Hockey Players And Teddy Bears

I play hockey on Monday nights with a good friend of mine called Jon Ripley. Rips is Canadian, but I try not to hold that against him. After a game in October, we were in the parking lot, drinking a beer, and talking about our club's monthly deal with our local minor league team, the Denver Cutthroats. We sell tickets for ten bucks, and our charity gets to keep two. We usually sell a few hundred seats, so we all get a monthly fun night out of pro hockey, while Dawg Nation earns some money. The Cutthroats love us- we've bought around a thousand tickets this season, which is a pretty big deal since they're just getting started.

On those nights, Dawg Nation normally gives a check to a deserving hockey player that's been sick or injured, because that's the whole idea behind our foundation. But last year, I had been in Rapid City, South Dakota, and they held a Teddy Bear Toss, where people bring stuffed animals to the game, and then throw them out on the ice after the first goal. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen.

So Rips and I look at each other and say, "Why don't we try to do that for our game in December? Do you think the Cutthroats would go for it?" Rips found the Rapid City clip on Youtube, and we went over and showed it to Cappy, who runs the charity. He loved the idea, and called The Fish the next day. They got on board right away, so we had ourselves a Teddy Bear Toss, if we could get it together.

Rapid City has been doing this for around five years, so now it's a tradition, and they throw a crapload of animals out on the ice. But we were afraid that for at least this first year, about 20 people would throw one out, and it would look lame. We needed to stack the deck a bit, and buy some stuffed animals to make sure enough got out there. But we'd need some money for that.

So three generous Dawgs ponied up $1400 total from either their companies or their pocket, and we were able to buy 300 stuffed animals wholesale from another of our players that is in that business. We decided to try and sell them before the game to people that didn't have an animal with them, and maybe make a few extra bucks for whatever charity we picked to receive the animals.

The charity turned out to be easy. A board member from the Denver Santa Claus Shop happened to be the wife of one of our players, Jack Kelly, who had passed away a couple of years ago. In fact, Jack was the main inspiration for starting the Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, so this was perfect.

Honestly, as the game day approached, we were scared shitless. There were so many variables. Would anybody come to the game on a Saturday night in December, or would they be going to Christmas parties? Would anyone buy our animals, or would we have to find a way to get them thrown out on the ice? What if the Fish didn't score? How would we get them cleaned up without delaying the game for a long spell?

Before the game, I set a few personal goals (imagine Morgan Freeman's voice for this part). I hoped that a hundred people would buy a stuffed animal from us, and we'd have $500 to give to the Santa Claus Shop. I hoped that we'd have another 200 animals out there, making a total of 500 when we got ours on the ice. I hoped that we could get them cleaned up quickly, without getting the old stink eye from the hockey players.

I hoped...

Well, to my surprise and delight, and because of a big effort by a charming and good looking sales staff, we sold every damn one of our stuffed animals. When we got rid of the last one, we jumped around and high fived each other like we won the friggin' Stanley Cup. The kids would be getting $1500 in cash, but how many stuffed animals would we be taking over there?

The answer came at 1:15 of the second period. Troy Schwab scored for the Cutthroats on a rebound, and then this happened:



It started raining stuffed animals. I was among the gang of Cutthroats staff and Dawg Nation hockey players down on the ice (#35 in red, trying not to fall on my ass), and they just kept coming, and coming, and coming.

It was brilliant.

We gathered them all up fairly quickly, and took them underneath the stands to bag 'em up. As we were doing it, we took an approximate count. Drum roll, please...

1250

That number shattered every expectation we had. Rips and I looked at each other, allowed ourselves a few happy expletives, and then set out to see if we had enough vehicles to get them all home. Kids, that's a fun problem to have.


That's me on the left, and then Rips, Cappy, and Rich. The animals weren't that big- we're all just that short 

Monday afternoon, we got the privilege of loading 25 trash bags full of stuffed animals into my minivan, which was so gut-full, my wife Annie had to ride with a big dog in her lap, and head on down to the Denver Santa Claus Shop. We worried about whether we would be overwhelming them with so many- would it be too much for them to handle?

