The Nashville Predators Foundation will host its first Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the 2025-26 season on Saturday, November 22, when the team faces the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena. Proceeds from the event will benefit the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Fans are encouraged to participate through auctions, donations and special activations.
The Nashville Predators will take on the Colorado Avalanche at 7 p.m. CT on November 22 at Bridgestone Arena, marking the team's inaugural Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the season. This initiative, a joint effort by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association powered by the V Foundation for Cancer Research, aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer research in its 27th season.
The Predators Foundation seeks to surpass last season's efforts, which raised $229,365.25 for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund. Created by former Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne and captain Shea Weber during the 2013-14 season, the fund has collected over $4 million for pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
“We are excited to host our first Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the 2025-26 season,” said Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King. “These nights are incredibly impactful for our organization as we use our platform to support cancer patients and their families. We are asking SMASHVILLE to join us in the fight against cancer through bidding in our silent auction or donating directly to the 365 Fund. Every dollar we raise goes straight to pediatric cancer research at Vanderbilt."
Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, added: "We are so very grateful for the long-standing support of the Nashville Predators and the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund that spans well over a decade and that truly has made a difference in the lives of children and their families. Each season, we look forward to the Hockey Fights Cancer games that highlight our partnership with the Nashville Predators, raise support for childhood cancer efforts and also celebrate our pediatric cancer patients. I absolutely love to see the joy and hope that the Nashville Predators and Hockey Fights Cancer bring to our patients and families during these events."
Six patient ambassadors from Monroe Carell will participate in in-game activations, including high-fiving the team during warm-ups, meeting referees as part of the NHL Officials Association’s Zebras Care initiative, joining the starting lineup and national anthem on ice, a ceremonial puck drop, riding the Zambonis and serving as the Mayor of SMASHVILLE for the second period.
Predators goaltender Juuse Saros will wear a specialty mask he designed to honor organization members who have battled cancer: Locker Room Attendant Craig “Partner” Baugh, Sheila Crisp (wife of former broadcaster Terry Crisp), Lexi Rogers (daughter of Head Equipment Manager Pete Rogers) and the late Erin Daunic (wife of broadcaster Willy Daunic). Fans can bid on the mask by texting PREDS to 76278; the auction, which includes Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys, closes at the start of the third period. Vaughn Hockey donated the mask, with the paint job by David Gunnarsson of DaveArt.
Fans can support the cause by wearing lavender to the game, bidding on silent auction items, donating to the 365 Fund with a goal of $36,500, purchasing tickets that include a limited-edition SMASH CANCER hat from the NASH Collection (with a portion of proceeds to the fund), buying $10 lavender "I Fight For" foam pucks, shopping Hockey Fights Cancer merchandise, acquiring mystery pucks ($35) and mini sticks ($25), filling out "I FIGHT FOR" signs at designated zones, joining the bone marrow registry at the Gift of Life table by section 117 or following @PredsNHL and @PredsFoundation on social media.
The Predators will host a second Hockey Fights Cancer night on February 26 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Since 1998, the Preds Foundation has awarded nearly $30 million in grants and support to the Middle Tennessee community, raising over $3 million in 2024 alone.