OT: Get to know the posters

triggrman

Where is Hipcheck85
Sponsor
May 8, 2002
31,627
7,346
Murfreesboro, TN
hfboards.com
We had one of these awhile back. We have people here that are new so let's start it again. I just found out one of the posters is someone I played hockey with 27 years ago.

I've lived in Nashville my entire live or basically anyway. I've been married for 25 years, have 2 kids, one in college now at MTSU and one 16 year old that is a baseball player at Blackman High School.

I am a product of NYHL from the 80s, played roller hockey after that and then back to ice until I hung the skates up a few years ago. Played defense, and loved the position. I do tend to favor defensemen and hate goalies.

I am a facilities director and manage buildings for a technology company.

I've been on these boards since the original boards in 1997. I was on CNN and the Preds main boards too, refuse to go on the facebook page.
 

Legionnaire11

Registered User
Jul 12, 2007
14,101
8,151
Murfreesboro
atlantichockeyleague.com
Grew up in Philly until I was 14 and moved to Nashville in '96. Tried keep up my Flyers fandom, but it wasn't as easy to follow teams across the league back then (no center ice or internet streaming) and eagerly jumped on board when the Preds were awarded, I think I had pretty much given up on the Flyers by the beginning of the Preds 2nd season. In 14-16 I relocated to Tampa and followed the Lightning which was a fun time and hopefully I'll end up down there full time somewhere in the future.

Grew up playing some youth hockey in Philly, skated at a rink where Mark Eaton was a couple of age groups ahead of me (only knew about it after the fact, not like he was a hyped prospect or anything, especially in middle-school) and there was a banner for Mike Richter there as well. My friends and I played roller hockey in the street almost every day after school and fought over which of us got to pretend to be Lindros. Kind of gave up on playing after moving and focusing more on music, but then at somewhere around 18 or 19 years old I got wind of a roller rink going up in LaVergne and signed up, met Trigg, Adz and a bunch of posters who are no longer active and that's how I found out about the Preds message board. Those were good times in the roller hockey league, seeing the adult league go from 2 teams, to 4 teams to 6 and adding the Bellevue teams/rink to the mix. It was probably ahead of it's time and might have lasted longer if it started up today.

Probably 2002 or so I signed up for the boards, i've had the same username the entire time. I was also the one-star voter just before the boards went through a big upgrade. I rarely comment on the Preds reddit group and don't touch Facebook or Twitter. Although we often have incredible disagreements on a variety of topics, I wouldn't trade this group of posters and my "message board therapy" for anything.

Now I've got two kids in elementary school and been married (to a Wings fan :huh:) for 15 years. I'm currently staying home to homeschool the kids while I caretake for my grandmother in her final years and doing some consulting on the side since my wife is fortunate enough to make way more than enough to support us. By trade I'm a Hearing Aid Specialist and plan to go back into it full-time in a couple of years, but also have a degree and a decade of experience in residential drafting and civil engineering.
 

jumb0

Registered User
Feb 3, 2017
2,305
1,214
Born in raised in Memphis. Moved to Nashville in 2010 when I got a seasonal sales position with the Preds. Had never been to an NHL game prior but was hooked instantly and have been all in ever since.
My username is from the nickname I was given when I started with the Preds.

Moved to Miami for a hot minute and then back to Nashville in 2013.

2 kids, 6 & 2. Sales rep for a pretty big technology company.
 

Viqsi

"that chick from Ohio"
Oct 5, 2007
53,660
30,951
40N 83W (approx)
Hi. I'm a spy. ;)

I've lived nearly all of my life in Columbus (and we've got much of the immediate family here too), and I'm ultimately still a Jackets fan first despite many recruitment attempts over the years. But my grandmother's family (on Mom's side) is well established in the Nashville area, and more than a few of them are Preds fans. I've also known and been friends with @BigFatCat999 about as long as the Preds have existed, although I didn't start paying attention to NHL hockey until several years later.

I've never played organized hockey; the closest I ever got was messing around with street hockey equipment with my brother and sister in the driveway. Never really learned to skate, either; that's more my sister-in-law's bailiwick. I got hooked on this mostly because of the Jackets' former radio guy (he now calls games for the Charlottetown Islanders, and I still tune in to them now and again as a result).

