Nashville, Tenn. (October 19, 2010) – When the Nashville Predators hit the Bridgestone Arena ice this Thursday, Oct. 19 to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, they will be showing their support for the National Hockey League’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative with the first of two We Care for Kids benefit nights to be held this season.

To help promote the fight against cancer, the Predators Foundation will hold a blind auction of 12 Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys worn and autographed by the players during pregame skate (the second set will be auctioned off on March 3, 2011 at the second We Care for Kids Night.), Preds coaches and broadcasters will don lavender Hockey Fights Cancer ties, players will have Hockey Fights Cancer stickers on their helmets and the silent-auction table will offer Hockey Fights Cancer themed Mystery Pucks, Mystery Sticks and bracelets as well as Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt autographed hats. All proceeds from the silent auction – and 25 percent of every single-game ticket sold – will be donated back to Children’s Hospital.

Serving as Child Ambassador for the night will be 9-year-old Brandi, a local Preds fan and cancer patient. Brandi will be given the honor of dropping the puck in a pre-game ceremonial faceoff. She will also be named Mayor of Smashville for the evening – charging her with the task of welcoming the team back on the ice with an air-raid siren from the band stage after the first intermission.

Other initiatives from the night include:

• The Nashville Predators created a web link at nashvillepredators.com/beatcancer for fans to join the fight against cancer and donate to the Nashville Predators pediatric cancer research grant.
• In conjunction with their “Be The Match” campaign, Vanderbilt Gives Back will be holding a bone marrow donor drive. Fans can stop by, fill out a health form and have their cheek swabbed to join the registry.
• J-P Dumont and Steve Sullivan will host several Children's Hospital patients and their families in their personal Kids Come First suite for the game. A post-game player meet-and-greet/autograph session will take place.
• Intermission entertainment provided by Soul Incision, a band comprised entirely of Vanderbilt University Medical Center doctors.
• Silent auction will be offering premier items including jerseys autographed by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vanderbilt University Medical Center hot-air balloon ride, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Life Flight ride and player – autographed platters designed by Children's Hospital patients.
• The “Ladies of Smashville” will be showing their support by donning lavender extensions in their hair. Additionally, the Ice Girls will be sporting lavender leg warmers and the Dancers will carry lavender pom-poms.
• The Nashville Predators donated a number of tickets to Thursday’s game to several local charities including Gilda’s Club, I’m Too Young for This, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Make-a-Wish, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Ronald McDonald House. All pediatric cancer patients will be given a We Care for Kids t-shirt to wear at the game.
• The Nashville Predators have placed four coin machines with Children’s Hospital logos around the concourse of Bridgestone Arena to collect change throughout the season. Change collected will go back to Children’s Hospital.
• Volunteers from Kohl’s Department Store will be stationed at all main entrances collecting change from fans as they enter. They will also walk the concourse during both intermissions and solicit donations from fans
• Children’s Hospital mascot Champ and patients from the hospital will ride the Zamboni during pregame and intermissions and sit in the penalty box pregame.
• Children’s Hospital will have six information tables around the concourse: Children’s Cancer, Junior League – Vanderbilt Center for Parenting Young Children, Children’s Volunteer Services, Family Resource Center, Safety Store and Bio VU.
• A Children’s Hospital ambulance will be placed on the plaza as fans enter the building.
• All employees working the game will wear a lavender ribbon on their lapel.
• Zebra’s Care, a charitable organization formed by the National Hockey League Officials Association in the hopes of providing the opportunity for underprivileged and sick children to meet NHLOA members and to attend a National Hockey League game in person, will meet with two young cancer patients prior to that evening’s game.
• In July, the Nashville Predators held a press conference at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. They presented Children’s Hospital with a check for $125,000 – one-hundred thousand dollars to endow a Nashville Predators pediatric cancer research fund – which will always be active and to which others may donate – with the remaining $25,000 supporting a number of programs including Books From Birth and the Vanderbilt Children’s Health Improvement and Prevention (VCHIP) Program.

Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint initiative created by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association which honors those in the hockey community who have struggled, or continue to struggle with the disease. This year the NHL gave all 30 teams $10,000 to go toward a cancer charity of their choice. The Nashville Predators selected Children’s Hospital. The goal of Hockey Fights Cancer is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. To date, the initiative has raised more than $11 million for cancer research and care.