Louie Belpedio scores Hershey Bears' 2026 Teddy Bear Toss goal, unleashing thousands of flying stuffed animals onto the ice at Giant Center

"It's pretty cool. Obviously, it's for a really good cause, and it's exciting to be on this side of it for once. Big game, big crowd. Obviously, there's going to be a ton of bears thrown, so it's exciting. We always talk about who's going to get it, and luckily, it was me. It's definitely exciting. It's cool to be a part of, and there's a little extra energy in there."

"A lot more fun [to be on the Hershey side of this], Belpedio told Fox 43's Todd Sadowski. "I remember when I was here a couple years ago as a visitor," Belpedio said. "You just sit in the locker room and get the countdown going to when you can get back out there. So, to be able"

"To the line, Belpedio, THEY SCORE, Sweet cuddly mayhem! It's a sky full of stuffies! It's the Teddy Bear Toss magic in Hershey!"

Louie Belpedio slipped a point drive by Rockford goaltender Laurent Brossoit 2:55 into the first period, beating Brossoit five-hole and sparking the Hershey Bears' 2025-2026 Teddy Bear Toss. Thousands of stuffed animals were thrown onto the Giant Center ice, pausing the game while players and volunteers collected donations into large bags for local charities. Spencer Smallman redirected the puck to Belpedio at the point before the shot. Play-by-play announcer Zack Fisch celebrated the moment as "Sweet cuddly mayhem." Belpedio, who spent three seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before signing with the Washington Capitals, said the moment felt exciting and energizing.

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