A heartwarming holiday tradition took an unexpected turn during a game between the Ottawa 67’s and Barrie Colts when multiple on-ice altercations broke out amid a shower of teddy bears.
The annual teddy bear toss at TD Place Arena on December 8 was meant to be a charitable celebration, but it transformed into a peculiar scene that has since gone viral on social media. The event, which traditionally begins after the home team’s first goal, had to wait until midway through the second period when Luca Pinelli finally found the back of the net with a one-timer.
As hundreds of stuffed animals rained down from the stands, tensions between players escalated into several simultaneous skirmishes. In a surreal moment caught on camera, even the Grinch mascot became part of the mayhem, raising his hands while a referee restrained Pinelli, who was exchanging words with Barrie’s Ben Eliasson.
The unusual sequence of events led officials to temporarily send both teams to their locker rooms while staff cleared the teddy bears from the ice. The incident resulted in 10 penalties being distributed among five players. Four players – Barrie’s Ben Eliasson and Dalyn Wakely, along with Ottawa’s Luca Pinelli and Brady Foster – received misconduct and roughing penalties. Colts captain Beau Jelsma was assessed a minor roughing penalty.
Despite the chaos, the event’s charitable purpose wasn’t forgotten. Fans continued to purchase additional bears from charity vendors at the arena, with all proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network in support of sick children at the CHEO Hospital in Ottawa.
The viral video of teddy bears flying through the air while players squared off has since garnered significant attention across social media platforms, creating an unlikely mix of holiday spirit and hockey intensity that few will soon forget.