My cashmoneys come from computer programming in support of statistical genetics research - mostly genetic linkage stuff. I'm not a statistician or a geneticist myself, but I work for one and so I know enough of the concepts to make myself sound smarter about it than I actually am. :D

I got on here around the time Balsillie (the bastard) was attempting to make the "Hamilton Predators" (ugh) a thing, started supporting the Preds out of solidarity and spite, and got hooked because watching good defensive play was addictive. It made Central Division games interesting, but now the Jackets are in the East like we always should have been so now I can just say I have an East team and a West team and nobody looks at me funny anymore. ;)
 

originalpredfan

Registered User
Oct 27, 2013
442
325
I'm probably the oldest guy on this board, entering my 8th decade, and don't post all that often. I was on the original board as Mr. Mustard. I played up through Jr. Hockey in Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, but quit to play college football. I wasn't good enough to go far in Hockey. I've been a Preds STH and fan since day one, but my age has prevented me from going to games the last 7 years. I do watch every game on TV though. I love to read through the posts on this board. Many of you have excellent insight, while a few need a better understanding of the game but I appreciate everyone who comments. Having played multiple sports growing up, I can honestly say that nothing compares to the thrill of lacing up the skates and getting on the ice.
 

Adz

Eudora Wannabe
Sponsor
Jun 18, 2005
7,515
3,097
Hermitage TN
I am a native Nashvillian but have lived in other places. I graduated from HS in Lewisburg TN so I call that "home" even though I only lived there about 5 years. UTK, BS Education, graduated 1980. I've lived here continuously since 1982 and 49 years over all. When I was a small girl my dad took me to a Dixie Flyers game and that began my love of hockey. I didn't have much opportunity to watch it on TV but when it was on I liked it. I had no favorite team and couldn't have told you any player name but I loved the game. Once I could drive I'd try to get others to go to games, but it was a hard sell. I went some, not often enough.

My husband and I began an animation studio in 1991 and added a partner in 1997. I am strictly admin, I have no part of production. We had done animations for the Nashville Knights so when the Preds came to town we were hired to do their reveals and opening animations. The latter netted us a bit of money and season tickets, along with an Emmy award and I was one of the first people in Nashville to know the team's name. I remember I told my sister there was an NHL team coming to Nashville and she said "you're crazy, Nashville will never have a pro team!" Ha ha, still eating a little crow on that one.

When the Preds weren't the new kid, the company season tickets stopped being used by the staff so I started using them. And soon I was coming to nearly every game and bringing my kids. When you come to the games a lot you start to realize how much of hockey is based on the last game and you learn who the players are and which teams/people to hate. I started reading the ESPN boards and then the old Preds boards and was finally brave enough to post in 2002. Then I really wanted to meet some of the posters and now 80% of my friends are people from the boards. My son started to play so I became a hockey mom for a few years. Met some others that way.

My kids are grown and I have grandchildren now. I bring them to games. We've seen our people from the boards experience life. We've shared our successes and failures and we've all celebrated or mourned our team. It's a family.

Edit: Adz. My name on the NHL boards was Admiral18z32. My last name is Halsey and, not thinking things through, I knew that Adam Hall wore number 18 so hal + z = Halsey. 32 has always been my favorite number and it didn't hurt that Cale Hulse, my Mr. Gorgeous, was #32. People shortened it to Adzy but that name was taken here. Adz it is.
 
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Armourboy

Hey! You suck!
Jan 20, 2014
19,005
10,371
Shelbyville, TN
I was born in Missouri but we moved to Shelbyville when I was just barely a year old. Graduate of Shelbyville Central, proud former member of the Band of Blue ( 95 & 96 ) before I got kicked out of school in 99.

Went to my first Preds game in probably 2000ish and started getting season tickets in 03. Had those until 06 when I moved to the hell hole that was Atlanta. Came back in 08 after everything hit the fan which I didn't even know about because Atlanta was a black hole for hockey coverage. That got me on the original Preds boards which I was on until they shut down which is when I came here.

I had zero hockey background so had to learn on the fly. The name comes from an old handle from an old product review site where I was a major contributor on Armour Golf clubs. I actually made money for reviews back in the late 90's believe it or not.

Oh forgot the family life. Been married to my wonderful wife( West Tennessee girl that moved to Ohio as a teenager)for 12 years. I've turned her into a Preds fan. She stole my Rinne shirt because he is her man :p

Currently work in Franklin printing labels. Yall really need to chill on the Mt. Olive pickles and Gold Bond for a while.
 
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predhead1

Registered User
Aug 7, 2003
1,161
450
I grew up in Brentwood and got my start playing roller hockey with triggrman and hipcheck85 at a skating rink on Charlotte Pike. My best friend from high school was from St. Louis and I was a huge Blues fan (love Shanny and Hull) and he got me started playing roller hockey after we went to college. Finished school in 98 (Roll Tide! and Go Violets?) and moved back to Nashville where I "graduated" to ice hockey at Centennial when the roller hockey rink at Cool Springs was shut down. I left Nashville for work in 2000 and since then I have moved frequently (mostly for work) first to Ft. Lauderdale then Boston, DC, San Jose and now in the Dallas area (playing in beer hockey leagues at every stop).

