggable seven foot Cuddle Alert Mascot and invited to purchase one of Gaidica’s Cuddle Alert Bears for just $5 to throw on the ice or they can bring a new stuffed animal with them. All proceeds benefit the Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund.

“We’re very excited and a little anxious to see the first Whalers goal on Saturday,” said Dawn Frey, Senior Vice President of Advertising for Family Heating, Cooling & Electrical.  “We don’t always get an opportunity to support local causes, but everyone involved is contributing something to make Saturday a special night.  It’s all about the right stuff.”

Like Plymouth players completing a good three-way passing play on the ice, the Whalers, Gaidica and Family Heating, Cooling and Electrical are teaming up to collect more stuffed animals for local families than any other year. 

That’s not all.

As a part of the Salute to Heroes on Saturday, a special Chuck-A-Puck at Chuck(Gaidica) fundraiser will be held during the second intermission with proceeds going to Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund,http://www.fwsf.org

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 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 44 years by George Klempert and his family, Family Heating, Cooling and Electrical, Inc. has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau for 31 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 to http://www.familyheating.com.