The magic of the Teddy Bear Toss lasted only a few seconds on Friday night — a short-lived burst of joy as the Soo Greyhounds’ Jeremy Martin scored, cueing thousands of stuffed toys to sail over the glass in a colourful snowstorm.

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But for Christmas Cheer, the real work begins the moment the toys hit the ice.

Behind the annual tradition is an assembly line of logistics to ensure a happy holiday for every child in need.

Chris Barnes, co-convener of Christmas Cheer and, as he jokes, “garbage man and whatever else,” can measure the health of the entire holiday campaign by the size of their toy pile.

Days before the Greyhounds’ annual event, their stock is typically very low.

“If it weren’t for the Teddy Bear Toss, we’d be in trouble,” he told The Sault Star. “It’s pret

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