Service dog-in-training: Minnesota Wild signs new teammate

Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Hockey has gone to the dogs.

The Minnesota Wild NHL team has adopted a new team puppy, signing the 12-week-old Labrador retriever to a one-year training contract, KARE reported.

Breezer came from Coco's Heart Dog Rescue and will be learning the ropes, not as a goalie, but as a future service dog, the Wild announced this week.

Team president Matt Majka and his wife Kym will be fostering and training Breezer for the next year, according to KARE.

Then he'll be "traded" for a training stint with Soldier's 6, a nonprofit that matches "honorably discharged veterans, police officers, and firefighters with specially trained K9's," team officials said.

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Breezer will be paired up with a veteran diagnosed with PTSD.

But before that, Breezer will have some jobs with the Wild, including public appearances with the team. His first will be at the Minnesota State Fair starting on Aug. 26. He'll also be at team practices and games, KARE reported.

You can follow Breezer and his new hockey career on Twitter and Instagram.

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