Milwaukee Hockey Team's New Pup Shows Off Puck Skills

The Milwaukee Admirals – an American Hockey League farm team affiliated with the Nashville Predators – introduced new recruit Bender, a 9-week-old pit bull mix, on February 11, to the obvious delight of local sports media.

Footage released by Admirals VP of Communications Charlie Larson shows TV camera crews clustered around the pup as he scoots a puck across the ice, then scratches himself.

Larson told Storyful the Admirals organization adopted Bender from the Humane Animal Welfare Society – a Milwaukee-area shelter – because they wanted to raise awareness for what local shelters do.

The team also sought out a pit bull mix because, Larson said, the team planned “to take him into schools when he’s a bit older to educate kids about pit bulls and … try to dispel the bad reputation that they undeservedly have.”

Larson said Bender “lives full-time” with Admirals new-media coordinator Jaymee Ebbers, but will come to the rink for game days.

Bender will make his first public appearance for Admirals fans at their home game against the San Antonio Rampage on February 26.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the name Bender was inspired by the knees-bent-in posture many beginning skaters have. Credit: Milwaukee Admirals via Storyful