Uh...no. When we got there, there must have been 700-800 people in line waiting for toys. Our dogs, and bears, and big bananas, and lots of other different things would find a home. Kathy Kelly and the staff were waiting for us, and made us feel great while we unloaded the van. I'm sure they've gotten bigger contributions, but they made us feel like we were the biggest ever.


This wasn't all of it- there were another 10 or so bags

So because of the generosity of our sponsors, and the hard work of a very dedicated small group of people, we pulled this thing off. What started as an idea from two hockey players with a combined IQ of around 29 (he's Canadian and I'm a goalie- how smart can we be?), turned into something that we'll be proud of forever.

And wait 'til next year...

Come To The Dawg Nation Teddy Bear Toss!

When I'm not writing stupid jokes, I'm a board member of a charity called the Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation. Two years ago, we lost a player named Jack Kelly to an auto-immune disease, and in his honor we started this charity that helps adult hockey players who have been badly injured or are seriously ill. In less than two years, we've raised over $200,000, and have helped 15 players throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. We're really proud of it- for more info take a look dawgnationhockey.org.

This Saturday night, we're going outside our usual scope and putting on what's called a Teddy Bear Toss at the Denver Cutthroats game against the Allen Americans. We'd love everyone that comes to bring a stuffed animal, and when the Fish score their first goal, all the toys are thrown on the ice. It's really cool- I was lucky enough to be at this game in Rapid City last year when this happened:




Here's the good part- we're selling tickets for only $10, and that includes parking. Plus the Cutthroats will give you a two for one ticket on a future game. If you forget to bring a stuffed animal, one of us handsome devils will be selling them for a small donation at the Dawg Nation table. When they're tossed out on the ice, we'll collect and deliver them to the Denver Santa Claus Shop. That way it will end up with a kid who might not otherwise get a present this year.

Here's the link for the tickets:

https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=cutthroats&o=1493361&g=160 

This is a terrific cause, plus you get a night of quality professional hockey for only $10. See you there on Saturday night!

Is It a Flash Mob? Nope, It's the CCU Cougars

Last summer, I got roped into being part of a hockey "flash mob" that was put on by a new local adult hockey website. The idea was to get a bunch of people together, and surprise two men's league's teams by going to their game, and making a bunch of noise like we were cheering for them. The concept was a ripoff of a Budweiser commercial that was very popular in Canada. Here it is if you've never seen it.



Anyway, I went, but it all seemed pretty artificial. There weren't enough people make very much noise, and I kind of resented the guy stealing a pretty cool idea. If you're smart enough to launch a new website, then be smart enough to come up with an original idea, right?

Well, last Sunday night I got to be part of something very similar, except this turned out to be the real deal. I got to live the experience of playing a game against a club team called the Cougars from Colorado Christian University. And it turned out to be one of favorite nights of hockey ever. Keep in mind I'm 54, so I've had many, many, many nights of hockey. And this is in the top five for sure.

I was called by one of my friends on Thursday, asking if I could substitute on his Sunday night team for their regular goalie. I get calls like this all the time, and I always try to help out if I can. I love getting the extra ice time.

So I showed up, met my new teammates, dressed and went out on the ice for warmups. Right before the game, my friend skated up and said, "I forgot to tell you- these guys have a pretty big rooting section. Just wanted to warn you in advance". I didn't think much of it- usually a big opposing rooting section means some dude's girlfriend yelling at me that I'm too old or too fat. I'd just do what I always do- point my stick at her, grab my crotch with my catching glove, and get on with the game. Oh, and more often than not, my team kicks her boyfriend's ass, so there.

But I wasn't ready for what happened next. About a hundred people walked into the rink, and they were fired up. I think they were keeping warm inside the lobby at the arena, because they all came in at one time, and started making a bunch of noise right from the opening faceoff. It was just like the clip above, except it was the genuine article.

