Nashville Predators have ascended from humble beginnings to the cusp of Stanley Cup glory

Steve Brenner 18:10 29/05/2017
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  • On the hunt for more: Nashville Predators.

    Nashville is known as ‘Music City’.

    It’s a mecca for the country sound and one of the most soulful places in the world.

    A town where some of the greatest musicians – Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton to name just two – wowed the crowds. The city, however, hasn’t sprouted much sporting magnificence – until now.

    Only a few years ago, people scoffed at the idea of ice hockey in Nashville. Southern types love college football, music and barbeques.

    Guitars, not sticks, man.

    Yet those same doubters will surely be tuning in tonight to see the Predators play for the first time in the Stanley Cup Finals.

    It’s sent the city bonkers. Nashville is now affectionately known as  ‘Smashville’.

    The reigning champs from Pittsburgh, led by star Sidney Crosby, stand in their way. Yet this is one of the most remarkable ascensions to the apex of ice hockey ever seen, with some wonderful characters interspersed into the narrative.

    Take a wrestler formerly known as the Tennessee Stud, for example.

    It was squared circle hero Ron Fuller and pal Bob Polk who first started floating the idea of Nashville hockey way back in 1989. People thought he was crazy and such was the uninterest, another business partner was drafted in to help with what seemed like a hopeless push for glory.

    The Nashville Knights started off in the minor leagues – and immediately caught fire. Interest was piqued, though taking their place at hockey’s top table still seemed like the most unbelievable of pipedreams.

    This season, getting a ticket for the constantly sold out Bridgestone Arena has been tougher than finding a decent Elvis impersonator. Some seats have been selling for thousands of dollars with 17,000 creating an electric atmosphere. Of course, there is a stage to keep everyone rocking.

    “There’s a college football atmosphere,” said defenseman Ryan Ellis.

    It seems that despite all the protestations, the interest has always been there. Even in those early days, healthy crowds of 5,000 would turn up. What Fuller and his mates cracked, however, was how to keep them entertained.

    Players were introduced onto the ice with rock music, supporters invited on during the break to risk breaking their necks in the hope of landing cash prizes.

    Before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals clash with the Anaheim Ducks, fans paid $10 to smash up a car with their opponent’s logo on.

    It’s certainly different! But every media market in the US has their own quirks and as Fuller kicks back this evening and watches the Preds launch their assault on the biggest trophy in US sport, he’ll know everything was worth it.

    Grammy award winning artists have been queuing around the block to sing the national anthem. Country star Carrie Underwood, who’s married to captain Mike Fisher, has been belting out the Star Spangled Banner recently. So too has fellow award winning artist Luke Bryan.

    Everyone is loving it apart from poor old Dennis K. Morgan, the team’s normal singer who’s been unsubtly pushed sideways to make way for vocal royalty.

    Ryan Ellis.

    Ryan Ellis.

    Crucially, it’s all been clicking on the ice with coach Peter Laviolette working wonders. Before his arrival in 2014, the Preds had been bossed by the no-nonsense Barry Trotz ever since their NHL inception 16 years ago.

    Laviolette tasted Stanley Cup victory with the Carolina Hurricanes 11 years ago and isn’t afraid to act on impulse and switch things up – he’s used 18 forwards in the post-season alone, an NHL record.

    The Preds aren’t awash with superstar names. Team ethic trumps all and for that, Laviolette stands out in terms of astute man-management and harnessing a superb spirit which has transferred from the locker room to the stands. Goalie Pekka Rinne has been the standout hero, topping every stat category known to man.

    It’s the fiery, often hot-headed boss though, who deserves the largest chunk of credit.

    The 52 year-old is just the third coach since 1994 to take three different teams to the conference finals, the first ever to take three franchises to the final – Nashville, Carolina and Philadelphia – and is just the second US-born coach to win 500 NHL games.

    Crosby and the Penguins are favourites. The Preds would become the first No16 seed to land the big one but then no team in the salary-cap era has ever landed successive titles. The Penguins won last year.

    Both have been ravaged by injuries, yet it should be a brilliant series where all the neutrals will surely be dancing to Nashville’s unmistakable beat.

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