I work for a Big 4 accounting firm doing merger and acquisition tax planning - hoping to get back to Nashville one day, but at least in Dallas I'll get to go to at least three Preds games a year when things get back to normal. Been married to my wonderful wife for four years and I have a two year old daughter who will become a diehard Preds fan. I don't post here often, but I love the discussion and the analysis from all of the folks on the board.
 

LeighDx59

Registered User
Nov 23, 2011
2,842
756
Detroit, MI
I was born and raised in Warren Michigan. Grew up a diehard Detroit Red Wings fan (still am, theyre my #1 team). But I always respected Nashville because they never seemed to have big name players but always played hard. After the 2012 I started rooting for Nashville and ended up becoming a fan. Finally made it down for a few games in February of 2017 and got instantly hooked even more. Now I come down a few times a season for some games and i've done a Playoff game every year since 2017, also try to see them on the road when I can.
 

Pr0fet

Registered User
Jun 13, 2015
339
130
I am probably one of the first Swedish Preds fans. If I had a penny for every time someone would ask me "why do you follow Nashville?". I dont think Ive ever heard a Rangers, Blackhawks or even Blues fan get this question. I think the Swedish fanbase has grown a bit since the emergence of Forsberg and our Stanley Cup run though.

Was always more of a football (soccer) guy growing up. Though I did follow the Swedish team Djurgården a bit and went to a hockey game every now and then it wasnt until the beginning of the new millenium i started watching the NHL. I started to fall in love with the American way of turning everything into a specatcle and a place for enjoyment rather than a place of hate (which European Supporter culture has too much of). I also fell in love with the way superior statistics side of hockey in comparison to soccer.

It wasnt until 05/06 or 06/07 I found the team to root for and the reason was spelled Shea Weber. This player had everything I love in a player, the huge shot, the open ice hits, the awareness, the defensive reach and the ability to own a game. So from there it went, instead of following a few teams here and there I started following he Preds strictly. And from being only Weber, it became Vokoun, it became Greg Jonsson, Arnott, Kariya, Barry Trotz etc and it didnt take long before the team was bigger than the player.

Have been to a few NHL games but sadly have never been to Nashville but as soon as this covid thing has calmed down it will be my prioritized destination. We are a bunch of buddies that follow the NHL together (I think everyone has different teams) and at times we go on hockey trips together. Over the past few years Nashville has really risen as a Travel destination for many people here and I think My buddies (that dont follow the Preds) are excited to go aswell.

Personal life. In my mid 30s, married with a daughter of 1,5 and working on a second...Finance guy from a larger consultancy firm until a few years ago when decided to try something new and jumped on the renewable energy train and co-started company within solar energy.
 

OldFan

Registered User
Jul 3, 2019
990
704
I got introduced to hockey way back in the 50’s when one network decided to fight football broadcasts. I was hooked. I introduced my girl, now my wife of 59 years, to the sport via the Dixie Flyers. She quickly became worse than me in her excitement. I’ve always hated Jersey for winning the cup the year we were all convinced they were moving here. Best 3 days for us in hockey was the awarding of the franchise, opening game and the signing of Kariya.
Day 1 season ticket holder. Kept 2 of them for 16 or 17 years. Section 314/315. Now too far to Nashville from Franklin, too far from parking to arena and too many steps at arena for 2 “seasoned” folks. Hence the nickname “Old Fan”.
Miss the arena spectacle very much but we’re always there at the TV. Seen all the jerseys, players and coaches. I’m at the “blah” level on these new ones. Still got wife’s signed Vokoun jersey and my signed Radulov jersey ( whoops) plus a few more that includes a Dixie Flyers replica (Yep, we’re that “seasoned”) and some Canadien game jerseys but that’s another very unique story I’ll tell sometime.
We have 3 girls, 6 grandchildren and a great grandson. I worked 40 years or so in IT. First for a large Nashville based bank holding company and then IBM. My wife raised 3 girls and worked for a large publishing company and a church. We are retired(Whopee!).
Go Preds!
 

FossilFndr

RIP Steve
Jan 18, 2014
3,204
1,407
Fall Branch, Tn.
Click on start a new conversation

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sparkle twin

Registered User
Jul 31, 2002
8,958
3,156
Smashville, TN
Native Nashvillian, born and raised here! Left for college at Pitt, came back a little after college and been here ever since.

My family is from Western PA (Johnstown) so as a properly brainwashed child I was raised as a Pittsburgh everything fan. And that continued until 2017. The pens are now dead to me and my parents. Like, it's hilarious how the 3 of us just completely turned. But don't get it twisted, I still love my Steelers, Pirates and Pitt!

My first memory of being a hockey fan was going to a Knights game. I absolutely fell in love with hockey after that first game. I've never played, never even held a pair of skates. Actually that's not true, I picked up a pair at a used equipment sale and thought "holy shit, how do they move in these concrete blocks?"

