By Nick Gates
The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Fire Department will be filling in for their Nashville brethren when they play the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department in a Guns and Hoses game Thursday night in Nashville.
The firefighters and police will square off after the National Hockey League game between the Nashville Predators and the Calgary Flames at the Sommet Center beginning at 8 EDT.
“They (Predators) have done this quite regularly,” KFD captain Dennis Noe said Tuesday night before the firefighters skated at Civic Coliseum. “They always had Nashville teams and the fire department (team) is no more.”
Proximity made the match-up a no-brainer.
“A lot to do with it had to do with our location,” Noe said. “In any event, we’re thrilled that they called us. Before he got 10 words in, I said ‘We’re there.’ ”
KPD will get more than bumps and bruises for their 175-mile trek along I-40. The Predators afforded each player a complimentary ticket to the game as well as a reducedprice admission for relatives and friends of the firemen.
It’s quite appropriate that the Flames will be in town. KFD’s jerseys are similar to Calgary’s red and gold sweaters.
Player Matt Oliver doesn’t care if he plays in a near-empty building after a crowd of about 14,000 files out.
“It’s a NHL sheet of ice,” Oliver said. “I’m just ecstatic to be playing in the Sommet Center. I’ve never been there and I’m probably going to walk out there wide-eyed.
“As far as the fans, I hope the fans stick around and enjoy some good public-safety hockey.”
This particular game will not be a charity fundraiser.
“But Dennis and I talked about doing a tournament; and our goal is to hold a tournament in Knoxville and raise money for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association). That’s our big cause.”
The firemen also hope to give the Music City police a rematch after a Knoxville Ice Bears game.
“Absolutely,” Noe said. “I talked to them about three months ago.”
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