Hurricanes make bold Teddy Bear Toss predictions

It’s time to bear down once again. There will be one guaranteed delay when the Lethbridge Hurricanes host the Victoria Royals during Western Hockey League action at 7 p.m. tonight at the Enmax Centre.

That reason, however, will be of the warm and fuzzy variety as the Canes host the 22nd Annual Canadian Tire Teddy & Toque Toss as fans attend tonight’s game armed with plushed toys, ready to send them soaring when Hurricanes score their first goal of the evening.

As they skated through practice Thursday afternoon at the Enmax Centre, a few members of the Canes stepped up to offer their bold predictions on who will snipe the goal that will send the bears flying.

Perhaps not surprisingly, last year’s Teddy Bear Toss goal scorer Jordy Bellerive and his 15th goals and sixgame goal scoring streak this year earned three votes.

However, first-year European rookies, a defenceman looking for his first goal of the season and another Hurricane with an upcoming birthday also garnered some attention.

With that, we turn it over to the players.

“You know what? I’m going to say my good friend, Jordy Bellerive,” said Hurricanes forward Ryan Bowen. “He’s been hot lately and I’m hoping that’s going to continue for him. I’m going to say he’s going to use that quick snapshot of his.”

Ditto for Bellerive, said forward Shawn Harke.

“It’ll be a shot off the half wall,” he said. “It’s what he does, it’s his shot.”

Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens cast his vote for Bowen — soon to turn 19 next Sunday — as this year’s Teddy Bear Toss goal scorer and proceeded to give a goal description that would make the best colour men proud.

“He hasn’t got one since he’s been back and his birthday is coming up,” said Cozens of Bowen, who made his season debut Nov. 21 in Victoria. “I think he’s going to come down, two-ontwo. He’s going to fake to the middle, go outside, drive to the net, far post and put ‘er in.”

As his teammates selected him, Bellerive threw his vote back to the blue line.

“I think, well I hope, it’ll be Ty Prefontaine because he hasn’t got his first one yet and he’s been working pretty hard at it,” said Bellerive. “He has a pretty good shot from up top and I think he might surprise someone. I think it’ll be a point shot, in or around the top of the circle.”

Prefontaine returned the favour with the third Bellerive prediction.

“He’s on a hot streak right now, he’s shooting the puck and has a hard shot,” said Prefontaine. “I feel it’ll be a power play goal where he’ll walk to the top of the circle like he always does and just rip it home. The goalie won’t see it.”

First-year backup goaltender Reece Klassen went overseas for his pick and selected a fellow rookie as well in Egor Zudilov.

“I think it’s going to be a greaser in front of the net, a garbage goal,” said Klassen. “He’s kind of an underdog in this situation and I think he’s going to pull through for the big Teddy Bear Toss goal.”

The Hurricanes will deliver the bears and toques collected to local organizations, including Chinook Regional Hospital, Salvation Army, Streets Alive, Blood Tribe Police, Taber Food Bank, Head Dress Society, Sik ooh kotoki Friendship Society, Lethbridge Food Bank, Interfaith Food Bank, Piikani Schools Napi Friendship Association in Pincher Creek and Lethbridge Family Services Angel Tree for Kids.