Hockey Teams Up with Predators to Host Clinic at Local Nashville School
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NASHVILLE, TN – As part of the Merrimack hockey team's trip to Nashville, the team donated its time to the St. Matthew's School, teaming up with the Nashville Predators to host a clinic for first, second, third and eighth graders Friday morning.
As part of the Predators' community involvement movement, John Jamieson (Billerica, MA), Rob Morton (New Hartford, NY) and Nick Drew (Andover, MA) visited St. Matthew's School, a small Catholic school located in Franklin, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.
Jamieson, Morton, and Drew taught two clinics, one to first, second and third graders, and another to the eighth grade class, teaching both boys and girls how to stick-handle and shoot before the kids scrimmaged each other.
"It was a fun experience," said Jamieson. "It's always fun going back to elementary school and remembering those days. I know I'd be excited if hockey players came in to teach me the sport."
Drew, who showcased his goaltending talents during an eighth-grade shootout, echoed Jamieson's statement.
"I thought it was really cool," said Merrimack's sophomore goaltender. "It was fun to teach kids that didn't know too much about hockey. Promoting the sports is good for college hockey and good for our team."
Over 75 kids took part in Friday's clinic, many of whom picked up a hockey stick for the first time. Many of them will cheer on the Warriors at Saturday's game after they were thrilled to receive tickets donated by Merrimack Athletics.
"They didn't know much when we got there," said Jamieson. "But hopefully one or two kids will go home and buy a pair of skates and start playing hockey, so we hope we made a difference."
"It's just nice to remember how much fun it is and see the kids loving it," said Morton. "It's great to give back to the community, especially a town that isn't a traditional hockey market."
Merrimack, ranked 15th in the country with a 10-4-4 record, will take on Alabama-Huntsville Friday night and Saturday afternoon in the first two college hockey games ever in the state of Tennessee.
