'The most Canadian dog ever.' Tracadie canine wins hearts on national television

Most people would cringe at the thought of catching a hockey puck with their teeth. But for Maggie, a three-year-old German Shepherd, it's a welcome challenge.

Maggie the goalie, as she's known online, hails from Tracadie, in northeastern New Brunswick, but her notoriety isn't limited to her local municipality.

The hockey-playing pup has gained a huge following on social media and just recently appeared on Canada's Got Talent.

Maggie's owner, Yannick Devost, doubles as her trainer and said Maggie has had a natural ability from the start.

Maggie poses with her Montreal Canadiens goodies. (maggiethegoalie/Instagram)

He was in the backyard one day shooting some pucks when Maggie, who was only a year old at the time, started trying to catch them.

"It became her favourite activity, and she would beg me to go play everyday," said Devost.

From there, lots of training went into getting Maggie to where she is now. But at only a year, she knew 50 commands, so Devost said he was able to use those to teach her the hockey tricks.

Maggie has had the opportunity to play with big names in the hockey world, including Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau of the Montreal Canadiens, left, along with Montreal PWHL team captain Marie-Philip Poulin, right. (maggiethegoalie/Instagram)

Devost said Maggie is also learning how to shoot, although he said that trick is proving more difficult to teach than stopping shots.

Playing in the big leagues

Maggie has had the opportunity to play with big names in the hockey business, including Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, goalies for the Montreal Canadiens, and Montreal PWHL team captain Marie-Philip Poulin.

She's performed during intermission at hockey games and even got to demonstrate her skills on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Yannick Devost and Maggie took to the Canada's Got Talent stage, where Maggie showed off her goaltending skills. (Lauren Newman/Citytv)

During the audition for Canada's Got Talent, Maggie took her spot in front of the net and after blocking the first few shots, Devost upped the ante, pouring out a bagful of tennis balls onto the ground as a distraction.

But Maggie held her focus, ignoring the dream scenario for most dogs, and kept her eyes on the puck. She successfully blocked the final shot, earning a standing ovation from some in the audience and approval from all four judges.

Maggie and Devost were featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon because of her hockey skills. (maggiethegoalie/Instagram)

"She is very focused," said Devost. "She loves the puck. So that's her whole life. She's a working dog … and she thinks her job is being a hockey goalie, so she takes this very seriously."

Devost said the show was a great experience, despite being a long, hard day for Maggie.

But the choice to go on a Canadian talent competition show couldn't be more fitting for the New Brunswick pair, something Devost pointed out to the judges while standing with Maggie on the Niagara Falls stage.

"She plays hockey — she's the most Canadian dog ever, right?"