Yahoo Sports Ottawa Senators Prospect Sparks A Line Brawl Right In The Middle Of The Teddy Bear Toss
The annual Teddy Bear Toss is always a great visual around the holidays.
You probably know the drill by now. A junior or minor pro team chooses a selected game where fans are invited to throw teddy bears onto the ice after the home team's first goal. The cuddly little guys are quickly scooped up by the arena staff and later given to local children's charities. It's sweet enough to give you a cavity.
But on Sunday, the Ottawa 67s and Barrie Colts added a new wrinkle to this warm holiday tradition. Was it autographs? Hugs? Christmas carols after the game?
No. They chose violence.
As fans happily hurled teddy bears onto the ice to celebrate the 67's first goal, strobe lights went off and mascots came on. But the two clubs weren't ready to bask in this lovely moment because they had just started a line brawl.
After the goal, 6-foot-7 Ottawa Senators prospect Gabriel Elliason, the club's second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, bumped into a 67's player during the celebration. It seemed like an accident, but Elliason didn't like it, so he shoved the player. It wasn't even much of a shove, but that ignited the whole thing.
For the second year in a row, Lu releases the bears! 🐻 #CBJ prospect Luca Pinelli becomes the first ever two-time teddy toss goalscorer for the Barber Poles with this powerplay goal, his 21st of the year 🚀 #CapitalTerritory | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/Bnw9uu7Ngy
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) December 8, 2024
That was the spark. This was the fire...
A truly unique edition of The Beautiful Game, as the Ottawa 67's and the Barrie Colts get into a kerfuffle in the middle of the Teddy Bear Toss. pic.twitter.com/2zXj2a1QQc
— David Castillo (@DavidCastilloAC) December 8, 2024
The scenes ranged from absurd to hilarious and made headlines all over North America.
At one point four players, two from each team, were lying in a pile, wrestling with each other while being pelted with stuffed animals. There was also an amusing shot of The Grinch, the original merchant of holiday misery. It was even too much for him. He stood there on the ice, witnessing the mayhem, and shrugging his shoulders as if to say, "What's the matter with you people?"
But on the bright side, after a Teddy Bear Toss that will never be forgotten, they say his heart grew three sizes that day.
Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa for Ottawa Senators coverage all season long.
Related: Olympiques Watch: Top 5 Gatineau/Hull Olympiques Ever to Play for the Ottawa Senators
Related: Enforcers Week: Five Greatest Fighters in Ottawa Senators History
Related: Former Ottawa Senator Goalie Gets Deal Worth $25 Million After Just 69 Career NHL Games
