Announcing the 2025-26 Boys Tier II Program Structure & Tryout Dates
Nashville, TN—As the program prepares for the 2025-26 season, the Nashville Jr. Predators proudly announce our Boys’ Tier II (AA/A1/A2) program structure and tryout dates. Similar to the 2024-25 season, Preds Select and the Nashville Jr. Predators will host our AA/A1/A2 tryouts together from Monday, April 28th, to Thursday, May 1st.
One significant change for the 2025-26 season will be restructuring our Tier II team offering in conjunction with the Nashville Predators and Preds Select. Beginning with the 2025-26 season, we will offer combined birth year teams at 10U (2015-2016) & 12U (2013-2014) AA (Gold, Blue, A1, A2) teams with the addition of a 13O (2012) AA team this year. The top 2013/2014 players would make the 12U Gold team while the top 2015/2016 players would make the 10U Gold. From there, each player will be appropriately placed with a more thorough tryout process spanning four days for the teams listed.
As in years past, our National Bound teams will include 14U (2011) AA, 16U (2009-2010) AA, and 18U (2007-2008) AA.
This season’s coaching staff features dedicated individuals with diverse backgrounds, ranging from NHL playing experience to grassroots development. With a blend of seasoned veterans and young guns in the coaching world, we aim to Develop, Impact, and Guide our Tier II players on and off the ice. Coaching announcements for the remaining Navy, A1, and A2 teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tryouts for the 2025-26 season will be held in Nashville, TN, at Ford Ice Center Bellevue from April 28th – May 1st for all Tier II teams ages 10U-18U. The schedule for each age group will be shared as we get closer to tryouts.
REGISTER HERE: Nashville Jr. Predators Tier II (AA, A1, A2) Tryout Registration
2025-2026 Tier 2 Boys Gold & AA Coaching Staff:
10U Gold (2015-2016): Tim McAllister (HC)
Originally from Kingston, Ontario, Tim McAllister has over 20 years of coaching and instructional experience. Coach Tim was one of the co-founders of Thunder Hockey. He won two NJCAA National Championships in 1996 and 97 and was named an NJCAA All-American for those years in his playing days. McAllister is exceptional at skills work and fundamental skill progressions. He works with NHL players in the off-season and guides our Nashville youth during hockey season.
12U Gold (2013-2014): David Cole (HC)
David Cole was born in Monrovia, Liberia and raised in Pullman, Washington and Amherst, Massachusetts. He attended Williams College, where he played goal for the Ephmen. David settled in New York City where he began his coaching career at Joe Espinosa Sports Club in 1991. An 11 year tenure in the NHL followed, as he led the Fan Development Departments of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Atlanta Thrashers.
In 2009 Coach Cole moved to Minneapolis. While there, over a 15-year period, he served as a head coach and goalie coach at several high schools, while working with youth hockey associations and St. Olaf College. David K.B. Cole is a USA Hockey Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee member, a level 5 USA Hockey coach. David is also one of our Goalie Directors for the Nashville Jr. Predators.
13O AA (2012): Patrick Murray (HC)
Patrick grew up playing hockey in his hometown, Rochester, NY, where he spent 13 seasons playing in the Webster Cyclones Youth Hockey Program. He then played for his high school’s inaugural varsity hockey team, earning first team all-state and finishing in the top 10 in scoring for New York State. He was then recruited to play Junior A hockey for the Syracuse Stampede, where he played for one season. Following the Stampede, Patrick jumped right into coaching. Pat coached with the Nashville Predators Youth Hockey Organization as an intern and has coached within the Nashville Jr. Predators program for over 6 years.
14U AA (2011): Carter Penzien (HC) & Jesse Kessler (AC)
Born in New Haven, CT, at age 5, Carter moved to Nashville, where he played roller hockey until he was old enough to get on an ice hockey team. He grew up playing for the Total Package Hockey (TPH) program, where he then went on to play a few years in the NAHL for the Amarillo Bulls and claimed a National Championship. After Junior hockey, Carter moved on to play for the University of Georgia’s Hockey Team, where he helped lead the team to 2 SECHC Championships and 3 National Championship Tournament appearances. Carter was selected for the ACHA Select Team that went to play in the 2019 Universiade Games in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. In the same year, he also claimed the honors of 2019 First Team All ACHA, First Team South Region, South Region MVP, and SECHC MVP. Carter has coached within the NJP Program for the last 4 years.
16U AA (2009-2010): James Gately (HC) & Zach Jackson (AC)
Gately played D-I hockey at Xaverian Brothers High School in Massachusetts, spent two years with the NECDL, four years of ACHA D-I & D-II hockey at Berklee College, and two years in the METRO Elite Prospect program. He has been a USA Hockey certified hockey coach for 9 years (Level 4) and a certified USA Hockey Official for 10 years (Level 3). Gately was Assistant Coach for South Shore Vocational Tech Junior Varsity Team in Massachusetts, Associate Coach for Berklee Club Hockey, Assistant Coach U16- A Admirals (1 year), Head/Assistant Coach Jr Predators U13-U16 AA/ AAA (4 years) and Head Coach University School Nashville (1 year). Gately has served as the 16U AA Head Coach for the last 3 seasons.
18U AA (2007-2008): Tom Murphy (HC) & Dakota Davis (AC)
Murphy joins the Jr Predators coaching staff for his 5th season. Before his time in Nashville, Murphy served as the 18U AAA coach for Philadelphia Hockey Club. Additionally, he served as the defense coach for the USPHL Premier team. Before joining the Philadelphia Hockey Club organization, Murphy served as Head Coach in the NA3HL in 2018 in Wausau, Wisconsin. After winning the state championship (Brighton High School) his senior year, Murphy was drafted to the Texas Tornado in the 1st round of the NAHL draft. Following his junior hockey career, Murphy attended Central Michigan University where he set the program record for 91 points as a defenseman. Murphy comes off of 3 years making it to the USA Hockey National Championship with our 18U AA team, with a National Championship win in 2023-2024.
We are proud of the incredible coaching staff assembled for the upcoming season and are excited to continue to Develop, Impact, and Guide the next generation of Nashville Jr. Predators! For any questions about tryouts or the Tier II program, please visit our website or contact Zach Jackson (zjackson@jrpredators.com). Go Preds!