Mike Fisher, Preds Foundation Give Back at Fourth Annual Clay Shoot

Part of the DNA of any Nashville Predators player is giving back to the community.
From getting the team's young prospects involved in Rookie Community Day to
an entire week dedicated to service
, an emphasis is placed on connecting with the local organizations and people who make Smashville special.
That connection to the community was something that former captain Mike Fisher cherished and wanted to continue his involvement with - even after hanging up his skates.

"[The Preds Foundation] does such a good job getting players involved with different ministries and organizations," Fisher said. "I wanted to continue that when I was done playing, and it's been a great partnership ever since."
Now, in its fourth year, the CATCHIN' DEERS Mike Fisher Celebrity Clay Shoot presented by TETRA Hearing has become an outstanding and well-known event that raises good money for the community. Since its inception, the event has raised over $250,000 for the Foundation, with this year's event projected to raise nearly $75,000.
Fisher and the Predators Foundation work together to choose Nashville-based institutions to donate the money to, with past recipients including Room In The Inn, Cottage Cove, Rocketown and Nashville Inner City Ministry.
The event also provides a full day of fun to the Predators more outdoorsy fanbase.

In addition to the 74-bird course clay shooting tournament, the 32 teams were treated to Hunt Brothers Pizza for lunch, Puckett's for dinner, Coca-Cola and Frito Lay for snacks, dessert from Christie Cookie and a Jack Daniel's tasting. Attendees were also able to bid on items from the silent auction including autographed Preds memorabilia, a hunting trip in Argentina and a shooting lesson with the former captain himself.
"It's a way for us to engage with a different group of fans that like to hunt, clay shoot and watch hockey," Preds Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said. "A clay shoot was just unique. Now we have the bowlers, we have the beer drinkers, we have the wine drinkers, we have the gamblers, we have the golfers, we have the fishermen and now we have the hunters in the clay shoot. All of our events really pull from different audiences, and it's just a fun way to raise money."
On Wednesday at the Nashville Gun Club, slightly overcast conditions made for a perfect clay shoot, which produced extraordinary results once more.
"It's been awesome," Preds Alum Hal Gill said. "Seeing the same people here but also new people - I know they want to grow the event. They've got great sponsors and every year, it seems to get a little bit better. It's part of who Mike Fisher is and it's also what the Preds want to do, so it's a great combination."

Having alumni like Gill stay connected to the Preds and their former home is especially important in helping the Foundation accomplish its community outreach goals.
"Hockey players love that team camaraderie and an opportunity to come back and raise money for the community, interact with fans and then bring their brotherhood back together to support a fun cause. It's all of the fun things in one bundle," King said. "Having our alumni, like Mike Fisher, engaged is important to us because they act as goodwill ambassadors in our community."
It's not just Preds alumni getting involved. Current forwards Ryan Johansen, Cole Smith and Zach Sanford joined in on the fun Wednesday as well.
For Smith - an avid hunter and outdoorsman himself - being able to participate at the clay shoot was a perfect fit.
"I've been out here a few times," Smith said. "Whenever we have a day off, I come out here and shoot a little bit. Back home, it's something me and my dad like to do. It's pretty fun… Anytime we get an opportunity to give back, it's going to be awesome and it's just our little way of saying thank you."
"Anything with Mike Fisher's name on it, I'm going to try my best to be there," Johansen said. "It's great to get outside and away from the rink for an afternoon to celebrate a great cause."
With another successful clay shoot completed and tens of thousands more raised for some worthy causes, everyone involved was able to end the day with a sense of accomplishment once again.
"I always look forward to this day," Fisher said. "It's a lot of fun and the Foundation does an incredible job of putting it all together and we're able to support some great ministries and charities."