The Nashville Predators introduce the fourth season of a program to recognize players and volunteers in the Nashville area who demonstrate character skills that make youth hockey a better experience for all involved. The Nashville Predators will recognize a Youth Hockey Player of the Month and a Youth Hockey Volunteer of the Month each month during the 2008-09 regular hockey season.
During a ceremony held prior to the Nashville Predators’ November 25th home game against the St. Louis Blues, the Predators organization announced that Sam Lyons and John Allyn were named Youth Hockey Player and Youth Hockey Volunteer of the Month, respectively, for November. Lyons and Allyn were presented with a plaque recognizing their efforts on behalf of the Predators during the ceremony. The two were nominated and selected as part of a Predators hockey development initiative that will regularly recognize a player and volunteer in the Nashville area.
Lyons, November Player of the Month, is 9, and plays right wing for the Southern Ice Squirt Hurricanes team, that plays at A-Game Sportsplex in Franklin. Two years ago Lyons tried out hockey through the Preds Get Out And Learn! program. Following this free 4-week beginner ice hockey program, Lyons began playing inline hockey. After two seasons of inline, he made the switch to ice hockey and is currently enjoying his first season as a member of the Southern Ice Squirt Hurricanes team.
Squirt Hurricanes Assistant Coach Stewart Day calls Lyons a forward who “follows the puck to the net and gets rebounds”. Lyons started the season playing whatever position the team needed. With just a few months of ice hockey under his belt, Lyons got the opportunity to play goaltender for his team. Lyons’ mom comments that “he said he’d like to try playing goalie. He has since attempted and is becoming a successful goalie… Lyons has a positive attitude towards the game, other players and is often found encouraging teammates.”
This Chapman’s Retreat 4th grade student is willing to work hard, play wherever he is needed (even trying out goalie position), continues to exhibit a positive attitude and for this the Nashville Predators has recognized Sam Lyons as the November Youth Hockey Player!
The Nashville Predators are also proud to have named John Allyn as the November Youth Hockey Volunteer. Allyn is the Team Manager for the Ensworth High School hockey team, which is part of the Greater Nashville Area Scholastic Hockey League (GNASH) that plays at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville.
In 1995, Allyn’s kids got involved in Nashville hockey and since then he has been volunteering with each of his sons’ teams. As the current Team Manager for Ensworth, Allyn was instrumental in helping start up this 2 year old team. As the first ice hockey team for Ensworth, Allyn assisted with player recruitment and meeting with the school to encourage the extra-curricular activity, which is now school supported. This wasn’t his first time in this position; Allyn drew from his experience when he was involved with Franklin Road Academy in helping them to establish an ice hockey club a few years ago.
On most evenings you can find Allyn in the scorer’s box at a high school hockey game doing the timekeeping or scorekeeping, a task that requires showing no emotion of loyalty to either team during the game. “His organization and ability to make sure everything from jersey ordering to ice time coordination runs smoothly is an indispensable talent greatly appreciated by his team!”, says GNASH Board Rep and wife Cary Allyn. This cool headed team manager also acts as liaison between coach, parent and school during the hockey season.
Allyns’ commitment to youth hockey has been tireless. He has devoted countless hours to encouraging high school hockey in Nashville and for this, the Nashville Predators have recognized him as the November Youth Hockey Volunteer!
For more information on the Predators hockey recognition program, or to nominate a player, volunteer or team making a difference in a youth hockey community, visit Predators Hockey Recognition and nominate someone today!
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