Checkers' service dog brings focus, relaxation to rink

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Checkers have been playing great hockey all season, and sports anchor Matt Harris caught up with the team's most beloved rookie to learn more about how he's training to make a difference off the ice.

[Photos: Calder the pup plays with Checkers players]

"We want to be peaking at the right time, right?” said Charlie Petrizzo, founder of Project2Heal. “Playoffs coming up, we want to make sure we're playing our best hockey."

Waxhaw-based Project2Heal breeds and trains service dogs.

The Checkers boast the league's best record.

Players are focused not only on winning a Calder Cup, but also on Calder, a 4-month-old puppy.

Calder is a service dog in training and has been with the team for two months.

"With his focus, what he's showing us, is he can pretty much do whatever we want him to be," Petrizzo said.

Calder is always eager to join the guys on the ice.

"Service dogs are going to see a lot of unknown stimulus throughout his life,” Petrizzo said. “Now, he's been hearing the bangs and the pucks and the sticks."

The pup gives Petrizzo valuable information on the type of service dog Calder will be.

“They’ll play with him on the ice and teach him how to chase a puck, and that shows us what his drive is,” Petrizzo said. “If he’s not interested when someone’s dribbling a puck, more likely than not, he’s not going to be a mobility dog, a dog that’s going to go and pick everything up, because it’s not something he wants to do.”

Calder even got his first-ever Zamboni ride.

“The most important thing when you have a young dog like this is to get him used to sights, sounds, people,” Petrizzo said.

The Checkers are glad to have such a good pup nearby, especially as their attention transitions from Calder to winning the Calder Cup.

Cox Media Group