A total of 22,029 teddy bears were collected at Acrisure Arena during the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ fourth annual Teddy Bear Toss Night. The event, held on Friday and presented by The General Air Conditioning and Plumbing, is part of the team’s Season of Giving initiative. It aims to support local first responders—including police, fire, EMTs—and community organizations by providing stuffed animals for children in distressing situations.
The tradition began early in the game when Firebirds forward Oscar Molgaard scored just two minutes and thirty seconds into the first period. This prompted fans to throw thousands of teddy bears onto the ice, pausing play while players, staff, and volunteers cleared the arena floor.
“This night is such a powerful reminder of what this community is capable of when we come together,” said Kate Spates, Executive Director of the One Valley Foundation. “Each teddy bear represents comfort, joy, and care for a child who needs it most. The generosity of Firebirds fans continues to inspire us, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s Teddy Bear Toss such a meaningful success.”
All donated stuffed animals will be distributed through the One Valley Foundation—the charitable branch of the Firebirds organization—to groups including 29 Palms Marine Corps Toys for Tots, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, and local emergency services like fire departments and paramedics.
During the event, an entertainment segment featured two characters known as the Teddy Bear Bandits attempting to take some of the donations. According to organizers, mascot Fuego—with help from fans and authorities—stopped them. One bandit commented: “Fuego and fans may have saved this year’s event, but we have plenty of time to think about our next move. This isn’t the last you’ll see of the Teddy Bear Bandits!”
The Teddy Bear Toss has become a key holiday tradition for Firebirds supporters. Over four years, more than 72,000 stuffed animals have been donated through this effort.
The Firebirds’ next home game at Acrisure Arena will be against the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday, December 27th at 6 p.m. PT.
