By Scott Roblin/Charles Lefebvre

VIDEO: Tigers deliver Teddy Bears to hospital

Dec 10, 2018 | 11:12 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s the season of giving, something the Medicine Hat Tigers are taking to heart after thousands of teddy bears rained down from the Canalta Centre.

On Monday, captain James Hamblin, along with alternate captains Ryan Chyzowski, Ryan Jevne and Bryan Lockner, stopped at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital to deliver some of the teddy bears thrown on the ice following the team’s Teddy Bear Toss game on December 1.

Hamblin brought the bears down with his first period goal and said getting the chance to visit the hospital is always a special privilege.

“To see the teddy bears flying on the ice is something, but to be able to come down to the hospital and to actually meet the kids is something that you’ll never forget,” said Hamblin.

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It was Hamblin and Jevne’s second trips to the hospital delivering the bears, while it was the first such excursion for both Chyzowski and Lockner.

Chyzowski said after being on the ice for two previous Teddy Bear Toss games, he jumped at the chance to finally make the visit on Monday.

“I’ve been in the Teddy Bear game the past few years and it’s just kind of a game,” said Chyzowski. “Now, you put it to an event and you’re giving the teddy bears to sick kids now, and you see the kids’ faces that you’re doing the event for.”

As for Lockner, he added a big part of the junior hockey framework is to find ways to give back to the community.

“It’s a huge honour and I think it’s great that us four guys came down to help these kids out,” said Lockner. “I think it means a lot for everyone here.”

According to a release from the Tigers, close to 2,000 bears were collected, and will be split between the hospital, the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter and the local chapter of the Salvation Army.

That’s combined with 1,080 winter clothing items that were also donated by Tigers fans.

It’s not just a one day initiative for the hospital however, as Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation executive director Heather Bach said the bears will have a year-round impact on patients.

“It might be as simple as giving them someone to hug and someone to love when they’re scared, it might be a reward because they just had to sit still for an x-ray,” said Bach. “We also use them for blood tests as well.”

Walking the halls of Medicine Hat’s pediatric wing for the first time, it was an eye-opening experience for the 18-year-old Lockner.

“I could be in their shoes and it could be a different life,” he said. “It’s always good to help them out through the struggles and know that people got their back through the community.”

Providing some light during the holiday season, Chyzowski added the visit is just as impactful on the players as it is for the little ones meeting their hockey heroes.

“It just kind of makes you a little bit more grateful for what you have and what you have to face every day,” he said.

Medicine Hat’s players return to the Canalta Centre ice on Wednesday night, looking for their third straight victory against the Kamloops Blazers at 7:00 pm.