Pats annual Teddy Bear Toss tonight at the Brandt Centre

It’s an honour usually only reserved for hats, but at the Brandt Centre Friday night people will be tossing teddies onto the ice for a good cause.

Fans are asked to bring a stuffed animal to the game and when the Pats score their first goal of the evening everyone will toss the toys down to the ice.

According to Pats defenceman Connor Hobbs, a lot of bragging rights goes to the Pats player who scores the first goal.

“That one’s a special goal for the boys and for the fans,” he told the Green Zone’s Jamie Nye on Thursday.

After the game the teddies end up in very special homes.

Before Christmas Pats players will drop many of the stuffed animals off at the children’s ward at the hospital with the remainder being donated to the Salvation Army and Palliative Care’s Caring Hearts Camp.

For the players who go out to deliver the toys, it’s special too.

“It’s incredible. It makes you feel good,” Hobbs said. “I know that the kids enjoy it and it’s a great thing for the city, for us and for the team.”

Pats fans set a new standard at the toss last year by throwing more than 2,000 animals down to the rink, but this year there is a little extra on the line.

Saskatoon’s Mayor Charlie Clark has issued a challenge to Regina Mayor Michael Fougere: The mayor whose city accumulates the fewest numbers of stuffed toys will have to wear the winning city’s jersey at a city council meeting.

“We all know that the Regina Pats have the best team in the CHL and the best fans anywhere so we accept your challenge,” said Fougere in a social media video posted by the Pats this week.

“You’re going to look really good in a Pats jersey,” he added in a taunt to Clark.

There will be a limited number of teddies available for purchase at the game for fans who can’t make to the store before heading to the Brandt Centre.

Puck drops at 7 p.m. – don’t be late or you might miss the first goal and your time to toss the teddies!