Predators Foundation, American Red Cross To Host Statewide Blood Drives

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The Nashville Predators Foundation has announced that it will team up with the American Red Cross for the third time this year to host a statewide blood drive from Monday, June 20 to Friday, June 24.

All presenting donors will receive a Nashville Predators and American Red Cross branded foam puck and will also be entered to win a player-autographed puck, with one winner at each location.

“Being able to continuously partner with an impactful organization like the Red Cross has been a great opportunity for the Preds Foundation and our fans to give back to the community,” says Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King. “So far in 2022, we have been able to collect enough blood to save about 600 lives, and we look forward to making that number even larger.”

To find the drive closest to you and to register, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the Sponsor Code PREDS19.

Predators Sign Jeremy Lauzon To Four-Year, $8 Million Contract

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Jeremy Lauzon. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have made their first big move of the offseason, signing defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to a four-year, $8 million contract.

Lauzon was picked up from Seattle at the 2022 trade deadline and went on to skate in 13 games with the Predators, tallying one goal, 48 hits and 17:06 of average ice time. Lauzon, who had six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in 53 games with the Kraken, dished out a career-high 224 hits during the 2021-22 regular season, the seventh-most among all NHL blueliners. His 11.52 hits per 60 minutes were also the seventh-most among League defensemen. He blocked 63 shots, also a career high.

“When we acquired Jeremy back in March, we felt he was a player with a bright future who would help solidify our blueline moving forward, so we are excited to have him remain with the Predators,” says President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile. “Jeremy jumped right into our lineup with his physical style of play and fits the identity that we like to bring each night. At just 25 years old, he’s helped us further reach our goal of getting younger and he is thrilled about the opportunity to continue to improve and develop with our organization and in the city of Nashville.”

Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Lauzon has appeared in 142 games with Nashville, Boston and Seattle since making his League debut during the 2018-19 season. He’s also skated in 16 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

“Nashville is the place I wanted to be, so I am thankful and fortunate to stay with this city and the Predators for the next few years,” Lauzon adds. “As a defenseman who likes to play with physicality, I love the identity our team brings each game, and knew this was a group I would fit in with right away. My teammates and the entire organization made me feel welcome from the day I arrived, and I’m looking forward to some stability and a chance to help our team that’s on the rise and is heading in the right direction.”

The NHL Draft is right around the corner, starting July 7 and the Preds have the 17th selection in the draft.

The biggest offseason question that’s still lingering is whether or not Filip Forsberg will be re-signed as he hits free agency. The Preds will have until on July 13 to re-sign Forsberg as that is when the Free Agency window opens.

Predators Prospect Luke Prokop Named 2022 WHL Humanitarian Of The Year

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Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop of the Edmonton Oil Kings has been named the WHL Humanitarian of the Year for 2021-22, and has been awarded the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy presented by Westland Insurance for his work fighting for inclusion in hockey and across sports.

Prokop broke barriers in the hockey community and the LGBTQ2S+ community  when he came out as the first openly gay player signed to an NHL contract on July 19, 2021. Since then, he’s become a strong advocate for the Kids Help Phone. In an effort to put his support behind the Kids Help Phone, Prokop established the Shots for Impact program, donating $10 for each of his shots on goal this season and securing matching donations from the Edmonton Oil Kings, Nashville Predators, and Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.

“I’m honored to accept this award this year,” says Prokop. “I’d like to thank my family and friends who have helped support me throughout this season, my teammates in Edmonton, who have been awesome, as well as Kids Help Phone. They’re one of the major reasons why I created this initiative–I can’t thank them enough.”

Prokop played a vital role in the development of the Edmonton Oil Kings first ever Pride Day Game, hosted on April 9 at Rogers Place. As a part of the celebration, Prokop developed a working partnership with Bauer Hockey to have custom skates made with Pride colors.

“On behalf of Westland Insurance Group, I’d like to thank Luke for everything he has done to champion inclusion in hockey,” adds Cari Watson, Senior Vice President, Marketing Client Experience. “Your confidence and bravery in coming out to your family, your friends, and your teammates is truly commendable. Sharing your story with so many others to inspire them to be more inclusive and to feel comfortable sharing their whole self is a powerful way to drive change in hockey, sport in general, and in our communities. Thank you for all of the work you have done, and continue to do, in driving change, and for being a role model for others.”

On the ice, Prokop played his best WHL season with the Oil Kings, recording career bests in goals (11), assists (24), points (35), plus-minus (38), and shots on goal (134). He played a vital role on the blueline through the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship, registering 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 13 games for the Oil Kings.

Predators & 102.5 The Game To Host 615 Day, Benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs Of Middle TN

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The Nashville Predators and their flagship radio station, 102.5 The Game, are hosting a 615 Day celebration at Ford Ice Center in Antioch that will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.

This all-day event will feature fun for the whole family while paying tribute to Nashville’s annual 615 Day, an occasion that pairs Music City’s area code with the date of June 15.

From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, Ford Ice Center Antioch will play host to a wide variety of activities and activations for fans of all ages. As with last year’s inaugural event, the areas surrounding the Ford Ice Center Antioch will offer food and beverage options and multiple partners of the Preds and 102.5 The Game will be onsite with special product offers and giveaways.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on-air talent from 102.5 The Game and sister station 102.9 The Buzz will broadcast live from an outdoor stage at the Ford Ice Center Antioch with special guests joining them throughout the shows. The live broadcasts will move inside Ford Ice Center from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. where fans, friends and family will have multiple opportunities to take the ice during a donation-based public skate session. Gnash and the Predators Energy Team will also be on hand with giveaways and the Smashville postcard station. Registration information for skate sessions can be booked at the FordIceCenter’s website.

To further benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Predators Foundation, empowered by SmileDirectClub, will facilitate a silent auction that begins June 1 and concludes on June 15. Featuring exciting sports merchandise, signed Predators apparel, trips and other one-of-a-kind items, 100 percent of the proceeds from the auction will go directly to Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. To bid on the silent auction items or to make a donation, click here.. 

Predators Sign Head Coach John Hynes To Two-Year Extension

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John Hynes. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators head coach John Hynes and his staff have signed a two-year extension with the team, announced General Manager David Poile in an end of the season press conference.

This past season, the Predators finished in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, winning 45 games with 97 points. Hynes took over for former coach Peter Laviolette in January of 2020, cultivating a 92-64-10 record in 166 regular-season games. Under Hynes, Nashville has made the playoffs in each of his three seasons but has failed to win a postseason series.

“John deserves this, we’re growing together,” Poile noted. “I haven’t given him enough yet. I am totally comfortable with John and our coaching staff to lead us to bigger and better things going forward.”

Though the season ended with the Preds getting swept by Colorado Avalanche, both Poile and Hynes did emphasize on the success the team had even when predicted to have a poor season. But Poile made it clear that this season’s result was far from good and improvements will be made.

“By no means are we happy with the result, we want more and our fans deserve more,” Poile added. “We’re here to build a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup.”

Poile also discussed the possible re-signing of Filip Forsberg, who’s current contract expires in July. There were no significant updates to contract discussions but Poile stated that both parties are still interested in pursuing an extension.

“I can tell you Filip has been a great player for us,” Poile shared. “There is mutual interest in having him remain a Nashville Predator for the foreseeable future… We’re not making the playoffs if we trade Filip for a first round pick.”

Predators Sign Iaroslav Askarov To Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract

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Iaroslav Askarov. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Iaroslav Askarov to a three-year, entry-level contract that will begin in the 2022-23 season, President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced.

Askarov, 19-years-old, spent the majority of the 2021-22 campaign with Neva Saint Petersburg of the VHL, the second-highest professional league in Russia, going 5-2-2 with a 2.57 goals-against average in nine appearances. The goaltender was also featured in six games for the KHL’s SKA Saint Petersburg, posting a 1.81 goals-against average and .913 save percentage, allowing two-or-fewer goals in four of his appearances.

Originally drafted by the Predators in the first round (11th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Askarov was the third goaltender ever selected by the franchise in the opening round of the draft. He also became the sixth Russian-born goaltender to be selected in the first round in NHL history.

