Fire met ice, and ice met fire, June 26-29, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville when the cool world of the National Hockey League merged with Nashville’s sultry weather.
On Monday night, June 26, a slate of celebrity sightings accompanied the Awards Ceremony that saw Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers walk away as the most decorated athlete of the evening by winning the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award that recognized him as the MVP of the Regular Season and the Most Outstanding Player of the Year as voted on by the NHLPA.
On Wednesday, June 28, the most recent additions to the association took their first step in joining the storied sport and legendary league as Connor Bedard was taken with the first overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, who swooped in to grab the remarkable Canadian who is widely considered one of the greatest ice hockey prospects of his generation.
Nashville sounds and NHL hockey mix well! (photo courtesy Music City Nashville)
The city of Nashville and the NHL also pulled out all the stops for fans and their furry friends as they turned downtown’s main drag into a block party featuring music. There was also an informative United by Hockey Mobile Museum and a chance for fans to display their hockey video games. A “Block Pawty” presented by the PEDIGREE Brand encouraged fans to bring their pets to the Pups and Play Dog Park for treats, photo opportunities, adoption opportunities & more. It makes sense as a hard rubber hockey puck also doubles as a great canine chew toy.
On the musical front, a giant stage on Broadway in front of the Arena served as the home base for a mini, multi-day festival that featured well-attended performances by high-profile acts, including Brothers Osborne, Mitchell Tenpenny, Kip Moore, Maddie & Tae, and Jo Dee Messina. We especially enjoyed the rocking, country stylings of Tractor Supply’s Emerging artist Austin McNeill who no doubt won some new fans courtesy of the NHL loyalists in the crowd.
Not to be outdone – the host franchise, Nashville Predators, also had ample reason to celebrate as they launched their 25th Anniversary in Music City with a Broadway Block Party of their own presented by Tractor Supply. The affair included Preds alumni appearances & autographs, along with an introduction of the team’s new head coach Andrew Brunette, who is the player who scored the first goal in Smashville history. All this hockey-centric fun and excitement added up to another smashing success for the NHL in Nashville.
By all accounts, it was another smashing success for the NHL in Nashville.
Related Links: For more information on the NHL DRAFT and the other organizations mentioned, please visit the following links – NHL | Nashville Predators | Bridgestone Arena
