It won't be an ordinary night at the rink for thousands of fans when the Penticton Vees hit the ice Friday.

Danah Phillips and Cathy Sacidis are no exception.

The two friends have teamed up to collect around 60 gift bags full of knitted scarves, hats, gloves, and other winter items ahead of the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss game on Dec. 6.

When the Vees score, "the toss" will be triggered and fans in attendance will throw their donated items on the ice in support of the Salvation Army Penticton Community Food Bank and Shop of Wonders.

"We're very blessed that we have the luxury of being able to get things we need, but a lot of families and kids don't have that luxury," Sacidis said. "It's about paying it forward."

The pair's journey toward collecting hundreds of winter items for those in need started in August, after Phillips discovered several knitted items in a basement made by her late mother-in-law, Martha Phillips.

"She was a prolific knitter," Phillips shared. "There were probably around 30 handmade matching scarves and hats we found, and then we went from there..purchasing sets of pyjamas, gloves, stuffed animals, and accepting donations from the community, too."

More than 60 per cent of the items were handmade, Phillips added.

"We like going to the hockey games in general and this is a good cause, a great need, and an easy way to give back," she said.

Phillips and Sacidis said they hope thousands of others on Friday will join them in flooding the ice with stuffed animals and winter items for those in need.

"It doesn't take much, if you have the skill and can make things then that's great, but if you can't just pick up something," Phillips said. "Every little bit will help out somewhere."

The WHL's Kamloops Blazers were the first to host a Teddy Bear Toss game, doing so in 1993.

It's since become a holiday tradition at minor and junior hockey rinks across North America, with Penticton taking part in the festivities for the last several years.

The Vees host the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday. Puck drop is at 7 p.m., with tickets available at or the SOEC box office.