A scene from the NHL's 2024 Stanley Pup.
Jess Rapfogel/NHL
The National Hockey League is bringing back its “Stanley Pup” competition featuring rescue dogs in time for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final in June.
The NHL held its inaugural Stanley Pup rescue dog competition in 2024. The event is similar to the annual Puppy Bowl, which airs the same day as the NFL’s Super Bowl.
“We were thrilled with the success of the first-ever ‘Stanley Pup’ in 2024 and because of the amazing response from audiences watching at home, the NHL is excited to bring it back this season with even more rescue dogs,” said the NHL’s President of Content & Events Steve Mayer in a statement.
“We love being able to support great causes and knowing that even more participating dogs will find permanent homes this year is very fulfilling for the league,” Mayer added. “We can’t wait to see what fun this year’s friendly competition brings as the ‘players’ hit the Stanley Pup rink.”
The 2025 Stanley Pup will feature special appearances by celebrity dog lovers, including Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Cheri Oteri, George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Joel McHale, Michael Bublé, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul and Will Reeve.
According to the NHL, the 2025 Stanley Cup competition — which runs 90 minutes —will air on Friday, June 6, on TruTV at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT in the U.S. and Saturday, June 7, on Sportsnet at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT in Canada.
The Stanley Pup will also air on NHL Network on Sunday, June 8, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and will stream on the NHL’s digital platforms.
Actor Mark Shunock and sports commentator Chris Rose will be doing color and play-by-play commentary for the 2025 Stanley Pup, while New York Rangers sports host and reporter Michelle Gingras will be reporting from rinkside.
A view of the NHL Stanley Pup rink.
Jess Rapfogel/NHL
Each NHL Team Will Be Represented By A Rescue Dog At The 2025 Stanley Pup
According to the league, all 32 NHL teams will be represented by a dog at the 2025 Stanley Pup, and many of them will be available for adoption from a shelter or rescue group in their respective cities.
The 2025 Stanley Pup will also feature NHL players Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes, Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, Alexander Kerfoot of the Utah Mammoth and Brandon Duhaime and Ryan Leonard of the Washington Capitals. The players will be introducing participating dogs in the Stanley Pup in “support of local pet adoption in their cities,” per the NHL.
The Stanley Pup is executive produced for NHL Productions by Michael Levitt (American Rescue Dog Show, Fox’s Cause for Paws and All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration), NHL Group Vice President, Production & Creative Development Matt Nicholson and Steve Mayer.
The national nonprofit organization Petco Love is providing the dogs in the competition through their shelter partners across the U.S., while BISSELL and Blue Buffalo are aboard as the event’s sponsors.
“Stanley Pup is a joyful reminder that all-star pets can be adopted from your local shelter,” Petco Love President Susanne Kogut said in a statement. “Adopting a pet is like scoring the game-winning goal — one moment of heart, and you've changed a life forever. We’re proud to team up with the NHL to spotlight shelter pets across the country.”
The 2024 Stanley Pup featured such canine players as Sergei Bobruffsky, Connor McDoodle and Alex Ofetchkin.
The 2025 Stanley Pup will air on June 6 on TruTV at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT in the U.S. on June 7 on Sportsnet at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT in Canada and on June 8 on the NHL Network and stream on the NHL’s digital platforms at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
