The Vegas Golden Knights introduced their new team puppy to the world on Tuesday.
The dog was the subject of a contest held by VGK to choose a name, and on Tuesday that name was revealed to be Maverick.
The team also announced the creation of a new VGK-9 Club that fans of the team can join.
The puppy will be co-raised by the Golden Knights and America’s VetDogs, a national non-profit that provides service dogs free of charge to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders.
Maverick will eventually become the service dog for a United States veteran or first responder with disabilities.
Maverick is a nine-week-old male Yellow Labrador Retriever who will spend 16 to 18 months undergoing basic training and socialization with Golden Knights players, staff and fans.
His name was selected among thousands submitted by Golden Knights fans; it appealed to Owner and Chairman Bill Foley and players with its connotations of independence and avoidance of conformity.
“Building a Stanley Cup champion in six years, when people laughed at that notion, requires a maverick approach,” Foley said in a press release from the Golden Knights. “The energy I see in this puppy befits the name ‘Maverick’ and I’m not surprised the players found it fitting as well.”
Fans can follow Maverick, who will make his first public appearance at the Jan. 18 game at T-Mobile Arena, on Instagram at @vgkpup and TikTok at @vgk.pup.
Maverick merchandise is also available, including t-shirts, pet jerseys, collars, harnesses, pet bowls and flying discs.
