Just before the start of training camp, local youth hockey players had the opportunity to sharpen their skills and learn from the very best. Filip Forsberg Hockey Clinic presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee at Ford Ice Center Antioch.
Forsberg, who recently signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the Predators, hosted the event in partnership with the Preds Foundation as a way to connect with the community and grow the game of hockey in Middle Tennessee.
“This is definitely one of those moments when you see how excited people are for the season,” Forsberg said. “It gets you even more excited.”
The event was geared toward recreational, intermediate and advanced Mite, Squirt, Peewee and Bantam skaters and goaltenders ages 7 to 14, and players were grouped by ability to enhance their learning environment.
The clinic focused on skill stations and small-area games in a fun environment as supported through a set of guidelines designed specifically to help kids reach their full potential through the USA Hockey American Development Model. Forsberg taught skills alongside instructors from the Ford Ice Center and Preds Amateur Hockey Development staff, as well as Preds teammates. Alexandre Carrier, Jeremy Lauzon and Tanner Jeannot.
“Fil invited us, and I was glad he did,” Carrier said. “It’s always fun to work with the kids and to give back.”
Even Forsberg’s wife, Erin Alvey, laced up her skates and tried her hand at some hockey drills alongside the kids.
“We’re so excited we get to be here long term,” Alvey said. “It’s been really cool to kind of connect to the community… And I love seeing Filip out there doing what he loves and sharing the love of the sport with the younger generation.”
Forsberg’s favorite part of the day?
“Just seeing a smile on kids’ faces,” he said. “It sounds like a cliche, but we haven’t been able to do this for a few years now… And I’m just really excited to be back here. People are so excited to go out there, and it equals my excitement as well.”
In addition to hockey skills, Forsberg and his teammates are hopeful that the kids learned some valuable life skills at the event.
“You know, when I was their age, I was playing just for fun,” Carrier said. “I wasn’t thinking about making money or making a career out of it… Obviously, we tried to tell them that working hard is better. But the main thing is to have fun.”
Forsberg echoed his teammate’s sentiment and looks forward to getting more involved in the Nashville community in the years to come.
“I just hope they remember it as a great day,” he said. “It’s all about having fun and just putting everything into it. If you come here to have fun and work hard, it’s going to take you far.”
Rachel Boorse contributed reporting to this story.
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