NHL All-Star Weekend Goes Country

The NHL All-Star Weekend is happening in Nashville, and some of Country music's hottest stars are joining in on the fun. 

Written by Kelly Brickey
NHL All-Star Weekend Goes Country

Throw on those helmets and lace up your skates, ladies and gentlemen. We have a few new coaches hitting the ice for the NHL.

Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Chris Young and Charles Kelley will be assisting the hockey teams at Smashville during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Sunday. The artists will work with NHL head coaches Darryl Sutter of the Los Angeles Kings, Gerard Gallant of the Florida Panthers, Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals, and Lindy Ruff of the Dallas Stars as a part of the festivities held here in Nashville for the first time.

Bentley, who plays the sport recreationally in Nashville, is beyond thrilled to be able to help out as a celebrity coach for the three-game tournament. His experience and passion toward hockey will give him a little bit of the upper hand over the fellow coaches.

“If you’ve ever played it, like you get done and you lie in the house at night and think your ribcage hurts from over-expanding it, ‘cause you breathe so hard, ‘cause you’re having so much fun,” Bentley explained in a press interview. “You think you’re dying, but you keep going ‘cause you’re having so much fun.”

Not only will Bentley be lending his expertise in the arena during the weekend, but he is also playing during the IntelliCentrics Outdoor Concert Series. Other artists performing at the free outdoor shows in downtown Nashville include Big & Rich, Lee Brice, Young, Kelsea Ballerini, Aaron Lewis, Eli Young Band, John Hiatt and Tara Thompson.

Only time will tell to see how well the country celebrity coaches know their way around the rink. Bentley, though, knows the most valuable lesson of all with the opportunity: to have a good time.

“It’s just fun, man. It’s just that camaraderie of the guys. I just love playing it. It’s just totally opposite from the road.”

Click HERE for a complete schedule of events happening throughout the weekend.