#NHLPeachy @NHL #PeachysPetPals NHL's "Stanley Pup" Rescue Dog Competition Returns for Third Consecutive Year to Celebrate the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Program Featuring 32 Adoptable Dogs and Guest Appearances from Kenan Thompson and The Dogist to Premiere June 8 on truTV, HBO Max and Sportsnet
The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that Stanley Pup is back for its third consecutive year, bringing a dose of puppy power to the postseason. During this 90-minute special, a lineup of adoptable pups will face off in a friendly competition, showcasing their canine skills and puppy puck handling on a miniature rink.
The competition will feature special appearances from celebrity dog lovers and advocates including comedian and SNL star Kenan Thompson as a celebrity coach, legendary broadcaster Doc Emrick and NHL Players Devin Cooley (Calgary Flames), Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes) and Will Smith (San Jose Sharks). In addition, color and play-by-play commentary will be provided by Mark Shunock and Chris Rose, with Alexa Landestoy reporting rink side.
New for the 2026 broadcast, Elias Weiss Friedman, popularly known as The Dogist, will join the Stanley Pup team to anchor a series of heart-warming adoption follow-up segments. These on-location features will highlight the real-world impact of the program, as Friedman interviews three families who adopted a dog featured in previous ‘Stanley Pup’ games, providing a special look at the lives of former canine "players.”
The show will premiere on June 8 on truTV and simulcast on HBO Max in the U.S. (9:30 p.m. ET) and on Sportsnet in Canada (8 p.m. ET). The show will also air on NHL Network on June 10 (8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. ET) and will be available on the NHL’s YouTube channel on June 9. The show will also air in the D.C. region on Monumental Sports Network (MNMT) following the national broadcasts, and will be available to fans on both MNMT’s linear TV and streaming platforms.
All 32 NHL teams will be represented by an adoptable rescue dog as they compete in the Conference Finals and vie in the championship showdown – the Stanley Pup Final. The talented lineup of pups and other furry friends who are ready to find their forever homes will be provided by adoption partner Brandywine Valley SPCA. BISSELL and Halo Collar, the leading GPS containment system for dogs, will also join this year as sponsors.
Stanley Pup is executive produced by producer and animal advocate Michael Levitt for Michael Levitt Productions, whose past rescue-themed projects include “American Rescue Dog Show,” “Fox's Cause for Paws,” “All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration” and more, Steve Mayer (President, NHL Content & Events) and Matt Nicholson (NHL Group Vice President, Production & Creative Development) for NHL Productions, and Jim Kowats (MSE Senior Vice President, Production) and Aimee Brillhart (MSE Vice President, Production) for Monumental Sports & Entertainment, whose other award-winning sports-themed series include “Hometown with Rachel Nichols,” “Politics Aside with Chris Cillizza,” “All Ours: Bring Home the Cup” and more.
The 2026 edition of Stanley Pup aims to build on the incredible momentum from last year’s programming, which saw breakout canine stars like Sidney Pawsby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Taylor Howl (Carolina Hurricanes), and Jeremy Spayman (Boston Bruins) capture the hearts of hockey fans everywhere.
For more information on Stanley Pup, please visit NHL.com/StanleyPup. Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage is underway on ESPN, TNT, TBS, truTV and HBO Max in the U.S., and in Canada on SN, CBC and TVA Sports. Outside of North America, NHL international media partners deliver games to fans around the world.
“We are thrilled to bring Stanley Pup back for year three,” said Mayer. “This event has quickly become a fan-favorite tradition, blending the competitive spirit of the NHL with the mission of finding homes for animals in need. When Patrick Kanine, Cole Pawfield, Quinn Chews and others find families because of Stanley Pup, we know that this show has true meaning.”
"For our third year of Stanley Pup, we’ve taken the show next level – and the puppies absolutely delivered,” said Levitt. “This special is pure joy for the whole family, and we hope it inspires people to open their hearts and homes to a rescue dog. Because when these pups hit the ice, it’s not just a game…it’s a power play for adoption."
“The hockey community is so supportive of animal rescue that a show like this is the best of both worlds for our fans,” said Brillhart. “Every team in the League has their own puppy player to root for – Stanley Pup will surprise and delight viewers from the first pup drop to the final whistle.”
