The Atlanta Fire Hockey Club and the Nashville Jr. Predators are joining forces in youth hockey. The two organizations have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance their existing elite hockey programs. This new development-focused initiative will build off the strong coaching infrastructure, which is already in place at the Fire and Jr. Predators organizations. Players will benefit from joint coaching and development activities throughout the regular season.

The purpose of the Fire-Predators program is to augment and increase skill development during the regular season, while also providing top players an avenue to compete in elite spring and summer tournaments.  Launching during the upcoming 2016-2017 season, the program will focus on the top travel teams in each age group.

“Our organizations have a shared focus on player development, so it makes sense for us to merge together as a community and combine our high-caliber coaching and facilities for additional training,” explained Curtis Morrison, Director of Hockey for the Atlanta Fire. “In my opinion, every time players have the opportunity to be trained by and exposed to a different coach, it’s a positive,” Morrison added.

The director of hockey for the Nashville Jr. Predators organization, Jordan French, is equally enthusiastic about this new partnership. “We’re going to maximize our travel by incorporating skill development into our game weekends, making this a very cost effective initiative for all player families,” said Jordan. “It will be an easy program to implement since both organizations own their facilities,” he added.

This partnership will also include jointly creating elite spring and summer tournament teams. “Aligning our organizations to enhance player development during the regular season and offering top talent the opportunity to compete on an elite spring/summer tournament team brings enormous benefits to our players” said French.

Both organizations view this partnership as one more reason for players to try-out for their respective travel teams later this month. After all, to be eligible for the joint Fire-Predators elite tournament teams, players must play for the Jr. Predators or the Atlanta Fire during the regular season.

About the Atlanta Hockey Club

The Atlanta Fire is a competitive hockey club operating out of The Cooler. The Fire organization offers youth hockey for all ages and levels of talent. They have a robust travel program, an in-house league as well as a learn-to-play program. The Atlanta Fire provides a competitive on-ice and off-ice practice schedule, as well as skill development clinics throughout the year for all youth hockey players.

About the Nashville Jr. Predators

The Nashville Jr. Predators promote Tier I and II youth ice hockey in the greater Nashville area. Their purpose is to provide coaching, training and facilities necessary to compete in the orderly participation of team hockey. The Nashville Jr. Predators’ mission statement is to help passionate players achieve their goals through exceptional effort on the ice, in the classroom and as part of the community. Their youth program encompasses all age groups, through 18-U.