Smashville Scope: November 11

Matt Irwin has fond memories of the three seasons he spent patrolling the blue line for the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL during his junior hockey days.
On Wednesday night, he'll head back to the small town on Vancouver Island to make one more memory.
The Predators defenseman will be the first member to be inducted into the Nanaimo Clippers Wall of Honour, a new space at Frank Crane Arena where contributors to the organization will be recognized with a permanent display commemorating their achievements.

After the Preds play in Vancouver on Tuesday, Irwin will stay back and make the trek to Nanaimo on Wednesday to receive the honor before heading back to Nashville on Thursday ahead of Saturday's game against Chicago.
For one, the schedule works out perfectly to allow Irwin to be in attendance during the NHL regular season, but to be the first to be honored by the Clippers in this manner, it's special.
"To be the first one, I'm very honored," Irwin said Monday in Vancouver. "I'm excited about it, and to share with my family and my billet family from Nanaimo; I played some pretty important years of my hockey career over there."
Irwin captained the Clippers in his final season with the Clippers and helped them to first-place finishes during each of his campaigns in Nanaimo. The native of Victoria, British Columbia, also earned BCHL Top Defenseman honors in two-straight seasons.
All of those memories will come rushing back for Irwin on Wednesday night, a poignant reminder of where he came from and the people who helped him get to where he is today.
"We had always good hockey teams, and our coach, Bill Bestwick, was was unbelievable at developing players into good hockey players and good people off the ice," Irwin said. "He was a big believer in the community, and junior hockey is all about that community and the small towns that you play in. We had good teams and very supportive fans. I still go back there during the summer, I met my wife there, and it will always be a part of us."

Preds to Participate in 2020 NHL Global Series:
The NHL wants the Predators on the world stage.
The League
announced on Friday
the Preds will be one of four teams to take part in the 2020 NHL Global series, a trip that will see Nashville make stops in Bern, Switzerland, and Prague, Czech Republic, at the beginning of the 2020-21 season. The Predators will face SC Bern -
the hometown team of Preds defensemen
Roman Josi and Yannick Weber - in an exhibition game before heading to Prague to face the Boston Bruins in the regular-season opener.
"It means a lot for our entire organization to get the opportunity to play games in the Czech Republic and Switzerland," Josi said. "We are proud of what our franchise has accomplished over the past couple seasons and now are lucky enough to play in not only the Winter Classic, but in the Global Series too. We are all honored that we get the chance to play in Europe and everyone on the team is excited for the opportunity.
"It's really great for me and Yannick to get to play a game in Bern. Before coming to North America, Bern was the only team I had ever played for growing up, and I watched them play when I was little. I grew up five minutes away from their rink and it's my hometown club - it's going to be so special for me, and I can't wait for the game."
Carr Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week:
Admirals forward Daniel Carr was a big reason for Milwaukee rattling off three-straight wins over the past week, and the AHL has recognized those efforts.
Carr was named the CCM/AHL Player of the week on Monday after recording three goals and three assists for Nashville's primary affiliate last week.
The winger, who signed a one-year deal with the Predators on July 1 and began the season in Nashville, tallied twice and added an assist in Milwaukee's 6-4 win over Manitoba on Wednesday. He then scored shorthanded in a 3-1 victory over San Antonio on Friday before adding an assist and potting the only goal of the shootout in a 4-3 win, again in San Antonio.
On Wednesday, Carr snapped a 3-3 tie with a pair of second-period goals, part of a three-point effort that sent Milwaukee to a 6-4 victory over Manitoba. On Friday, Carr's shorthanded goal was the game-winner as the Admirals earned a 3-1 decision in San Antonio. And on Sunday, Carr notched an assist in regulation before scoring the only goal of the shootout to give Milwaukee a 4-3 win over the Rampage.
In recognition of being named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week, Carr will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Admirals home game.

KaBOOM!
A cold rain didn't dampen the spirits at KIPP Antioch College Prep on Thursday in Nashville.
More than 230 volunteers, 50 of whom represented the front office of the Predators, attended an annual KaBOOM! playground build to construct a play area from start to finish. The Preds, Bridgestone, Hunt Brothers, Cromwell Radio, MAPCO, Hardee's and others helped to build the playground for the children known as KIPPsters, who had been waiting for a new playground for more than a year and a half.
It was the ninth annual build for the Preds, and despite the rain, there was still a ribbon to cut by the time mid-afternoon arrived.
Click here to see a photo gallery
from the event, and stay tuned to PredsTV for a video feature from the build.
Goal of the Week:

Save of the Week:

Quote of the Week:
Preds President & CEO Sean Henry
on the role Predators fans play
in the team being picked by the NHL to participate and host marquee events:
"Our fans want to be the center of the NHL, and they deserve to be," Henry said. "If you look at what we did with the All-Star Game, the Stanley Cup Final, those two events were bigger and better than anyone that's ever done those events before. It became really easy for the NHL to say, 'Let's put us in a Winter Classic.' Being the away team in a Winter Classic is really humbling because you need to find a fan base that will travel. And no one ever, as an away team, has bought as many tickets as our fans did in the Cotton Bowl. So, I think it's going to be pretty easy for us to say, 'OK, what's the next great event for us to host in our city?' I think we'll see what that is and when that will be.
"We just have to thank our fans for getting us to where we are right now and pushing this. Let's face it, we're going to be in the center of a lot of NHL events in the near future because we have the best fans in all sports."
Shot of the Week:

…and there's more where that came from.
Preds at Red Wings Photo Gallery
Preds at Avalanche Photo Gallery
Preds at Sharks Photo Gallery
The Week Ahead:
Tuesday at Vancouver Canucks, 9 p.m. CT
TV:Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Saturday vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Predators Official Podcast, Episode 60:
The Nashville Predators get another premier NHL event with a spot in the 2020 NHL Global Series. The club also reveals their 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic jersey. Plus, Preds Head Equipment Manager Peter Rogers joins the show to talk broken sticks, sharpening skates and long road trips.
Upcoming Bridgestone Arena Events:
Looking for more than just hockey at the home of the Preds? Here's what's coming to Bridgestone Arena.
Shows This Week:
Nov. 13: 53rd annual CMA Awards. Tune in to see country music's biggest night live at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Nov. 17: Casting Crowns, Hillsong Worship and Elevation Worship - USA Tour.
Click here for tickets
.
Coming Soon:
Alan Jackson - Aug. 7, 2020. Tickets on sale Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 at 10 a.m. CT.
Click here for more information
.
Tool - January 29, 2020. Tickets on sale Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 at 11 a.m. CT.
Click here for more information
.
Week in Review:
Recap: Preds Fall to Sharks in Shootout
Nashville Predators to Participate in the 2020 NHL Global Series
Recap: Preds Fall to Avalanche in Colorado
Design Process of Preds Winter Classic Jersey Produces Perfect Look
Preds Prospects Tomasino, Afanasyev Honored to Sign Entry-Level Deals
Preds Launch Loyal Legacy Program for Season-Ticket Citizens