The Bridgeport Islanders celebrate an overtime goal by Aautu Raty (16) against the Providence Bruins in Game 2 of their AHL playoff series on May 4, 2022 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The Islanders beat the Bruins 2-1 to win the series 2-0.
Bridgeport Islanders / Contributed PhotoThe Bridgeport Islanders traveled to Hershey and left the rink with a 2-0 triumph over the Hershey Bears on Sunday.
The real victory though, was a world record amount of teddy bears that Hershey donated to local charities following the game.
There is a tradition in Hershey where after the Bears score their first goal, the fans throw teddy bears onto the rink. Although Sunday night, Hershey could not finish a shot.
The Islanders scored their second goal with just two seconds left, making the final two seconds seem unnecessary.
So the fans took matters into their own hands and showered the teams with bears following Bridgeport's final goal.
"It is sweet, cuddly mayhem in a way we never expected here in Hersheytown," the announcer said.
The Bears donate all the cuddly bears that are thrown to local charities. The organization announced that the community established a new world record of 67,309 teddy bears being donated among 35 charities.
So in the end, the Islanders and the (teddy) Bears both won.
