Vancouver hockey squad to dress like Buddy the Elf

Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants will dress like Buddy the Elf for a game on Saturday against the Victoria Royals.

Players will don the green coat and yellow pants of Will Ferrell's character in the film Elf before autographing and auctioning off the shirts. The funds raised will go to the CKNW Kids' Fund.

The team is also hosting the Chevrolet Teddy Bear Toss during the game.

"Teddy Bear Toss is one of the most highly anticipated games of the season and the Vancouver Giants are always trying to set the bar higher when it comes to the Teddy Bear Toss experience for our fans," Giants vice president of operations and assistant general manager Peter Toigo told the team website.

"Who better than a team full of Buddy the Elves to get everybody into the holiday spirit?"

Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed toys, toques, mittens and scarves to the game with them. When the Giants score their first goal, fans can throw the items onto the ice. The donations will be collected and donated to charities within the Lower Mainland.

Fans in Hershey, Pa., set the record for the most stuffed animals tossed onto the ice on Dec. 2 during a game between the Hershey Bears and the Binghamton Devils. That total amassed to 34,798 stuffed toys.