Bulldogs look to top last year’s toy tally

Get ready to throw some stuffed animals around — for a good cause, of course.

The Hamilton Bulldogs are hosting their annual teddy bear toss Saturday during the Saginaw Spirit’s annual visit. After the game, the toys will be rounded up and delivered to the Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain at Lime Ridge Mall.

To take part, all you need to do is bring a new teddy to the game — any type of stuffed toy, actually, as long as it doesn’t have anything hard, like a battery pack, inside — and toss it onto the ice after the Bulldogs score their first goal. Everyone who donates also receives a complimentary ticket to a future game as a thank you.

The teddy bear toss is an annual tradition across the Ontario Hockey League. Last year, OHL clubs collected nearly 65,000 teddy bears and more than $20,000 for local charities in games leading up to the Christmas break.

The Kitchener Rangers led the way with a team record of 10,190 toys, while 9,680 were unleashed in London. The Bulldogs, who go into the weekend in third place in the East Division with just one win in their last seven games, are looking to top their 2015 tally of 3,118.

The action gets underway at 7 p.m. at FirstOntario Centre.

Notes: Ondrej Kachyna is suiting up for his native Czech Republic at the World Jr. A Challenge in Edmonton. The import defenceman, who has seen limited ice time with the Bulldogs this season, left for Alberta earlier this week. The annual under-20 tournament kicks off Sunday and runs until Dec. 17 ... In Ep. 13 of the Bulldogs Paw’dcast, The Spectator’s Teri Pecoskie and Scott Radley talk about the team’s recent slump, record at home and a holiday season stroke of luck — that is, facing some of the OHL’s best (the Erie Otters and Soo Greyhounds included) when their top players are away at the World Junior Championship. Listen at e2e.thespec.com or download at iTunes. The week ahead Saginaw Saturday, 7 p.m., FirstOntario Centre

The storyline: The Spirit started the weekend in the Western Conference basement, but they are not to be underestimated — they’re undefeated in regulation in their last five games and shut out Sarnia 3-0 Thursday.

Player to watch: With lead scorer Mitchell Stephens away at Canada’s World Junior selection camp, look out for Hayden Hodgson, who has with 11 points in his past five appearances.

Notable alumni: Ben Chiarot, Brandon Saad, T.J. Brodie