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The New York Islanders are renowned for their on-ice achievements, including four consecutive Stanley Cup championships, but their impact extends far beyond the rink. In collaboration with the Guide Dog Foundation, the franchise is now embarking on its seventh Puppy with a Purpose initiative, raising a puppy that will eventually become a guide dog or service dog. This program, which alternates between guide and service dogs each year, is a unique endeavor among NHL teams, and the Islanders are the only club to have reached their seventh puppy. Since the inaugural pup, Marty, the initiative has captured the hearts of hockey fans everywhere.
John Miller, CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation, emphasized the significance of the program: "Starting the Puppy with a Purpose program for sports teams and for corporations really is one of the largest growing segments of our organization. The relationship we have with the Islanders is one of the best we have... The work is very serious. These dogs save lives and these partnerships really allow us to let the dogs be dogs." The Islanders are currently holding a naming contest for the seventh puppy, with fan voting open until October 19. Meanwhile, the most recent Puppy with a Purpose, Marty, has begun formal training to become a service dog for a veteran or first responder with disabilities.
Butchie and John O'Connell: A Heartwarming Connection
The story of Butchie, the Islanders' fifth Puppy with a Purpose, is particularly touching. Named after legendary Islanders forward and four-time Stanley Cup champion Butch Goring, the yellow lab graduated from a 14-18 month training program and was paired with John O'Connell. O'Connell served as a Lieutenant Colonel and pilot in the United States Air Force from 1985 to 2008. Now blind, he has played with New York Metro Blind Hockey for the past four years and also skates with the New Jersey Warriors Hockey. In 2025, he was awarded USA Hockey's Disabled Hockey Player of the Year, an honor that recognizes his lifelong dedication to the sport since age six.
"All the moons and planets were all aligned in the universe and me and Butchie got paired up. Our relationship is outstanding," O'Connell said in an exclusive interview with New York Islanders On SI. "He's goofy. You take the harness off and he loves to play out back and chase." Butchie assists O'Connell on public transit, especially to and from rinks, and his presence in the locker room boosts the morale of fellow players. "He's great in the locker room. Everyone loves him in there; I'm not surprised," O'Connell added.
Service dogs typically cost between $15,000 and $80,000, but through Puppy with a Purpose, the Islanders provide fully trained service dogs free of charge to eligible recipients like O'Connell. O'Connell noted that access to service animals is an understated problem, and he expressed gratitude for the Islanders' efforts: "This is a huge problem in the disabled [community] with service animals just being allowed access. So, the New York Islanders—I want to say thank you. Go Islanders."
Ann Rina, the Islanders' Executive Director of Community Relations, affirmed the team's commitment to the program: "We at the Islanders believe that we have a responsibility off the ice. We were the first NHL team to partner with the Guide Dog Foundation... The way that we've seen it kind of exponentially grow within not only the NHL but by other sports teams and leagues has been really fun to watch." The Islanders look forward to continuing their partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation and creating more stories like Butchie and John's for years to come.