Predators Players Spread Good Cheer at Annual Foundation Holiday Party

Nashville Predators games may be loud, but as the nearly 100 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee tore into their presents at the Preds Foundation’s Hockey Holidays Party on Sunday, it may have been just a hair louder.

From bicycles to tablets, Barbie dolls and Spider-Man action figures, each unwrapped gift elicited a response bigger than the one before, until all that remained were piles of presents and discarded wrapping accouterments strewn across the Lexus Lounge floor.

The fervor was certainly a new experience for Predators defenseman Alexandre Carrier, who joined teammates Colton Sissons and Dante Fabbro for his first taste of the annual holiday tradition.

“They told me the kids get excited,” Carrier laughed. “Obviously, it's a bit chaotic, but everybody's having fun, everybody's enjoying themselves, and I'm really glad they asked me to do it because I'm really excited to be here.”

Carrier’s excitement no doubt paled in comparison to the elation felt by Sunday’s guests of honor, who were treated to a skate on the Bridgestone Arena ice, plenty of cookies to decorate and good food to eat, as well as photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Santa GNASH.

Of course, there were presents to unwrap as well, and thanks to the generosity of the Predators players, front-office staff, media members and partners Shell and Kroger, each deserving child left Bridgestone Arena on Sunday literally dragging a sack load of gifts out with them.

For Sissons, who has been participating in the Foundation’s holiday party for several years now, the joy of watching each child get the holiday they deserve has never faded.

“I’ve been fortunate to do this for a number of years now,” he said. “And I’m really happy that Dante and Alex joined me this year… It's pretty fulfilling, especially around the holidays. It makes us feel good and makes them feel good, and everybody leaves happy.”

After another successful gift-giving extravaganza, that happiness was no doubt felt from the Foundation’s side as well.

“It’s always just seeing the kids' faces when they open their gifts and see that they got exactly what they wished for,” Senior Community Relations Coordinator Abby Helper said. “For a lot of these kids, their Christmas might not be what they hoped it would be. And so we're able to make it happen for them, and that's just the best part.”

Click here to learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee.