The puck has dropped on the exciting fifth season of the annual Hot Shots Summerfest Tour, a fun filled, educational program to teach kids the basics of street hockey. This summer the Nashville Predators are taking hockey off the ice and bringing it to the community.

This summer's tour opened with a pair of stops last week, June 2 at the Franklin Family YMCA and June 4 at Black Fox Elementary School in Murfreesboro.

The first street hockey clinic took place on June 2 at the Franklin Family YMCA during the Fun Fitness Camp. The gym was roaring with cheers of encouragement as 50 kids, 5-12 years old, learned basic hockey skills from Preds Youth Hockey Development Staff and then participate in a hockey scrimmage.

On June 4 the Preds Hot Shots Summerfest Tour visited the Extended School Program at the Black Fox Elementary School in Murfreesboro. As 50 kids, 6-11 years old took the gym floor for the mornings activities, they had no idea a surprise teammate was about to join them. After learning basic stickhandling skills, the kids, outfitted in colored Preds jerseys, challenged each other to a friendly hockey scrimmage. As the game continued, Preds mascot Gnash joined the action and helped both teams score some goals and have a lot of fun.

The Hot Shots Summerfest Tour is a free interactive hockey clinic that travels around in the off-season to local youth camps between May and August. The clinics focus on the basic fundamentals of hockey including stick handling, shooting and teamwork. The Nashville Predators supply all the necessary equipment and instruction in a fun atmosphere. For information on upcoming Predators Youth and Amateur Hockey programs visit nashvillepredators.com/youthhockey .