CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - With the holiday season approaching, the Harvard men's and women's hockey teams sought to bring a little joy to cancer/pediatric patients in the Boston region in the form of some fluffy friends. 
 
Collectively, the programs held their first ever "Teddy Bear Toss" Initiative during the men's home contest on Nov. 26 versus New Hampshire, and the women's meeting with Rensselaer on Dec. 4. 
 
The drive involved fans at these two games bringing their stuffed creatures to Bright-Landry Hockey Center and throwing them onto the ice at the designated time to be gathered for donation. 
 
 In all, more than 100 teddy bears and stuffed animals were collected to be given to patients at both Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 

"The Teddy Bear toss was a special opportunity for our team to be part of something bigger than ourselves," Harvard senior defender, and women's ice hockey's Chief Marketing Officer, Kyra Willoughby, said. "It was really cool that our game served as a chance to give back to the community in a small way. We hope that the teddy bears brighten the days of the patients, and we look forward to continuing to build the connection between our program and Harvard-affiliated hospitals."
 
"On behalf of our pediatric patients and families at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, we would like to extend our gratitude to the Harvard Athletics Program and all of those who generously participated and donated to their 'Teddy Bear Toss Games,'" a statement from Massachusetts General Hospital for Children reads. "These stuffed animals will bring so much comfort and joy to our pediatric patients this holiday season! Thank you for thinking of our patients and families!"