The Nashville Predators introduce the fifth 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 2009-10 regular hockey season.

During a ceremony held prior to the Nashville Predators’ October 29th home game against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Predators organization announced that Andrew Robinson and Scott McKinnon were named Youth Hockey Player and Youth Hockey Volunteer of the Month, respectively, for October. Robinson and McKinnon 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.

Robinson, October Player of the Month, is 17, and plays defense for the Hendersonville Commandos which is part of the Greater Nashville Area Scholastic Hockey League (GNASH) that plays at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville. Robinson, at age 7, picked up hockey like many in the Greater Nashville Area, on a roller rink. He had heard of an inline league tryout near his hometown of Hendersonville and decided to tryout. Robinson became hooked on hockey from the beginning. Little did he know that his love of hockey would bring him to where he is today, eight years later.

Robinson has shown, through his eight years of playing experience, the ability to grow into a leadership roll. This year he has earned the Co-Captain ‘C’ on his Hendersonville High School Commandos Hockey team. His hard work, dedication, attitude, and behavior both on and off the ice have been extraordinary. “Andrew is a reflection of the development of these life skills through hockey,” said his head coach Tim Rathert.

The hours of volunteer work that Andrew Robinson has dedicated to local rinks and hockey organizations, including his time spent helping with the Nashville Predators Get Out And Learn! (G.O.A.L!) beginner program, have continued to show his passion for the sport. His leadership qualities, volunteer efforts and love for the game of hockey are the reasons the Nashville Predators have recognized Andrew Robinson as the October Youth Hockey Player!
The Nashville Predators are also proud to have named Scott McKinnon as the October Youth Hockey Volunteer. McKinnon is the coach for both the Mite Polar Bear travel and house teams, which are part of the A-Game Youth Hockey League that plays at A-Game Sportsplex in Franklin, Tennessee.

McKinnon and his two sons, Nathan and Wilson, began going to stick and puck a few years back. Scott had played previously for six years in Nashville and his sons were quick to follow his footsteps. While at open hockey, McKinnon was approached and asked to become involved in youth hockey as a coach. Since then, he has coached two years of termite hockey and is entering his second year of coaching the mite level.

After a tragic ATV accident this summer that left him paralyzed, McKinnon returned to the rink where he has spent countless hours. When asked what drives him to be at the rink coaching his response was, “I am still Nathan and Wilson’s father. I have a lot of things to be thankful for and I need to continue being a part of their lives.” McKinnon has kept a positive attitude and while he admits the transition has been difficult, the ‘hockey’ people involved at the rink and on his son’s teams have truly helped him through this process.

Kevin Howell, a friend of McKinnon’s, went on to explain that Scott’s commitment to youth hockey has been tireless. He dedicates a number of hours of coaching and managing the Polar Bear teams to better the youth players. McKinnon has shown exemplary conduct and persistence in his return to the rink and for this, the Nashville Predators have recognized him as the October 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!