Predators Players Serve Nashville as Community Relations Week Returns

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the longstanding Nashville Predators tradition of Community Relations Week returned in celebratory fashion.
The 15th Annual Community Relations Week Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee afforded all 23 players on the Predators roster the opportunity to step out into Nashville's surrounding neighborhoods and learn about several different organizations making a positive impact on the city and its residents.
Read about some of the week's highlights below:

Bowling with Cottage Cove Urban Ministries at Tusculum Strike & Spare
By Zach Gilchriest
On a Monday afternoon in Nashville, Preds skaters Matt Duchene, Nino Niederreiter and Jeremy Lauzon swapped out their skates for bowling shoes and hit the lanes with a group of kids from Cottage Cove Urban Ministries - a local non-profit providing underserved children a safe place to learn, grow and thrive.
"We're having a blast," Duchene said. "A couple of them told me that they couldn't wait until the end of their school day to come here, so that was pretty great to hear. And just being able to give back like this and give some time - it's obviously something the Preds do a great job of. And being a dad, it's fun to come out and see some young kids and put some smiles on some faces - you see it a little bit different through those eyes, for sure."

"I think community work is always huge, not just for the organization but also for myself," Niederreiter said. "I'm in such a fortunate position and being able to give back and put a lot of smiles on the children's faces feels great. We could see how excited they were having us being here and bowling with them, so it's cool to see."
Part of that excitement was undoubtedly aimed toward Niederreiter, though maybe not for his on-ice reputation or even his autograph, but instead for the seemingly endless string of strikes he was able to put onto the board.
After 10 frames and to the delight of his lane buddies, the forward's final score stood at a towering 192.
Once again, Niederreiter gave some of the credit to Ryan Johansen.
"In juniors me and Johansen actually played a lot of bowling," he said with a smile. "So, it's something I knew I had in my back pocket."
Click here to learn more about Cottage Cove Urban Ministries.
Hockey Practice with CORE at Ford Ice Center Antioch
By Katie Cafiero
Preds defenseman Mattias Ekholm and goaltender Kevin Lankinen laced up their skates and spent Monday afternoon on the ice at Ford Ice Center Antioch with children of the CORE program. CORE, which stands for Creating Opportunities for Racial Equality, aims to introduce the game of hockey to new players ages four to nine at no cost.
Ekholm, who is an ambassador for the CORE program, is extremely passionate about introducing hockey to children of all backgrounds.
"I have a fire inside me about getting kids into hockey, and I think we need to be broad with where we market ourselves to try and get as many kids we can into the sport," Ekholm said. "It was awesome to see kids of all colors and backgrounds out there on the ice today. Being able to get out there and help them was a lot of fun… It was really cool and it's a really great program."

In addition to skating, Ekholm and Lankinen also took time to speak with the children and offer words of encouragement to the program participants who were learning how to skate and play hockey for the first time. The event concluded with a pizza party, autograph station and even a surprise appearance from GNASH.
This year's Community Relations Week was especially special to the players, who have not been able to participate in two years due to COVID.
"It's awesome to get back out there and see the smiles on kid's faces. That's been the toughest thing about COVID, you haven't been able to do things in person," Ekholm said. "For us to be able to get out there, it's a big part of the organization and who we are."
To learn more about the CORE program presented by Bridgestone,
please click here
.
Dinner at Dismas House Nashville
By Zach Gilchriest
In West Nashville, Preds forwards Tanner Jeannot, Michael McCarron and Kiefer Sherwood were treated to a great meal with even greater company at Dismas House - a community-oriented organization striving to help formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter society through compassion and empathy.
"It was really good to see another side of life for people in different parts of their lives and trying to get back up on their feet," Jeannot said. "This place is a really good opportunity for them to do that. It has that kind of team atmosphere where all these guys are in the same spot and they're helping each other out. So, it was really cool to see and just [hear about] some life experiences from people."

While the trio were more than happy to indulge in a round of autograph-signing and picture-taking, the conversations shared with the campus's residents made the trip truly memorable.
"I think just talking to and getting to know all the guys here, the biggest takeaway was how appreciative they are of the little things," Sherwood said. "It makes you kind of realize some things about yourself, and just how blessed and grateful we truly are… It's pretty unique and something I've never done before, but it's definitely something that I'll always remember."
Click here to learn more about Dismas House Nashville.
Team USA Sled Hockey Takes on Sled Preds and the Nashville Predators
By Jackson Drake
Preds Captain Roman Josi and Eeli Tolvanen hit the ice at Ford Ice Center Antioch Tuesday afternoon. This was not just a normal skate, but instead they were exposed to a new sport that neither of them have played before - sled hockey. They had the opportunity to get in the sleds, skate and sign autographs with a local youth team - Sled Preds - as well as a member of Team USA.
"The Preds, and us players, take a lot of pride in being in the community and being with our fans," Josi said. "[Sled hockey] is so cool. Those kids are so good. It's really hard to balance, it is hard on the core, your arms, and I think it's awesome. You can tell how much fun they're having [out on the ice]. It was my first time tonight, but it's so much fun. It's such a fun sport and I think it's great for the kids and it's great for hockey."

