The annual Mitts, Socks, Toques, and Teddy Bear Toss game will make a return to Blackfalds this weekend.
On Sunday the Bulldogs will host the Drumheller Dragons at 2 p.m. for their second annual event and are expecting a big crowd.
Director of community relations and partnerships with the Bulldogs, Michelle Brown said last year the Blackfalds Bulldogs Foundation collected approximately 2,000 items and hopes to top that this week.
“I think one of the things that’s great about our fanbase in Blackfalds and in central Alberta is that they really come to realize when we plan a big event they come out and support,” she said. “We anticipate Sunday’s game to be full with most of our season ticket holders and a large portion of our immediate community.”
“Last year was pretty phenomenal. It was my first time being a part of an event like this from an organizational side… We had a huge turnout and because there was such an enormous amount of donations brought in when we scored that first goal last year we were in a position to distribute to a few different charitable organizations here in central Alberta.”
The Eagle Builders Centre at capacity holds 1,418 people and the organization wants to pack the house. This time around all the donations of mitts, socks, toques, and teddy bears will be given to the Blackfalds Christmas Bureau to help out families.
Those planning to attend the game are asked to bring new items since they’re going towards families in need and can throw them on the ice once the Bulldogs score their first goal.
“We’re quite fortunate we do a lot of walk-up sales for our game but we do really encourage our fans and guests to get their tickets in advance because it’s a better rate,” she added.
The Bulldogs struggled in the month of November and are currently on a four-game losing streak. Despite that, the Bulldogs are currently in fifth place in the AJHL’s South Division with a 14-12-1-1 record and are only five points out of second place.
Captain Brett Meerman is having a stellar year in the offensive zone with 15 goals and 16 assists for 41 points, good enough for sixth in the league scoring race.