Hockey fans flood the ice in record-setting Teddy Bear Toss.

One of my favorite traditions in the sport of hockey has just been taken to the next level.

On Sunday night, the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears held their annual Teddy Bear Toss, a tradition in which fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game and throw them out onto the ice after the first goal from the home team is scored. The tradition is aimed to helped collect the toys for those less fortunate, providing thousands of young children in need with a cuddly friend.

This year it was Washington Capitals prospect Bogdan Trineyev who would get the bears flying by finding the back of the net, and it created a rather wild scene on Sunday night.

Here's a look at the bears flying onto the ice:

And I am happy to report that it didn't just look wild, it was in fact a record setting Teddy Bear Toss. Following the event itself, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis proudly took to social media to announce that it had been a record-setting toss with a whopping 74,599 stuffed animals thrown out onto the ice. Leonsis also proudly announced that all of them will be donated to children across Central Pennsylvania, making this all that much more wonderful.

This is one of the very best annual traditions in the sport of hockey, and it is one that I hope never comes to an end.