Jack Wallace - a member of Team USA Sled Hockey - was in attendance Tuesday afternoon and had the opportunity to interact with the kids as well as show them some unique hardware.
Wallace, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist winner in 2018 and 2022, brought his medals and was an instant wow factor to the youth. Having someone of that high caliber skill-wise - and being a great person - was a hit with not only the kids involved, but also Josi and Tolvanen. For them to be able to see those gold medals and to be able to learn from one of the best in the country was an experience that everyone involved will not take for granted.
"It goes back to the 'hockey is for everyone' saying," Wallace said of growing the game of hockey and the NHL. "The Predators have done a great job being a sled affiliate and getting these kids on the ice. Just really broadening the perspective of who can play this game, what this game can be and what it means to everyone as a community. Whether you're a professional or all the way down to the youth or recreation level."
Getting to try a new sport is not only exciting for the two, but being involved with the community once again made the outing more than worth it. With a few years break, Josi and Tolvanen could not wait to get the chance to interact with the community and forge lifelong fans and memories.
"The Preds are really big in the community," Tolvanen said. "So, it's really nice to go back and give to others and to play some sled hockey. It was so much fun. You can see the smiles on the kids' faces and it's the small things that can bring joy to other people. I felt like that happened today, and it was very cool to see."
Preds Pet Club Meet-Up at Jackalope Brewing Company
By Emma Lingan
While the rain washed out their planned visit to the dog park, Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh and goaltender Juuse Saros were still able to mix and mingle with members of the Preds Pet Club Tuesday afternoon at Jackalope Brewing Company.
"It's too bad we couldn't go to the dog park with the rain coming down," Saros said. "But it's still cool to come here, and it's nice to meet all the fans."

The location change meant that attendees had to leave their pets at home, but McDonagh and Saros spent the afternoon meeting with fans, signing autographs, handing out Preds-themed dog treats and swapping photos and stories of their furry friends.
"It's great to see the Preds fans come out and see them outside of the rink or the practice rink, where you normally get to see fans," McDonagh said. "We didn't have the weather today to go to the dog park and see everybody's favorite animals. But all in all, it was fun to be out here, especially during the season, to see the excitement from the fans."
Saros and his fiancee, Minna, are excited to carry on the work of the Preds Pet Club Presented by PetSmart, putting their own spin on the initiative with a focus on animal rescue and foster organizations.
"It's almost kind of natural for me," Saros said. "I've always loved dogs, and I think it's important here, especially with so many rescue dogs who need homes]. So I just kind of want to help them and chip in there."
Preds Pet Club Members receive special Preds pet merchandise and have the opportunity to be featured on the Preds Foundation's social media accounts as the Pet of the Game. Membership in the club costs $30, and the proceeds benefit various local animal rescue and foster organizations.
[Click here for more information
on how to become a member.
Talking Bikes with the Oasis Bike Team at Oasis Center
By Rachel Boorse
The rain may have prevented the bike race but Predators forwards Cody Glass and Yakov Trenin were still able to talk all things bikes with the Oasis Bike Team Tuesday afternoon at the Oasis Center's Bike Workshop - which provides youth with the opportunity to build their own bike and their confidence.
"With how many people the Preds help, to be able to kind of meet them and be able to be a part of their experience and what they do, means a lot to me," Glass said. "I don't really know much wisdom about bikes but for them to share their stories with me, share their race, share what they love about this so much, it really goes a long way for me."

Glass and Trenin took a tour of the underground bike workshop and learned about the eight-week process of building a bike from selecting the frame to the handles. Afterwards, Oasis' Bike Team shared stories about their most recent bike tournament and potential issues that can arise - like a flat tire - and expressed appreciation for their trendy jerseys, which feature a hot pink Pred Head on the sleeve.
"The jersey is very unique, especially with that Preds logo. We know they're supporters and that means a lot to us and we appreciate them just as much," Glass said.
The experience was all the more special for Trenin, who is an avid biker, and spends lots of time during the summer biking new trails here in Nashville and at home in Russia.
"In Russia, I lived by the park, and everybody was biking, and I wanted to try too and that's how I got to biking," Trenin said. "As someone in the bike community, getting to hear the Bike Team's experiences and stories was really fun. It's huge for us to be able to be here for them and support them."
Click here to learn more about the Oasis Center and the Oasis Bike Worskhop.
Some Like It Hot: Granlund And Carrier Serve It Up At Hattie B's
By Michael LaPlaca
Preds defenseman Alexandre Carrier wanted to taste how spicy hot chicken really could be.
While working at Hattie B's on 8th Avenue South, Carrier convinced his teammate Mikael Granlund to try the hottest item on the menu, the Shut the Cluck Up chicken.
They each took one bite out of the chicken tender and that was more than enough.
"I took one bite and I can still feel it," said Carrier.
It was one of many fun moments for the duo as they worked all aspects of the Hattie B's operation, from taking orders and delivering food to patrons, to more customary player duties like signing autographs and posing for photos.

"We as players love coming out to these community days and seeing the fans out there," said Granlund. "It's great to be able to mingle with fans again. Being here, seeing the fans, it's awesome because we love the support they give us."
10 percent of food sales and sales of Jackalope beer went directly to the Preds Foundation.
"It's so good to be back in the community, chat with fans and let them see us without our helmets on," Carrier said. "It's easier when fans can see a face with a player. It's so cool to talk with them."