Last night at the New York Islanders game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Barclays Center, a very special individual dropped the puck to start the game off right.
Charlie, a black lab who’s being trained to assist vets, was brought to center ice and very obediently dropped the puck when told.
GOOD DOG pic.twitter.com/Sy5cuBiSxx
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 17, 2017
Charlie is one of the many service dogs training with VetDogs, a group that assists veterans that have been wounded, sustained vision or hearing impairments, or PTSD.
Last night’s game was the designated military appreciation night, where veterans were specifically invited and honored to attend the game. The Islanders wore special camouflage jerseys to show their support for our men and women in uniform.
Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss also wore a helmet to honor US special forces and the men and women stationed at Fort Bragg. During his off season, Greiss coaches hockey at the military base.
“Everything they do for our country, you have to appreciate it.”
Thomas Greiss’ new mask pays tribute to the U.S. military: https://t.co/Yw5BaJXzCv pic.twitter.com/kkSJd95vT9
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 16, 2017