RANGER

During the 2021-22 Season, the Pensacola Ice Flyers brought in a new addition to the organization by way of a puppy that is a future service dog through the national non-profit organization called Canine Companions.

The puppy is named Ranger and is a black Labrador/Golden Retriever cross. He arrived in Pensacola a week before Christmas in 2021 and will be raised and socialized by long-time volunteer puppy raisers, LeAnne Pickering and Weston Cramer. Ranger was already named when they were informed they would be receiving a new puppy to raise. It was a perfect name as Cramer is an Army Ranger who served from 2003 to 2008 with the 3rd Infantry Division and was deployed in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom III with his operation being East Baghdad.

“I have been involved with Canine Companions since 2004, and Ranger will be the 12th puppy I have raised for this amazing organization,” Pickering stated. “The fact that Canine Companions has been around since 1975 and has placed over 7,000 dogs free of charge is just one of the many reasons I keep coming back.”

“As a volunteer puppy raiser, it is a rewarding experience with selfless service to raise a Canine Companions service dog that can help adults, children, and veterans with disabilities,” Cramer commented. “The partnership with the Ice Flyers will bring a greater awareness of Canine Companions as a non-profit organization to the Pensacola area and surrounding communities.”

For the next 14-18 months, Ranger will be in Pensacola and taking part in different community events, activities and games with the Ice Flyers. After that, Ranger will move on to professional training where he will learn more advanced commands in order to become an expertly trained service dog.

Ice Flyers fans can follow Ranger’s progress on the team’s official social media pages and will soon be able to see Ranger at upcoming home games. Fans can download the team’s official app and follow them on social media to stay up to date with all the team information, news and stats, as well as the promotions and events planned with Ranger involved.