My family had Knights season tickets every year so when the Preds came it was a no-brainer that we signed up for them. We've had them ever since, same seats. I never take for granted that we've been able to have them and I feel lucky to have seen so many great moments and met some great people.

I used to post on the old Preds board, but I forget what name I used. Someone made a post about voting in a poll over here, so I came over to vote and I've been here ever since. 2002, wow, almost 20 years! Even though I might disagree with people and even roll my eyes at some posts, I love our board community!

I follow the Preds on all the socials. I am more of a "liker" than a poster. I never comment on the Facebook group posts, I occasionally reply on Twitter and Instagram, but still mostly just "like" or retweet posts. Slow_lizzy if anyone wants to follow.


I hope we can all see each other again soon at Bridgestone. I really miss hanging out and drinking with Preds fans before games, cheering with the crowds at the games, and watching/listening to the postgame show. I even miss road team fans (except blues fans, they can pound sand)!

:5:
 

AtlantaWhaler

Thrash/Preds/Sabres
Jul 3, 2009
19,578
2,748
How did you end up at Georgia Southern?
My uncle was a longtime DA in Cobb County. I knew I wanted out of CT and wanted a college town. He first showed me Georgia State, but it's located in Downtown Atlanta and I didn't want a city feel. He then showed me GA Southern and the rest is history.
 
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FossilFndr

RIP Steve
Jan 18, 2014
3,204
1,407
Fall Branch, Tn.
My uncle was a longtime DA in Cobb County. I knew I wanted out of CT and wanted a college town. He first showed me Georgia State, but it's located in Downtown Atlanta and I didn't want a city feel. He then showed me GA Southern and the rest is history.

I went to Ga State; one day leaving campus and walking across 5 Points to my bus stop there was a huge crowd I had to get through, then it came to a stop. Next thing I knew I was shaking hands with Jimmy Carter after a speech he gave running for president. I missed my bus and had to wait a while for the next one since it was an express that ran up I 85 less frequently and not up Peachtree St all the way to Lenox Square near where I parked.
 

Datsyukian Deke

The Captain is Home!!
Apr 5, 2012
2,467
425
Middle Tennessee
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. To my own detriment for the last several years, am still a fan of Detroit sports & University of Michigan Football (Fire Harbaugh already, please!). I grew up playing as many sports as I could and all throughout High School, back in the day. I am a History/Book/Trivia nerd, and like to get out to the bowling alleys as often as I can for some good fun & relaxation.

Moved to Hermitage in 2007, and became a Predators season ticket holder (Section 301), having bought our tickets during the "Save the Team" rally that year, and we kept our season tickets up until the 2010 season. Those were really fun times, especially the meet down by the glass during warmups, traveling to Chicago & St. Louis with fellow Preds fans for those games & get togethers, the old message board. I will admit, during the 1st round of the 08 playoffs, I had to trade my usual Legwand jersey, for my Datsyuk one during those games, but it was still a fun time. Haven't actually been downtown to a Preds game since 2013 or so, sadly.

I've been in Human Resources for a long while, currently working for a company headquartered in TN, that is primarily based in the medical field. As earlier mentioned, my biggest passion is History (Civil War & Presidential), but I am still grateful to have something that helps pay bills, indeed. :)

Cheers!
 
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Adz

Eudora Wannabe
Sponsor
Jun 18, 2005
7,515
3,097
Hermitage TN
I also have family in Johnstown, and I'd just like to say... I'm sorry :laugh:
One of my former coworkers had lived in Johnstown--I think he was a teen at the time but could have been a young adult, too. He's a Titans/Preds fan so he has some built in rivalries with his buddies.
 

Pred303

Registered User
Oct 8, 2004
7,881
2,895
Murfreesboro, Tn.
Born and raised in Murfreesboro. played college baseball at MTSU. Undergrad MTSU (European History, International Relations), graduate work at Georgetown (Soviet Studies), Memphis State (Finance). Retired Army Officer and retired Stockbroker (JC Bradford, Paine Webber, Hilliard Lyons). Original 1998 season ticket holder. Became a dedicated hockey fan following Gretzky's point streak in the 70's while i was overseas. Have attended over 1000 NHL games I guess. Was tasked with writing section 303's 'post game analysis' the first few years by good old Mark Hollinsworth, which is where the name came from. An Atlanta Brave fan (dad took me to the first opening night game in Atlanta in 1966 and I've been hooked ever since), Tennessee Vol fan for better or worse (because they are the university of Tennessee). Read some, but don't talk much anymore on here because I get frustrated with some, but will vent again when we actually start playing I imagine. Putting it down in words sometimes helps me to realize exactly what was good and what was bad in what I saw. Have come to know many good people on here over the years and I value those.
 

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