Islanders hold 10th Pucks and Paws shoot, open puppy naming vote
The charity calendar goes on sale Nov. 25; fans can name the team’s seventh Puppy with a Purpose until Oct. 19.
The New York Islanders held their 10th annual Pucks and Paws Calendar photo shoot after practice at UBS Arena on Friday. Players posed alongside service dogs and puppies being trained for that work through the team's partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation.
The calendar will be available from Nov. 25, with proceeds going to the foundation. The Islanders also introduced their seventh Puppy with a Purpose and opened a naming vote that runs until Oct. 19.
Defenceman Adam Pelech said the shoot was enjoyable and gave players a chance to support dogs preparing to help people. He has a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix named Duke.
John Miller, CEO and president of the Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs, credited the Islanders with starting the Puppy with a Purpose partnership. He said the initiative has since spread across professional sports.
Miller said the organisations provide their services at no charge to veterans, first responders and people who are blind. He described the partnership as a source of funding and public awareness.
