Capitals' service dog trainee introduced on red carpet in Ovechkin's arms

If you're a dog named Captain, there's no better way to make your grand debut than in the arms of a fellow head honcho.

The Washington Capitals introduced their service dog trainee before their home opener against hte Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. They rolled out the red carpet for player arrivals, and team captain Alex Ovechkin made his entrance cradling the 10-week-old male Labrador retriever.

The puppy will do socialization training for 14-16 months around the Capitals and then be matched with a veteran or first responder with disabilities. The team partnered with America's VetDogs, a New York-based nonprofit organization, to bring Captain to the Capitals.
In addition to the Rock the Red Carpet introduction, Captain got a little quality time with players T.J. Oshie, Radko Gudas, Tom Wilson, and Nicklas Backstrom, and was fitted for his first Capitals jersey.
He also attended the game with a pair of dog headphones protecting his ears and joined NBC Sports Washington broadcasters Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin.
Instagram from @capspup: Woah, these guys are way faster than the squirrels. #MyFirstGame

Talk about a ruff life.
You can follow Captain's journey on Twitter and Instagram at @capspup.