As the Nashville Predators kick-off an exciting 2010-11 regular season, members of the Preds Youth Hockey Development took hockey off the ice and into the streets through “Taking Hockey to the Streets”, a grassroots marketing initiative in which members of the Predators organization make unannounced visits to neighborhoods where kids routinely gather to play street hockey.

Throughout the month of October neighborhoods were treated to fun-filled afternoons of street hockey – Preds vs. the neighborhood. Staff arrived complete with street hockey equipment as neighborhood kids gained the fundamental skills of how the game is played. In a recent visit Preds Associate Coach Brent Peterson, forwards Martin Erat and Jerred Smithson along with team mascot Gnash made a surprise visit to the young fans. The kids interacted and played hockey with one another learning an appreciation of teamwork, hockey, and the Nashville Predators.

The program gives young fans an exciting opportunity to interact with Predators players, coaches, team mascot Gnash and/or staff literally in their front yard. The program aims to promote and grow hockey participation at the grassroots level in Middle Tennessee.

For more information on Nashville Predators youth hockey development opportunities, click here.