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Preds, Bolts Provide Aid To Victims Of Tornadoes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Predators coach Barry Trotz remembered closing a door at what is now called the Sommet Center on April 16, 1998, and looking over at the Renaissance Hotel a block away.

"There was a tornado right there that looked like it took up half of the hotel," Trotz said Thursday morning. "I was just trying to get the door shut."

Trotz recalled the incident following the events of Tuesday night, when fans were held in the Sommet Center as a destructive storm system that left a trail of terror had downtown Nashville next on its path.

With less than two minutes left in the Predators' game against Carolina, an announcement was made over the arena loudspeaker informing fans of a tornado warning . The storm, which left at least 55 people dead in a four-state area, was supposed to be right on top of downtown around the time the game was scheduled to end.

"It was something a little new around here," Trotz said of the announcement made during the game. "I actually got a bit of a heads-up from the referees who came over and said that they may have to stall the game or go into a holding pattern as this thing got closer. It kind of settled in with the players what was going on when they made the announcement, but fortunately everybody's wives and kids were here in the building, which was probably the safest place they could have been."

The tornadoes never touched down in the downtown area, sparing the city any possible destruction and potential loss of life. Had the tornado touched down, there was also the possibility Thursday's game would not have been played had the damage been too great.

"I guess it was fitting that the Hurricanes were in here that night," Trotz said. "Thankfully we had it under control in here and no one got hurt here."
Predators spokesperson Gerry Helper said the team was donating half the money from ticket sales from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday's game to the American Red Cross. In addition, the team held collections inside the arena during the game to donate to victims and their families.

The Lightning donated a Vinny Lecavalier autographed stick for the Predators to auction.

QUICK EXIT: D Kevin Quick, Tampa Bay's third-round pick in 2006 who was kicked off the University of Michigan team last week, has been removed from the roster of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League, according to the Web site pointstreak.com.

Quick was added to the roster earlier in the week, but his name was listed as deleted from the roster on Thursday.

ROY SITS: Lightning LW Andre Roy was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. Roy sat out for disciplinary reasons Tuesday for a flare-up on the bench with Coach John Tortorella during Saturday's home game against Florida.

Tortorella said the reasoning was the same for Roy's absence Thursday. The past two games are the only games Roy has missed all season.

NUTS AND BOLTS: Nashville C David Legwand was the second pick in the 1998 draft, one selection behind Lecavalier. ... Lightning D Doug Janik was a healthy scratch. ... RW Marty St. Louis has seven points in his past four games. ... C Brad Richards has four goals in the past seven games. ... LW Jan Hlavac and RW Michel Ouellet did not take a shift in the third period.

Erik Erlendsson

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