Meet Lando, The Newest Member Of PWHL Ottawa

PWHL Ottawa adopted a team dog this week. Lando, a two-year-old golden retriever is turning members of the team into "dog people."

Things got a little hairy in Ottawa this week as PWHL Ottawa announced the adoption of their team dog, Lando. 

One could assume that the origin of Lando’s name is inspired by one of Ottawa’s premier destinations: Lansdowne Park. TD Place, the home arena of Ottawa, sits right in the heart of Lansdowne Park. 

A two-year-old golden retriever, it didn’t take long for Lando to warm the hearts of the Ottawa players.

Assistant captain Emily Clark had the opportunity to meet Lando as his first day on the job.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” she said. “I saw some of the response on social media, they were happy with that. We have a few girls with dogs on the team.”

Clark does identify herself as a dog person but has not adopted one just yet. However, Lando remains high on her list.

“Lando could fill in,” she said. “Who isn’t happy to see a golden retriever?”

For Carla MacLeod, the natural synergy between dogs and herself has never been prominent in her life. But it was impossible to ignore Lando’s presence in the locker. She does not describe herself as a dog person but admitted Lando has changed that a little. 

“I am [a dog person] when they’re cute like that one,” said Ottawa's head coach.

Lando will serve as a morale booster for the team in a week where there’s been some challenges off the ice. Ottawa was supposed to head to Boston to play them on January 8, but the game was postponed due to “inclement weather that impacted player travel."

The team will get a couple more days to practice and to play with Lando, before heading to Toronto to play in the battle of Ontario on Saturday afternoon.