Hal Gill, Chris Mason Named Honorary Coaches for 2019 NWHL All-Star Game

January 9, 2019 - The Nashville Predators and National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) announced Thursday that former longtime NHL players and current Predators broadcasters Hal Gill and Chris Mason will serve as the Honorary Coaches at the 2019 NWHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday, Feb. 10.
Gill played 1,106 games over a 16-season career as a defenseman in the NHL, including two seasons in Nashville. He is in his second season as the radio color commentator on the Nashville Predators Radio Network. Mason had a record of 137-113-32 in his NHL career, including parts of seven seasons with the Predators. He is the analyst on Predators games on FOX Sports Tennessee.
"We are very happy that Hal and Chris have accepted our invitation to be the honorary coaches for the All-Star Game in Nashville," said NWHL Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore. "Our goal is always to include local celebrities and great hockey minds when we travel to new markets for these events. Hal and Chris are both insightful commentators, funny on social media, dedicated to the advancement of all levels of hockey, and they have established deep roots in the Nashville community. We know they will have a lot of fun coaching the stars of the NWHL."

The 2019 NWHL All-Star Game will be played on Feb. 10 after the Predators host the St. Louis Blues at 11:30 am CT. Ticketholders for the Predators game are invited to stay for the NWHL event. In addition, fans with general admission tickets for the All-Star Game will be able to enter Bridgestone Arena at approximately 2 pm. General admission tickets ($20) for the All-Star Game are available by
clicking here
.
"I'm honored to be involved with this great event with the NWHL," said Gill. "I have had the opportunity to train alongside some of the top women's hockey players in North America, and I've seen first-hand the skill and passion they possess. I'm excited to be a part of this event that will showcase their talent. I'm even more excited that this will be in Nashville so my two daughters can watch these incredible role models!"
Added Mason: "It will be a tremendous honor for me to stand on the bench with the amazing athletes of the NWHL. Some of the best games I have ever watched in my life, in any sport, have been women's hockey games. I have so much respect for the talent and fire they possess. I'm so thankful these incredible women are leading the way for my daughters and my son - showing that if you love something and work hard, you can achieve your dreams, whatever they may be. Can't wait for the NWHL All-Star Game in Nashville!"
The All-Star Game will consist of two 25-minute halves, and each team will have 14 skaters and two goaltenders. The captains of the teams are Buffalo Beauts goaltender Shannon Szabados, a three-time Olympian with Team Canada, and Minnesota Whitecaps defender Lee Stecklein, who won the gold medal with Team USA in the Olympics in February.
About the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)
Established in 2015, the NWHL became the first professional women's hockey league in North America to pay its players and share in revenue from select apparel sales. The mission of the league is to promote and develop women's hockey, increase participation and interest in the sport at all levels, and shine a light on the role models that fill the rosters of all of its clubs. The league is made up of the Boston Pride (2016 Isobel Cup champions), Buffalo Beauts (2017 champions), Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters (2018 champions), and Minnesota Whitecaps. For more information, please visit
NWHL.zone
and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @NWHL.
About the Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators became the National Hockey League's 27th team on May 4, 1998 and have evolved from a young expansion franchise into a staple of the Middle Tennessee community in the 19 years since. The team strives each season to reach its One Goal: becoming a Stanley Cup Champion hockey team while making Bridgestone Arena the number one sports and entertainment venue in the United States. With One Goal in mind, the team saw its greatest successes in team history when they made it to Game 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and were named the 2018 Central Division, regular-season Western Conference & Presidents' Trophy winners last season.