Preds Top 20, No. 19: Roman Josi's Homecoming

The Nashville Predators 2022-23 season has officially come to an end, and what a season it has been. From momentous firsts to bittersweet farewells, this year was full of memorable moments both on and off the ice.
We've already taken a look back at the
Top 10 goals scored by the Predators this season
. Now, we're counting down the Top 20 moments and milestones that highlighted a special season of hockey in SMASHVILLE.
We'll take our trip down memory lane in chronological order, so let's head back to early October as we continue our countdown at No. 19.

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Hollywood couldn't have written a better script.
Roman Josi grew up within walking distance of PostFinance Arena and had always dreamed of playing for his hometown team, SC Bern. He achieved that dream at age 16 and went on to become of four 17-year-olds to play in Switzerland's top division in 2007-08. He even led SC Bern to the National League Championship title in 2010.
On Oct. 3, 2022 - 15 years after the start of his professional career - Josi returned to the very building where it began and received a welcome fit for a king.
In front of a thunderous sellout crowd of 17,031, Josi captained the Predators to a 4-3 win over SC Bern in the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge.
"It was perfect," Josi said. "It was really emotional for me and I was a little nervous before the game, just coming back here and skating around in warmups, seeing the big wall again. It was just so special for me and something I'll never forget."
The "wall" in question - a daunting 10,000-plus, standing-room-only section - was packed with fans chanting Josi's name and erupting with applause when he and fellow Switzerland native Nino Niederreiter were introduced at the start of the game.

The raucous cheering started during warmups and didn't stop until the game was over. Although the vast majority of the crowd was cheering on the home team, they couldn't help but show love for the hometown hero who began his hockey career in that very building.
"It was definitely really emotional for me," Josi said. "Just the whole couple days here have been really emotional… Seeing my family the first night and yesterday practicing here and being back in the arena. And then obviously today, there was a lot going on and a lot of nerves before the game - just being back here and skating in front of the fans again. My whole family and my friends were here along with a lot of people I know from my childhood. So, just being out there at the end and beginning before the game, it was very emotional. I'm very thankful that I got the chance to do this and it's something I'll never forget."
Josi tallied two goals and an assist in the Predators win that ended with a salute to the hometown crowd and an emotional thank you speech to his teammates. As Matt Duchene said, "you couldn't have drawn it up any better" for the man they call 'Mr. Bern.'

"The game itself was so much fun," Josi said. "And at the end, obviously doing the wave to the fans was incredible. And my family was here with my two grandmas who haven't seen me play in a long time and got the chance to see me play here. I'm just really thankful. I think it's something a lot of guys can never do. And I'm very grateful for the chance to do this and it's something I'll never forget for the rest of my life and definitely one of my career highs."
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No. 20: Cody Glass Makes the Team