I grew up ice skating outside, watching and attending tons of NHL games, and I'm now lucky to announce NHL games on Preds radio, but I’d never played hockey - until this summer, at age 31, at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch.
I didn’t hit the ice when I was 4 years old in full gear like our Predators players did when they were kids, and so many members of our Nashville hockey community have over the past three decades since Smashville was born. As an undersized kid at a school without a hockey team, I never had a chance to turn my love for hockey and skating into playing.
That changed this summer. The Predators offered their Adult Learn To Play Hockey Class at Ford Ice Center, bringing together a group of 40 adult men and women who loved hockey but had never played it. That ragtag group of Nashvillians included me, and I could not recommend the program enough for adults who love the game but never had their chance to try.
The summer begins with a gear fitting, and then delivery day. Every participant got a hockey bag full of the head-to-toe equipment needed to play proper ice hockey: skates, stick, helmet, hockey pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin pads and hockey socks. The group met eight straight Sundays, starting with basic skating technique and advancing to more game style hockey drills. The environment equipped everyone to learn at their own pace, and large subgroups frequently went to stick time and open hockey at Nashville’s ice rinks as we progressed.
I entered the class as one of the more experienced ice skaters in the group, but had absolutely no brakes to match my gas pedal. I also had never skated in hockey gear and never skated backwards. Led by Ford Ice Center’s adult hockey coordinator Nick Beaudette, the sizable group of coaches took us through skating, stopping, transitioning, backward skating, crossovers, passing, shooting and in-game strategy during the program’s three scrimmage days to close.
The program feeds players into Ford Ice Center’s adult hockey leagues, opening up the hockey world for all 40 of us; many of whom have kids or other family members who are already playing in Preds leagues and can now finally join them on the ice.
I cannot recommend the course enough the next time it opens; there is a co-ed class and a women’s hockey class in rotation. You’re never too old to learn!!
Ice hockey is legitimately a lifelong activity, and something that you can do by yourself at a stick time or with 30-40 others at open hockey. The biggest barrier stopping me from playing was getting started, and I can’t thank the Preds enough for finally giving me that opportunity. Now my dream of playing for the Predators finally begins, as Andrew Brunette has offered me a non-roster invite to training camp as a penalty kill specialist who is too scared to block a shot. Thanks Bruno!!!
Just kidding. At least I’ll finally know what I’m talking about on the radio this season. Go Preds!
Click here for more information on the Preds Adult Learn to Play Program.
