Day One Equipment Staffers Pete & Partner Beloved by All in Predators Locker Room

As the Nashville Predators ready for battle against the San Jose Sharks, deep within the hallways of SAP Center, the musical stylings of Rush ring out for all to hear.

The source of the Canadian prog is Predators Equipment Manager Pete Rogers. For those who’ve spent time around Nashville’s locker room, the sound is not uncommon.

In fact, it’s been playing for some time.

“Pete is like the Godfather,” Predators General Manager Barry Trotz said. “He’s a tireless worker, especially in the first couple of years, because just getting things set up is a very difficult task when you're starting from scratch. And he’s just been a guy that I thought has always had lots of personality, always made the players feel comfortable and always got the players what they needed… He's just done a wonderful job for the Preds for all these years.”

We’ve Taken Care of Everything

A day one employee, Rogers and his assistant Jeff Camelio - now the Seattle Kraken’s equipment manager - saw to the equipment needs of the NHL’s newest franchise, building everything from the ground up. 

“I moved down to Nashville at the end of June and we started playing in October, so it was tough,” Rogers said. “I had some experience doing it with an East Coast League team in Hampton Roads, but this was unique.”

Case in point, with two months to go before opening night, a former employee - who Rogers kindly declined to identify - gave Pete the wrong color code for the team’s pants.

“When we figured it out, it was the middle of August,” he said. “Thankfully, there are a bunch of other teams that use that same blue, so we were able to turn it around quickly. That's just one of the many challenges we had.” 

Another challenge came from the Predators practice facility, or perhaps more accurately, the lack thereof. 

“Our practice facility wasn't built until almost the end of the first season, so we were dressing and driving over from the arena when we had to skate,” Rogers recalled. “The first time guys skated, we didn't have glass on the sides, just the end boards. Things just weren't in yet.

“But, you know, those experiences all make you better at your job in the long run.”

They Call Him the Working Man

They don’t crack the scoresheet and you can’t buy their jerseys in the team store, but on any given week, Rogers along with Assistant Equipment Manager Brad Peterson and Equipment Coordinator Mike Bingham likely put in just as many hours, if not more, than your favorite players.

“It’s well over 100,” Rogers said. “We look at the schedule and that kind of dictates it. Obviously, when you have a game. You have practice and there's so many things that go into a game day. But most of our jobs are about preparing for the next day. And not one day is ever the same.”

On road trips that span the continent and the calendar, equipment bags need to be packed up, driven to the airport, loaded onto planes, then unloaded, unpacked and assembled in a different facility nearly every day.

Sticks snap, skate blades crack. Someone needs to order more. Someone needs to know what to order.

“Ryan O'Reilly is using this carbon graphite blade, and the stem and kept snapping off of it,” Rogers said. “Last year, when we went to Switzerland, Nino Niederreiter had a buddy that designed steel with graphite inserts in it… So today, Ryan sampled a new pair of steel that got shipped in from Switzerland and we're going to try it out with them in a game.”

Of course, Rogers credits a bulk of his encyclopedic knowledge to retired Predators GM David Poile. 

“David pushed me to be on [League equipment committees], which I thought was great,” Rogers said. “It allows me to get on top of what's being tested, what's protective, what the best stuff is. And that's where we're fortunate, because we put our players in all that stuff. And it gives you a little leg up on knowing what's coming out… It allows us to get ahead of the curve a little bit.” 

Living in the Limelight

Much like the late, great Neil Peart, Rogers never misses a beat.

That much was apparent earlier this season, when Rogers leapt into action to replace Luke Evangelista’s broken stick and ended up unofficially assisting a goal.

“That was a great play by Petey, there,” Evangelista recalled. “I blocked a shot and my twig broke, so I went around to the bench and looked around and when I turned around we had the puck and I had a clear way in for a breakaway. It was a hell of a play by Petey, there.” 

As it just so happened, defenseman Alexandre Carrier was both on the bench and wearing a microphone at the time of the goal.

The moment went viral.

“I don’t know if that would have gone as viral as it had if he hadn’t been wearing a mic,” Rogers said with a laugh. “We ended up getting on the broadcast, but I watch games for a different reason.”

Indeed, for every moment that gets caught on camera, there are 10 more that will never be seen. 

That’s not to say Rogers’ contributions aren’t felt in the locker room.

“When you're young and you're coming into a new organization, just having a familiar face that you're comfortable going and talking to, it goes a long way, for sure,” Evangelista said. “He's just one of those guys that you look forward to seeing every day… It's just as important to get close with the staff and those kinds of guys as it is with your teammates. So, we're blessed to have Petey.”

Love & Life Are Deep

Of course, Rogers is only one of the personalities found within the Predators locker room. 

There’s also Craig ‘Partner’ Baugh, who captured the attention of the hockey world this season after a successful battle with prostate cancer.

Like Rogers, the Predators have never existed without Partner, and they’re all the better for it.

“I met him for the first time at development camp,” Predators Captain Roman Josi said. “J-P Dumont was playing on the team at the time and he came in for a workout while we were at camp. He was talking to Partner and I could just tell how much of a connection they had. And obviously, as a young kid you’re kind of shy and you don't talk to a lot of people, but I could just tell how much they were connected and how much J-P loved Partner and how much Partner loved J-P and it was really cool to see that connection.

“Obviously, 12 years later, everyone that’s around Partner has that connection. He’s an amazing person.”

With a booming voice and a snappy sense of humor to match, just about everyone comes to know Partner.

“He's one of the most beloved guys, not only over the last decade in the NHL, but almost three decades now,” Trotz said. “And so there'll be three generations of NHL players who have had the pleasure of experiencing Craig ‘Partner’ Baugh as a locker room attendant.”

From Sidney Crosby, who’s sent many gifts over the holidays and birthdays, to Joe Thornton, who once took him out for a raucous meal at The Palm, Partner has indeed touched the lives of countless players.

Some of them now dress in the home team’s room.

“He was my No. 1 favorite reason for coming to Nashville,” defenseman Luke Schenn said. “He just puts a smile on your face. You come in here as a visitor and sometimes you're on a tough, long road trip, or you might have a tough night the night before, and you come into the locker room and have a talk with him and he just puts a smile on your face. He just never really has a bad day.” 

Partner has had some days that most would find harrowing, his battle with prostate cancer included.

Still, the Predators beloved locker room attendant approaches each day with the same joyful attitude.

“You walk around the corner and Partner’s got a big hug for you and a smile,” Trotz said. “There's not a bad bone in his body. He's all about love, forgiveness and all those things that are good in life.” 

“It puts things into perspective,” Schenn said. “I was hurt at the beginning of the year and out for close to two months and the team was on a two-week road trip. And he came in every day and just had so much energy and put a smile on my face. And I asked him if he ever has a bad day and he goes ‘None whatsoever. What is there to be worried about? What is there to be sad about?’ That's literally how he thinks, he's not just saying that. So, he's a joy to be around and we're lucky to have him.”