On Friday, Jan. 16, the Antioch Community High School varsity boys’ basketball team faced rival school, Lakes Community High School. The Cardinal Crazies and Royal Rush collaborated with their fan sections to participate in a pajama themed game. Students, staff and fans from each school were encouraged to bring in their own teddy bears or stuffed animals, used or new, which granted them with free admission to the game.

The Teddy Bear Toss is a popular Christmas event that many junior hockey teams across the nation participate in. The fans will throw thousands of teddy bears onto the ice once the home team scores their first goal and they will be collected and donate to a foundation of their choice.

During halftime of the boys’ game, both fan sections threw their teddy bears onto the court, they were then collected and donated to the Special Olympics.

Though the Sequoits fell short by three points, the Teddy Bear Toss was a big success for both Antioch and Lakes.

“This was an idea that was born out of a Student Cabinet discussion and it turned out to be an awesome event!  This student-led initiative was a huge success that brought together our students, our staff, our parent/guardians, our community, and our District 117 counterparts, all in an effort to make a difference for the Special Olympics,” said Principal Bradford Hubbard in his Weekly Follow Up email.