Minnesota Wild Adopts Winnie to Train as Veteran Service Dog

Minnesota Wild introduces Winnie as the newest team dog

The Minnesota Wild has officially welcomed Winnie, a rescue dog from Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue, to the organization for the upcoming season, NHL.com reported. This marks the eighth season the hockey franchise has partnered with the rescue to adopt a canine companion, continuing a tradition that began during the 2019-20 season with a Labrador Retriever named Breezer.

Winnie’s role with the team serves as a critical stepping stone in a structured pipeline designed to transition rescue animals into specialized service roles. After completing a year of training with the Minnesota Wild organization, the dogs move on to specialized instruction with Soldier’s 6, a Minnesota-based 501(c)3 non-profit. Brooklyn Godes, the Minnesota Wild’s Partnership Fulfillment Coordinator, will foster Winnie and oversee basic obedience training through the summer of 2025.

The ultimate objective of this partnership is to provide high-level support to those in high-stress professions. Once Winnie completes his specialized training with Soldier’s 6, he will be permanently placed with a veteran living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this capacity, he will serve as a “Battle Buddy,” providing guidance and support through difficult periods in his owner’s life.

A history of canine team members

The Wild’s adoption program has established a consistent lineage of team dogs, each representing different breeds and roles within the community outreach initiative. The following table outlines the progression of team dogs adopted by the organization over the last several seasons:

Season	Dog Name	Breed/Mix
2019-20	Breezer	Labrador Retriever
2020-21	Hobey	Golden Retriever
2021-22	Celly	Shepherd/Catahoula/Labrador mix
2022-23	Brooksy	Labrador Retriever mix
2023-24	Hatty and Dino	Golden Retriever mixes
2024-25	Rookie	Labrador Retriever mix
2025-26	Paulie	Bloodhound
Current	Winnie	Rescue (Coco’s Heart)

The mission behind the partnership

The success of this program relies on the coordination between two distinct non-profit entities: Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue and Soldier’s 6. Coco’s Heart operates as a foster-based organization that manages between 200 and 300 dogs at any given time. The rescue focuses on animals from diverse and often difficult backgrounds, including those from overcrowded shelters, rural strays, injured animals, and puppy mills.

Minnesota wild winnie the pooh nhl hockey

Soldier’s 6 provides the specialized training necessary to turn a rescue dog into a functional service animal. The organization’s name is derived from the tactical concept of “watching someone’s six,” or protecting their back. Their mission is to equip honorably discharged veterans, police officers, and firefighters with specially trained K-9s to act as companions and stabilizers.

For fans and supporters, the journey of these animals is documented through digital channels. Winnie’s progress can be tracked via the Minnesota Wild’s official Instagram and X accounts, as well as at wild.com/winnie. This visibility highlights the transition from a rescue environment to the professional sports arena, and finally to a permanent home with a service recipient.

Winnie will remain in his current training and foster phase until the summer of 2025, at which point his transition to Soldier’s 6 will begin.