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Happy New Year - Happy New Season!

January 3, 2021, 8:07 AM ET [4 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
(Peeking out from the covers…)

Is it over? Is it 2021 yet? It is??? Happy New Year hockey fans!

YES!!! And the NHL is right around the corner.

The Nashville Predators announced the training camp roster on Saturday and camp gets going today at Bridgestone Arena. The training camp roster really doesn’t include a lot of surprises, with the possible exception of Yannick Weber returning to the Preds on a tryout agreement. Weber could provide some defensive taxi squad depth should a decision be made to give playing time in Milwaukee for defensive prospects.

Camp will consist of the normal on ice sessions but no exhibition games… the team is replacing these with two Blue/Gold Scrimmages, one this Friday evening and one next Sunday evening. These will not only be a chance to work in game situations, it will also be a chance for the Predators game ops and arena ops crews to figure out the new normal in game presentation.

As the Predators PA announcer, my location over the past 14 seasons has been between the penalty boxes at ice level. I would sit with the penalty timekeeper, the timekeeper (clock operator) and the time out coordinator. Guidelines developed by the NHL to address pandemic concerns mandate that I will be relocated to a different position in the arena… there is no way that social distancing happens with four guys in that small space… So, I will be in a different position when the season starts.

Staring out with no fans in the building is the right decision, given the positivity rate in middle Tennessee, but I won’t lie… it’s going to be weird. Hopefully, as vaccinations roll out and spring comes closer, there will be an ability to bring fans back into the building.

So, for now… camp is open and we are less than two weeks away from the season opener.

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Random Notes – Presented by

- World Juniors - Four really good hockey games yesterday in Edmonton as the Junior tournament has its final four determined. Tomorrow’s semifinals feature Canada vs. Russia and the US vs. Finland. Both really good rivalries with lots of history behind ‘em.

- Preds Prospects - Plenty of prominence for Preds prospects in this tournament. Philip Tomasino has been outstanding for Team Canada, posting four goals and two assists so far. Yegor Afanasiev and Iaroslav Askarov have been key contributors for Team Russia and forward Juuso Parssinen has been a revelation for Team Finland.

- Camp - Today’s sessions will include off ice testing and media availability. The team hits the ice for the first time in camp tomorrow.

- Season Premier - The season premier of SlapShot Radio is this Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.9 the Game. Zack, Brent and I are back for SSR’s 13th season. Jeff Marek will be joining us as we review the World Junior’s tournament and talk about the Predator’s off season moves.

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The season premier of SlapShot Radio is set, the 13th season will get going on Wednesday night January 6, 2021 at 7pm on 102.5 the Game. We are the longest running hockey show in the southeast and can’t wait to get it going.

Our sponsors are fantastic, you need to check them out… Dr. Aileen Kruger at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762 and our good friend Carter Church, Your Murfreesboro real estate expert with Weichert – The Andrews Group. Cool Springs Wines and Spirits! The largest spirit store in all of middle Tennessee! And La-Z-Boy Nashville! Three locations, locally owned and operated, check out La-Z-Boy in Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Cool Springs!

Season 13 will be the best ever, so get in on the action… reach out to me for awesome new advertising packages.

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