Name of Coach: TJ Andreasen
Name of LTP Program: Little Preds Learn to Play
About the coach: TJ grew up playing hockey in central Illinois at the travel and high school levels. He went on to play for the Peoria Blades in the Continental Hockey League from 1977 to 1979, where he won a championship in 1978. During his enlistment with the United States Marine Corps, he never lost his love of hockey and continued to play from California to North Carolina and even Hawaii. Years later, TJ joined the coaching staff of the Ford Ice Centers and the Nashville Predators Amateur Hockey Association. TJ helps across all Nashville Predators youth hockey programs from Little Preds Learn to Play to travel hockey with the Preds Select 16U team.
About the program: In partnership with the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, the Little Preds Learn to Play program provides first-time participants between 4-9 years of age head-to-toe equipment, age-appropriate instruction, and certified coaching at a low cost. Led by Nashville Predators alumni Cody Hodgson and Jayson More, players will learn the skills needed to succeed on and off the ice. Since its inception, over 5,000 players have been introduced to hockey in seven states across the Southeast with the Little Preds Learn to Play program.
Donation Meaning: With this donation, we will create a scholarship to promote diversity within the program. This scholarship will help with registration costs for the Little Preds program and our continue to play program, PREDecessor, for families in need.
