There are traditions that mark the season, and then there are the ones that shape you. For my family, the Teddy Bear Toss has always been the latter. When we first moved to the Mohawk Valley eight years ago, my kids were invited by their friends Connor and Ava Hayes, classmates they’d just met at Notre Dame in Utica, to help collect teddy bears off the ice after the first goal. It became an instant tradition, one they looked forward to every December.
Year after year, they bundled up, walked into the arena buzzing with holiday energy, and waited for that first goal. And the moment it happened, when the crowd erupted and the bears came raining down, it wasn’t just exciting. It was meaningful. I don’t think my kids realized it at the time, but participating in the Teddy Bear Toss gave them their earliest true sense of what community service feels like. The joy of giving. The responsibility of showing up. The importance of being part of something bigger than yourself. These are values that I believe were strengthened not only by the Hayes family and the New York Sash family, but also by the sense of community and service instilled in them at Notre Dame right here in Utica, an environment that encouraged kindness, generosity, and being present for others. In so many ways, all of those influences came together on the ice, creating a tradition that has stayed with them ever since.
The 21st Annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss
Saturday, December 6 • Utica University Pioneers Men’s Hockey vs. Oswego State
Doors: 6pm | Puck Drop: 7pm
Fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal to the Adirondack Bank Center. The tradition is simple and unforgettable: once Utica scores their first goal, thousands of teddy bears are thrown onto the ice at once. The sight of it, an arena full of flying bears, is one of the most joyful scenes of the season.
Every stuffed animal is collected by the New York Sash team and donated to local children for the holidays. In other words, the magic that fills the arena doesn’t stay there, it goes right back into the community.
Because Utica has been known to score quickly, early entry is encouraged. If you can’t make it to the game, New York Sash is also accepting donations at their showroom in Whitesboro.
A single stuffed animal may seem small, but when thousands of people give together, the impact is enormous. That’s the heart of the Teddy Bear Toss and why it remains one of my favorite holiday traditions in the Mohawk Valley.
Making Winter Memories in Oneida County
Content and images provided by Oneida County Tourism
Winter in Oneida County is filled with ways to make memories together. Spend the day snowshoeing at the Utica Zoo, catching a Utica Comets or UCFC game at the Adirondack Bank Center, or hitting the slopes at Woods Valley. Then, unwind with a coffee or cocoa at a local café, relax and recharge at Turning Stone Resort Casino, or explore Munson before ending the evening with a show at The Stanley.
Round out the day on the Heart of NY Craft Beverage Trail, where local breweries and wineries offer the perfect toast to the season. Whether it’s a family outing, date night, or weekend adventure, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the magic of winter here.
Discover more at oneidacountytourism.com or follow Visit Oneida County on social for winter inspiration.