Now, I had done some research before I played that night, because a) I like to see how good my opponent is, and b) I'm a giant stat dork. And I found that the Cougars had lost all seven of their games this season, and were a minus 44 on goal difference. I'll save you the math- they were losing by around six goals per game. But still, here were a hundred folks of all ages supporting their team. I normally don't impress easily, because I'm old and mostly dead inside, but I don't mind telling you, this was really cool.

So the game started, and I spent much of the first period trying to figure out how these kids could be a minus 44. They were all over my ass in the first ten minutes, and even scored the first goal on a deflection that I probably should have stopped. I was told it was the first time they'd led a game this season, and their fans went ape-shit.

We tied the game, and then went ahead right before the end of the period, but any thoughts of me having an easy night were out the window. When they leveled the game back up early in the second on a nice play in front of the net, these young people were feeling it, and so were the supporters.

And I couldn't help but smile. Because unlike most young teams I normally play against, these guys, and at least one girl, were exceptionally nice and polite. I chatted up the assistant captain, a great kid named Austin, before the start of the game, and he told me that the squad wasn't real good, but they concentrated on having fun. That's my kind of team right there. They were a real mixture of talent- they had three or four that could really play, maybe seven that were middle of the road, and a few that I could tell were just beginning their hockey careers. But they all got equal playing time, which doesn't always happen, and it was another reason I liked them so much.

During the second period, I covered the puck on the ice with my glove to stop play, and one excited CCU player came in late and smacked my glove pretty hard after the whistle, which is a big no-no in hockey circles. Just out of instinct, I jumped up and skated towards him to let him know not to do that any more, and he apologized. I think Reagan was president the last time anybody apologized to me for a late poke. Then I skated by their bench a few minutes later after a delayed penalty, and the same kid apologized again. I tapped him on the helmet with my glove, and skated back to my crease, shaking my head and laughing to myself.

We got a goal before the end of the second, and were holding on to a 3-2 lead heading to the last period. But my team was pretty tired- I think some of them had played earlier that day. So the teams went back and forth, but nobody could score, and it was still a one goal game very late.

Now the CCU fans were going nuts, because their kids had a real chance to tie the thing up. The Cougars pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, and we got some breathing room when we scored an empty netter to make it 4-2 with around 1:15 left.

But damned if they didn't get one right back about 15 seconds later, when a very good player named Andrew Raggio lazered one through the Eisenhower Tunnel that is my five-hole. I'll tell you what- when that puck went in, I've never heard an explosion like that since I've been playing hockey. Those terrific supporters about blew the roof off the Joy Burns Arena. 4-3, and there was still a minute left.

Now the fans were all up and chanting "CCU! CCU!". Honest to God, I got chills down the back of my neck. This was totally new for me, and I actually yelled out "Holy shit!", but nobody could hear me.

Then with about 15 seconds left, one of the Cougars chipped the puck past our defenseman, and broke in two-on-one with one of his teammates. I didn't think it was possible to get louder in there, but the CCU fans were in a freakin' frenzy. He ended up taking a shot that somehow found my glove, and I held it for a faceoff. When I looked to my left, I saw my Cougar buddy that had apologized earlier. He had a big smile on his face, and said, "Great save!".

Are you kidding me? Every other hockey player on Earth would have called me a lucky mother-you-know-what, but this terrific kid congratulates me. I'll admit it- there's a pretty big part of me that wishes that damn puck would have gone in. I would have loved to seen the reaction from their players and fans.

Anyway, we ran off the last few seconds, and held on to win the game by a goal. And while we were in the handshake line, their fans were all banging on the glass, and yelling "CCU! CCU!". As I skated past them on the way to the locker room, I banged my stick on the ice and pointed to them. Some of the people gave me a look like I was dissing them, but it was completely the opposite. I was just trying to say thanks. At my age, I'm very deep into the "back nine" of my playing career, and this is one game I'll always remember.

So now the Colorado Christian University Cougars have one more huge fan, as if they needed one. I'll be keeping an eye on the CCU Facebook page, hoping to read about their first win. Holy cow, would I like to be there when that happens. And if they ever need a broken down old goalie to sub, they can always call me.


Austin, I stole your picture of us- hope you don't mind