Feeling cuddly! Over 20,000 teddies are thrown onto the ice for charity at Hershey Bears game

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Whatever the sport, the moment in which a team scores brings a unique burst of happiness to their supporters that is difficult to replicate.

But is it possible to bring joy to others from that instant? Teams in North America have been answering that question around the festive period since 1993.

The teddy bear toss is a relatively new tradition that has been embraced at ice hockey rinks across the continent.

Supporters of AHL ice hockey side the Hershey Bears tossing teddy bears onto the ice

The teddy bear toss is an annual tradition among ice hockey clubs in North America

Teddy bears are thrown over the barricades in ice hockey venues after a goal is scored

It features fans throwing teddy bears onto the ice after the team have scored, with staggering numbers being collected. 

And on December 4, the fittingly named Hershey Bears set a new record for their own side when 20,662 toys rained down from the bleachers during their game against the Syracuse Crunch. 

The huge number of toys came flying over the barriers after they opened the scoring through Garrett Mitchell in the 15th minute of the first period.

As is the tradition of the teddy bear toss, the bears were then rounded up and donated to childrens' charities in a demonstration of Christmas spirit.

Some supporters decided to bring an oversized teddy bear with them to the game

With the combined effort of a number of Hershey Bears fans they managed to throw it over

The teddy bears are collected by club staff and donated to local childrens' charities

That means the total collected by the Hershey Bears over the last six years has risen to 91,549.

A group of fans even chose to throw a stuffed bear larger than anyone in attendance onto the ice.

Players Madison Bowey and Liam O'Brien then personally delivered the giant bear and others to the Ronald McDonald House after the event.