CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard Men's and Women's Ice Hockey joined forces to spread some cheer in the form of teddy bears leading into the holiday season. The Third-Annual Teddy Bear Toss brought in 454 bears - the most collected to date. The first-annual toss brought in over 100 bears while the second brought in over 200.
 
Fans brought furry friends of all shapes and sizes to the men's game against Boston College (Nov. 28) and the women's game against the Clarkson Golden Knights (Dec. 2). Stuffed animals were thrown onto the ice during the first intermission and were then collected to be donated to pediatric patients at Boston-region hospitals.
 
All the stuffed animals that hit the ice were donated to patients at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and Mass Eye and Ear.
 
"As a team we take pride in bettering ourselves and our community both on and off the ice, so the Teddy bear toss is something very important to us," said Harvard Women's Ice Hockey junior Jenna MacDonald. "We are so excited to host this event in order to support our local community and do something for the greater good this holiday season. We really hope that our efforts will bring happiness to patients being cared for at Harvard-affiliated hospitals and we hope that this tradition will continue to grow year after year!"
 
When asked what the event means to him, Harvard Men's Ice Hockey captain Ian Moore said, "The Teddy Bear Toss game is always one that's special to play in. It's an awesome event for a great cause. We really appreciate the opportunity to help support local children's hospitals and engage Crimson Hockey fans."