Granlund, Sissons Thrilled for Nashville to Host NHL Stadium Series

Like the rest of his Nashville Predators teammates, Colton Sissons couldn't wait to ring in 2020 outside at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
But then, in the final game of the 2019 calendar, a lower-body injury changed his plans. Instead of suiting up in front of 85,000 spectators, Sissons watched in sweats and a walking boot as the Preds played their first outdoor game in franchise history.
Just over two years later, Sissons can't wait for a second chance.

"I had a lot of fun being a fan, but it's not the same as being on the ice out there," Sissons said of his 2020 Winter Classic experience. "The first time will be super exciting - even more so for me."
The centerman and his teammates are set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning under the lights at Nissan Stadium on Feb. 26 as the 2022 NHL Stadium Series comes to Nashville for what is sure to be an epic party with a hockey game mixed in.
Of course, there will still be two points on the line for the Preds and the defending Stanley Cup champions, but that's all part of the fun, especially for a first-timer.
"There's always so much action around these games, and it's hard to stay completely focused for the game, but [I'll have to] take a few moments, check out the crowd, see what's going on and enjoy it," Sissons said. "You don't get these opportunities in our careers too often, so I'm definitely going to take some time to enjoy it and try to remember it as much as I can."

Sissons, who grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia, didn't have much outdoor experience back in his younger days in the milder climate of the Pacific Northwest. On the other hand, teammate Mikael Granlund - a Finn who spent his winters in a country that only sees a few hours of daylight in the colder months - is a veteran of sorts when it comes to skating under the stars.
In addition to the games he played as a child, Granlund is gearing up for his fifth professional outdoor contest, two of which came in his native Finland before another two in the NHL - one in Minnesota and then another in Dallas with the Preds two years ago.
Even with all that experience, Granlund says he'll never tire of these opportunities, especially the chance to participate in the first-ever outdoor NHL game in Tennessee.
"This is one of the coolest things you can have as a hockey player," Granlund said Wednesday while he and Sissons got a look at the rink build at Nissan Stadium. "To be able to play outside, and here in Nashville in front of our fans, it's really exciting and everybody's really looking forward to that.
"As a kid when you grow up, you're skating outdoor rinks, and that's how we all grew up pretty much. That's one of the best things in your childhood when you were able to get out there and just hang out with your friends and play some hockey, and this kind of reminds me of that. You get to play outside and have this fresh air - it's really exciting."

Sissons and Granlund say they both have friends and family coming into town for the event, and with another monumental occasion set for just 48 hours ahead of the outdoor spectacle - the retirement of former Preds goaltender Pekka Rinne's jersey - the fellow Finn predicts his countrymen may have a desire to become honorary Nashvillians for the long weekend.
"I have a few friends coming in, and obviously Peks has his retirement game two days before, so I guess half of Finland is [going to be] here," Granlund laughed. "There's going to be a lot of Finnish speaking around the town, I guess. But it's really exciting. You always want to bring family or friends or anyone to these events, because these are special moments that you don't get too many times."
And to do so in Nashville - a city most thought would never be able to ice a hockey team, let alone take the game outside - this is just one more milestone for a franchise that continues to weave its place into the fabric of this town.
As Sissons - who has spent his entire NHL career with the Preds - proclaimed, just "another feather in the Nashville hockey cap."
"We had the [Stanley Cup] Final here, we've had an All-Star Game here, we've had a lot of cool events to really raise the energy level around hockey and build our fan base," Sissons said. "It's at a tremendous level now, and this is kind of the next step."
"I'm really happy for Nashville and the fans that they get to experience this kind of event," Granlund said. "I'm sure it brings a lot more hockey followers and fans, and these are exciting events. So, I'm really excited about that, and I'm really happy for the people in Nashville that they get to experience this."