Islanders Eager for Sunday's "Pucks & Paws" Game

Mar 3, 2025

By Brian Germinaro | Bridgeport Islanders

 

Bridgeport Islanders players and staff recently brought their pups to the rink. This Sunday, you can too!

 

“Pucks and Paws” makes its highly anticipated return to the promotional schedule this weekend, when fans can bring their dogs along with them on Sunday, Mar. 9th against the Springfield Thunderbirds at 3 p.m. The first 2,500 fans will receive an Islanders-themed dog bandana, and there will be special retail and food items to accommodate all the canines in the building.

 

“It’s always such a fun atmosphere for the fans and the players,” said forward Chris Terry, who has an 18-month old German Shepard American bulldog rescue mix named Tuck. “I think it’s really cool that the team invited our dogs are out here after practice today, all getting together and playing. It sort of combines our work life on the ice with our home life.”

 

Terry, along with forwards Cole Bardreau, Cam Thiesing, and defenseman Samuel Bolduc, brought their pups onto the Total Mortgage Arena ice last week and hung out for more than 30 minutes along with other teammates and family members.

 

The experience wasn’t only about getting to meet each other’s furry friends, but served as team bonding too. The players got to learn a little bit more about what their teammates' lives are like off the ice.

 

“Jack is a Golden Retriever trained to be a hunting dog,” Thiesing said of his pup. “We do duck hunting and hunt waterfowl. We both love it and bond over it.”

 

Despite having different breeds of dogs with distinct personalities, the players all agree on one thing: the joy their dogs bring them after a long day of hockey is unmatched. 

 

“She’s always happy to see you no matter how you play,” Bolduc said. 

 

A sentiment shared not only by Bardreau, Terry and Thiesing, who described their four-legged best friends as a big part of their family, but by anyone who has a dog in their life.