As an 18-year-old in 2020-21, Askarov posted a 1.21 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in nine KHL appearances–leading league U-21 goaltenders in both categories–while recording a 5-4-0 record and one shutout.

Askarov made history on Nov. 27, 2019 by making his KHL debut at the age of 17, becoming the second-youngest goalie to ever start a game in the league. He owns an 8-5-2 record, 1.48 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 16 career KHL performances; at the VHL level, he’s 19-8-6 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

The Omsk, Russia native has also starred internationally on several occasions, most recently at the last three editions of the World Junior Championship. He earned silver at the 2020 World Juniors and featured prominently in two of Russia’s international tournaments in 2019, winning gold at the U-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and taking home silver at the U-18 World Championship.

During the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Askarov made 35 saves in the championship game against Canada and finished the tournament with a 1.25 goals-against average and .960 save percentage. Despite playing against competition a year older than him, he earned Best Goaltender honors in the U-18 tournament and made 26 stops in Russia’s overtime loss. He also backstopped Russia to a gold medal in the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he was named a tournament all-star.

Mid-South Ford Dealers, Shelby’s Trio Partner With Clarksville’s F&M Bank Arena

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Mid-South Ford Dealers and Shelby’s Trio are joining as founding partners of F&M Bank Arena arena in Clarksville.

The brand new arena is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2023 under Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) management.

“We are thrilled that Ford and Shelby’s Trio have elected to join F&M Bank Arena as founding partners,” says Danny Butler, Vice President and General Manager of Ford Ice Centers and Project Manager for F&M Bank Arena. “We are excited to grow our relationship with Ford at the ice centers, which started in Antioch in 2014 and continued with Bellevue. Shelby’s Trio and the Maynard family are dedicated leaders in the Clarksville community, and we are looking forward to both long-term partnerships.”

F&M Bank Arena’s primary tenant will be Austin Peay State University, whose men’s and women’s basketball teams will call the facility home. The arena’s main arena bowl will also be able to add an ice surface, giving it the ability to host hockey tournaments and attract larger on-ice events or competitions much like the existing Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue.

“The Mid-South Ford Dealers are thrilled to continue the tradition of supporting the Ford Ice Centers in our local communities to include the Ford Ice Center in Clarksville,” says Casey Jenkins, Chair of the Mid-South Ford Dealer Association and Owner of Jenkins and Wynne Ford in Clarksville. “This center will greatly impact Clarksville and surrounding communities for generations to come and we look forward to the growth and activity this opportunity brings with it.”

“Shelby’s Trio, Trio Hospitality and the Maynard family are pleased to enter this long-term relationship with SS&E and Austin Peay State University at F&M Bank Arena,” says Joe Maynard, a long-time business leader in the Clarksville community and owner of Shelby’s Trio and Trio Hospitality.

Ford Ice Centers will offer a variety of learn-to-skate programs at F&M Bank Arena, continuing its mission to expose and grow hockey to more Middle Tennessee residents.

F&M Bank Arena will hold approximately 6,000 fans for concerts, 5,500 for basketball games and 5,000 for hockey games.

Nashville Predators Foundation Awards Record-Breaking Grant Donation

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The Nashville Predators Foundation, empowered by SmileDirectClub, distributed its largest-ever one-time donation with Helper Grant distributions totaling $776,075 on Monday, May 9 during a Grant Check Presentation Ceremony at Bridgestone Arena.

This announcement marks the 24th grant distribution by the Preds Foundation.

Through the 2022 allocation, a broad array of Nashville and Middle Tennessee non-profits received a record-high 176 grants. In total, the Predators Foundation has now provided over $8 million in grants since its inception in 1998.

“The Nashville Predators Foundation aims to fill the areas of need throughout the Middle Tennessee community, and we are honored to be able to give a franchise record breaking $776,075 of grants,” Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King says. “We are extremely proud to distribute these grants to 176 deserving nonprofits who are doing incredible work in our community.”

Charities granted donations on Monday include: American Cancer Society, American Special Hockey Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, Rutherford County and South Central Tennessee, Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury, National Museum of African American Music, Tennessee Coalition to end Domestic and Sexual Violence and more.