Nashville, Tenn. (April 3, 2012) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that goaltender Chet Pickard (CHEHT PIH-kuhrd) has been assigned to the team. The Winnipeg native completed his third professional season with the Predators’ ECHL affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday.

Pickard, 22 (11/29/89), posted a 14-12-2 record with a 3.12 goals-against average, a .890 save percentage and a shutout with the Cyclones in 2011-12. This is the second time Nashville's second choice, 18th overall (first round), in 2008 Entry Draft has been on the club’s active roster – he was recalled on April 27, 2011 and stayed with the team through its Western Conference Semifinals series vs. Vancouver.

With three games remaining in the regular season, the Predators have already locked down their seventh playoff berth in the last eight seasons, making them just one of five teams to do so – Detroit, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Jose are the others. The Preds finish out their home season with games tonight against Minnesota and Thursday against Dallas (both at 7 p.m., FS-TN, 102.5 The Game) before concluding the 2011-12 regular season campaign at Colorado on Saturday (8 p.m., FS-TN, 102.5 The Game). Visit nashvillepredators.com or call 615-770-7800 to purchase tickets for remaining Nashville Predators regular season games or to secure your seats for the first round of the playoffs.