Rocket to bring annual charity tradition to Canadiens' home ice
The Laval Rocket will mark its 10th anniversary by taking its annual Teddy Bear Toss to the Bell Centre on Nov. 22, when the American Hockey League club faces the Calgary Wranglers. The game, announced as part of the season schedule, is designed both to boost visibility for the Rocket and to collect stuffed animals for families in need.
Unlike a typical home game at Place Bell in Laval, which seats 10,172 for hockey, the Bell Centre can accommodate a much larger crowd — 21,105 for hockey — giving the Rocket an opportunity to try to set an attendance record for a Canadiens affiliate.
- Date: Nov. 22
- Opponent: Calgary Wranglers
- Venue: Bell Centre (Montreal)
- Event: Teddy Bear Toss — fans encouraged to throw stuffed toys onto the ice to be donated
"The team is looking to set an attendance record for a Canadiens affiliate."
Local impact and logistics
The decision to stage the toss at the Bell Centre reflects both celebration and logistics. Place Bell remains the Rocket's home arena in Laval and will host the majority of regular-season games, but moving one marquee event to a larger downtown venue allows the club to expand the reach of its anniversary festivities and charity drive. Fans who attend will be asked to participate in the Teddy Bear Toss tradition, a longstanding custom in junior and minor-league hockey where plush toys are thrown onto the ice after the home team scores its first goal; collected items are distributed to children and families through charitable partners.
Attendance ambitions and club context
Organizers explicitly hope to surpass previous crowd figures for Canadiens affiliates, an ambition made more achievable by the Bell Centre's greater capacity. The move follows a season of roster adjustments for the Rocket: the Canadiens organisation has been filling out Laval's lineup, including recent one-year re-signings of players such as Jared Davidson and Hunter McKown. Whether the anniversary game becomes the Rocket's largest crowd will depend on ticket sales and local interest in an event that mixes on-ice entertainment with community support.
| Arena | Hockey capacity |
|---|---|
| Place Bell (Laval) | 10,172 |
| Bell Centre (Montreal) | 21,105 |
For Laval residents, the game is a chance to support the city's AHL club while contributing to a charitable cause. The Rocket's choice to stage the Teddy Bear Toss at the Bell Centre underscores the club's intent to celebrate a decade in the league and to broaden community engagement beyond its usual arena.