“The Brandywine Valley SPCA is proud to be the non-profit partner of the Stanley Pup, which highlights many of our all-star adoptable pets,” said Adam Lamb, CEO of Brandywine Valley SPCA. “Adopting is like a hat trick for you and the selected pet – scoring a goal for the pet, the family, and the next animal in need. When you adopt, everyone wins!”
NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo is a trademark of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © 2026 NHL. All Rights Reserved.
About NHL Productions
NHL Productions is the National Hockey League’s award-winning production company, focused on documenting, preserving, and promoting the game of hockey and its players. Established in 2011, NHL Productions develops long- and short-form hockey programming for the League’s social and digital platforms – NHL Network, NHL.com, NHL Social and the NHL’s YouTube Channel – as well as national, regional and international rightsholders. Its original programming lineup has included “Quest For The Stanley Cup,” “Road To The NHL Winter Classic,” “Saving Sakic,” “Chosen One: Alexandre Daigle,” “Behind The Glass,” “NHL All-Star All Access,” “Hat Trick Trivia,” “Stanley Cup Live,” and many more. “Welcome to the NHL,” which chronicled the top prospects in the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, earned a 2023 Sports Emmy Award for Edited Event Coverage.
About Michael Levitt Productions
Emmy-nominated producer Michael Levitt is the driving force behind Michael Levitt Productions, the Los Angeles-based company responsible for more than 200 live events, specials, and series, including Baylen Out Loud, The American Rescue Dog Show, The Billboard Music Awards, and Skin Wars. “My team and I give everything we’ve got to our annual franchises, our one-off live events, and our reality series,” says Levitt. “We fill them with fun, surprises, and heart to craft unforgettable, innovative shows for diverse audiences across every kind of network and platform.” Other MLP programs include The Daytime Emmys, The Producers Guild Awards, Radio Disney Music Awards, The VH1 Fashion Awards, The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash, and many more.
About Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is one of America’s leading integrated sports and entertainment companies and is ranked as one of the most valuable globally. Our people, players, teams, and events bring excitement and joy to millions. We invest and innovate to consistently raise the game so we can deliver extraordinary experiences that will inspire and unite our community, our fans, and our people. To learn more, please visit monumentalsports.com.
About Brandywine Valley SPCA
Now the largest animal welfare organization in the region, serving three states and the District of Columbia, the Brandywine Valley SPCA was founded in 1929, and is the first open-admission no-kill shelter in Pennsylvania and Delaware. In 2025, the BVSPCA cared for more than 27,000 lost, stray, owner-surrendered, abused, and neglected animals while achieving a 94% live release rate. The BVSPCA holds the exclusive contract with the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare to provide state-wide animal services and is contracted by DC Health to provide animal care and control services for the District of Columbia. The BVSPCA also services five counties in Pennsylvania with Animal Protective Services and Humane Law Enforcement. Animals are placed through 13 adoption centers across Eastern and Central PA, the entire state of Delaware, New Jersey and Washington, DC. In addition, the BVSPCA provides families with safety net and low-cost veterinary services at its six Animal Health Centers. Learn more at bvspca.org.
About BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
Celebrating 150 years of legacy, invention, and innovation, BISSELL is a fifth-generation, family-led company committed to creating cleaner, happier homes for families and their pets. Guided by a belief that every family deserves a cleaner home, BISSELL blends deep consumer insight with a pioneering spirit to deliver solutions that meet – and exceed – the expectations of today’s pet parents. BISSELL’s passion for pets extends far beyond cleaning through its support of BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to end pet homelessness. Founded by Cathy Bissell in 2011, more than 1.2 million pets (and counting) have been impacted through adoption, transport, spay/neuter, and crisis response. Every BISSELL purchase helps save pet lives – because for BISSELL, clean homes and thriving pets aren’t just part of the story, they’re at the heart of its 150-year legacy. A Family Company Since 1876. Every Purchase Saves Pets™. Learn more on: BISSELL.com, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
About Halo Collar
The Halo Collar™ is the most advanced GPS dog fence ever created. Co-founded by Cesar Millan, the patented system combines wireless fencing, training, real-time GPS tracking, and activity monitoring into one easy-to-use smart collar. Halo's proprietary GPS and GNSS location technology helps keep dogs safe while giving them the freedom to explore. Halo protects more than 500,000 dogs across the United States each day. For more information, visit www.halocollar.com.
