The tributes to Alex Ovechkin continue to pour in. Earlier this year, the Washington Capitals captain became the all-time NHL goal scorer when he scored his 895th against the New York Islanders. Before the start of his 21st season, Giant Foods released a limited-edition Ovi’s Great Crunch cereal to honor the captain.
Now, the Great 8 has a service dog named after him. Ovi, the 18-week-old black Labrador Retriever, is part of the America’s VetDogs program, which provides specially trained service dogs to veterans and first responders. Ovechkin officially met his furry namesake on October 18.
“We are honored to name a future service dog ‘Ovi’ in celebration of Alex Ovechkin’s incredible contributions to the sport, but also his legacy of determination and excellence — qualities that mirror the spirit of the life-changing service dogs trained by America’s VetDogs,” said John Miller, president and CEO of America’s VetDogs, in a press release. “We are also incredibly grateful to the Washington Capitals for their continued partnership and deeply value their long-standing support.”
Special Pup in Training
Over the next 14 to 18 months the puppy will undergo basic training with its volunteer puppy raiser in Virginia. Then he will head back to the America’s VetDogs campus in New York. There, Ovi will work with a certified service dog instructor to learn the skills needed before being permanently placed.
The Capitals first started partnering with the New York-based nonprofit in 2019 when Captain, a yellow Labrador Retriever, joined the organization as the team’s first future service dog. In 2021, the team sponsored its second future service dog, a chocolate Labrador Retriever named Biscuit.
Both dogs have since been placed in a permanent job. Captain was placed with a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and first responder, and Biscuit is working as a facility dog at Walter Reed National Military Center.
Feature image courtesy Washington Capitals
