Buffalo Sabers team dog Rick has his own merch in the team shop

Buffalo Sabers’ team dog, Rick the Newfoundland dog, has his own merch in the team store, which is pretty snazzy.

This news (which may at first be an NHL team dog) was spotted by Dog O’Day through a mention on Uni Watch, mostly related to sports uniform news, but also features a variety of sporting tidbits.

According to Buffalo TV broadcaster WGRZ, Rick was named after Rick Jeanneret, who has been the play-by-play voice of the Sabers for half a century and is retiring after the 2021-22 NHL season.

About half, more or less, of the National Hockey League franchises have had official or unofficial team dogs in the past three to five years, and all hockey dogs are very good dogs.

The puppy has been rescued by the Niagara County SPCA and will hopefully become a service dog for a local veteran when he grows up, with the team working with WHY Heroes’ Pawsitive for Heroes program.

Buffalo Sabers team dog Rick has his own merch in the team shop.

Buffalo Sabers team dog Rick jerseys are for dogs and people, and there are t-shirts too.

“We had discussed getting a team dog for a long time, but we wanted to make sure the dog was serving a larger purpose that could have a meaningful impact on our community,” Rich Jureller, vice president of community relations for Buffalo Sabers, told WGRZ . “By partnering with the Pawsitive for Heroes program, we have found the perfect match for the team, the dog and the veteran.”

In addition to community events in the area, Rick has participated in various home games at the KeyBank Center. It is likely that he will also take part in some lacrosse games by the Buffalo Bandits since they are also owned by the Sabers.

According to the Sabers website, Rick’s favorite hobbies are long lakefront walks on Lake Erie Beach and all those belly rubs that sound like great hobbies.

The Buffalo Sabers are currently sixth in the eight-person Eastern Conference Atlantic Division with 25 points in 32 games and a record of 10 wins, 17 losses and five losses in overtime.

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