Dozens of stuffed animals sent flying over the glass at Burnaby Winter Club on Sunday, Dec. 10, are en route to families in need this holiday season.
Fans threw roughly 50 teddy bears and toys onto the ice after Grandview Steelers' Steven Konechny scored his 11th of the season with 4:11 left in the first period.
That was enough to fill six large garbage bags for the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, which will then go to local low-income families with kids aged 16 years and younger.
The goal was the first of two for Konechny, and one of four points he accumulated in a 4-3 nail-biting victory over the Port Moody Panthers, including an assist on Grandview's game-winner with 11 seconds left.
The Burnaby forward credited his teammates for setting up the teddy bear goal, ultimately leading to his fifth multi-point performance of the 2023-24 campaign.
"[It] was pretty cool. A sweet pass by [Aidan] Texeira," Konechny said after the win.
"My linemates are huge. Ben [Ruthven] and Tex are awesome. They help me a lot out there."
The Teddy Bear Toss game was the Steelers' 13th annual holiday fundraising initiative.
In 2022, the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, part of Burnaby Community Services, collected 1,400 stuffed animals for nearly 670 families and 1,420 children.
Grandview went 1-1 over the weekend, clawing out the Sunday Tom Shaw Conference victory after falling 3-1 to the Wolf Pack in North Vancouver a day earlier.
It also ended a four-game losing skid and improved the Steelers' record to 14-13-0-2.
Alternate captains Ruthven and Texeira also recorded multi-point nights with a goal and an assist each. Ruthven potted the game-winning puck into the Port Moody net off a deflection.
Grandview goaltender Shayan Kermany made 18 saves on 21 shots to earn his fourth win over the season while the Steelers sent 34 shots towards Port Moody's cage.
The black and yellow will play in Abbotsford on Friday, Dec. 15, before returning home for two games at Burnaby Winter Club — located at 4990 Canada Way.
The Steelers will face-off against the White Rock Whalers on Sunday, Dec. 17, and North Vancouver next Wednesday, Dec. 20; both games start at 7:15 p.m.
