This NHL season is going sweet! And for Sam Bennett, way too much! After all, it’s the veteran player’s love for pet animals that makes him find every way to help them. To say that goals are being scored for good purpose now would be an understatement. Scoring for the team? Personal scorecard? Well, let’s think beyond the rink this season with the league bringing back some of its most heart-melting traditions. What? Call it the Stanley Pup season alongside the usual— Stanley Cup Championships, which are coming again!

While fans and spectators are awaiting this exciting tail-wagging showdown that blends heart and hockey in the most unexpected way. There’s a bit more magic quietly brewing behind the scenes; it’s going to be Bennett known for making big plays on the ice—making a bigger impact off of it, once again! With the puppies like Connor McDoodle, Sergei Bobruffsky, and Alex Ofetchkin ready to take the spotlight, it’s going to be the Florida Panthers forward who will make a bigger impact amidst his biggest showdown against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Conference Finals.

And Jordon McPherson just dropped the update on X. “The #FlaPanthers’ Sam Bennett, who is paying adoption fees for cats and dogs at the Humane Society of Broward County with each goal he scores this year, will be involved in this,” the post read. Now this is actually the cutest thing happening, isn’t it? Honestly? It’s Bennett, not only scoring goals but turning every single one into a shot at a forever home for shelter animals, like he did previously. Well, the NHL needs more of this energy, to be true.

Last year Bennett launched the Benny’s Buddies program that helped the organization fund the adoption fee of pets at the Humane Society of Broward County with each goal he scored. “It eventually started because my fiancé volunteers here (Humane Society of Broward County) once a week and we both have a love for animals. We ended up adopting a dog from the shelter here a couple weeks ago and then we just had the idea that we want to do something else to help all the other pets, dogs and cats that are here and available to get adopted. So, we thought about the program, Benny’s Buddies, and to sponsor the adoption fee of any pet for every goal I score this year is what we’re going to do. It’s a great cause and I’m really excited to be a part of it,” Bennett stated last year. But to him, it meant more than just scoring goals and covering fees.

Because Bennett aimed at using the platform to shine a light on the importance of pet adoption. And he said from personal experience as a new dog and cat owner, “I think just getting the awareness out there that adoption is, I think, the best route.” Is the Panthers’ veteran center wanting to break the stigma that often surrounds adoption—whether it’s fear of certain breeds or hesitations about older animals? Indeed, yes, while he emphasizes that there are many such shelters that might need a chance to raise awareness. Looks like Bennett just did the job!

And for this season? The Benny’s Buddies official Instagram page just posted an update when the Panthers knocked out the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the NHL Playoff series! “Benny REALLY loves the animals 🫶,” the officials made a post when their veteran player scored 6 goals already this season. But hey, it isn’t only the Panthers star involved in the local pet adoption in their cities, but many other NHL players too.

Who alongside Sam Bennett is part of the Stanley Pup competition?

While not many would be competing further, unlike Bennett in the series, who has more chances to score the goals, there are players, along the same line, who have taken a step forward to support the organization. Starting from the great one who has already made the record of 896 in the league, it’s the Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, taking part alongside Brandon Duhaim and Ryan Leonard. Given the fact that, back in 2016, Washington did indeed take a genuine step to introduce its Capitals Canine Calendar as a charitable initiative where popular players like Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, and Braden Holtby posed with adorable dogs against iconic Washington, D.C., backdrops. It was one such nonprofit program dedicated to finding permanent homes for cats and dogs in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Moving ahead, other team players include Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Alexander Kerfoot from the Utah Mammoth, participating in this heartwarming initiative to support animal adoptions. However, interestingly, it’s going to be Jaccob Slavin too, who will be playing on behalf of the Carolina Hurricanes against Bennett’s Panthers and might have more chances to boost his impact! Well, will he? Since he’s playing against the Panthers in the final, and given that he has the potential, who knows?

Now, with connecting the excitement of this season’s final to a meaningful cause, let’s admit that this initiative will not only raise awareness but also encourage fans to consider giving shelter pets a second chance at life. As Sam Bennett quoted, “Make sure you’re ready. It’s definitely a lot of work, but it’s such a rewarding feeling having a dog or cat excited to see you come home and definitely brings you a ton of joy in your house.” Let’s take the message seriously and support the shelters while breaking stigmas around adoption. Because small steps are equal to making a big impact, aren’t they?