Lazyboy reminded us in the early 2000s that “Underwear Goes Inside the Pants,” but it seems the Orlando Solar Bears didn’t get the memo.
The Florida-based ECHL team held their fourth annual Underwear Toss game on Friday, November 28, against the Jacksonville Icemen. Similar to teddy bear toss games across the hockey world, when the Solar Bears scored their first goal of the game, fans threw new, unopened packages of underwear, socks and undershirts onto the ice. The packages were collected and donated to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
To mark the occasion, the Solar Bears broke out special pant shells with an underwear graphic on them. The tighty-whities covered both the front and back of the otherwise purple pants and had an orange-and-purple striped waistband with “SOLAR BEAR WEAR” written on it.
The pants were paired with the Solar Bears’ usual purple home jerseys, socks and equipment. The effect was somewhat diminished during the game, though, because of the players’ untucked jerseys covering up the top of the pants. But they should get some points for trying something new under there.
Along with the pants, the Solar Bears used special pucks with an Underwear Toss game graphic for warmups. The pucks were also available for purchase at the game and in the Solar Bears’ online shop.
The Solar Bears are keeping the crews at the Kia Center in Orlando busy, as they’re also hosting a Teddy Bear Toss game on Friday, December 19, against the South Carolina Stingrays — their only home game in a four-week span in December. They’ll sport a special ugly Christmas sweater jersey for that game.
