Preds Foundation, Players Spread Holiday Cheer at Annual Christmas Party

On Saturday evening, Predators players Ryan Johansen, Dante Fabbro and Colton Sissons donned their best North Pole attire and helped make Christmas come early for a group of deserving children from the Nashville community.
The players, in partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation empowered by SmileDirectClub, helped make the annual tradition another fun and fulfilling day for 80 children from Backfield in Motion, a local after school program that assists Nashville kids of all ages.

The kids started their special day watching the Preds take on the Ottawa Senators, and were given Preds T-shirts and concessions passes. For the majority of the group, it was their first introduction to hockey and Smashville.
"We love having an opportunity to bring them out for a game," Sissons said. "Hopefully we made a couple of more hockey fans today, too."
From there, it was on to a holiday dinner and the long-awaited party, where the children got to unwrap presents chosen specifically for them by the three Preds players.

"We really try with their list to nail exactly what they want," Johansen said. "They're getting things they've asked for and we're just trying to make their day. Everyone has been super pumped with what they're getting."
From clothes and school supplies to Nintendo Switches, Airpods and even a mini fridge, the kids' faces each lit up as they ripped open their gifts.
Seeing their reactions and their smiles was far and away the best part for all the players involved.
"It's priceless," said Fabbro. "Nothing can beat that feeling."

For Backfield in Motion CEO Todd Campbell, the generosity of the players and the Preds Foundation did not go unnoticed.
"For these kids to see that people care about them, they don't always get that type of love from people who don't know who they are," said Campbell. "It's a big deal for them."
The festivities won't end with the Preds holiday party.
Each child received six beautifully wrapped presents, though opened just two with the players, saving four to unwrap on Christmas morning.
"For these kids, this is going to be one of their best Christmases ever," Campbell said with a smile, looking out over the room full of ecstatic faces.

For the players involved, that ecstatic feeling was certainly mutual.
"The position that me, Fabbro and Sissons are in to have the opportunity to do things like this is just special," Johansen said. "We are really grateful for this opportunity, and to me, this is what the holidays are all about."