Nashville Predators: Roman Josi Shines in Hometown
The Nashville Predators exhibition game against SC Bern was a very unique and special event for the team. For one thing, they played a rare game against a non-NHL team as part of a trip that involves regular season games.
More importantly, Roman Josi had a day that he will remember for the rest of his life. What began as an already significant game in his hometown against a team he once played for turned into a spectacle that was heartwarming for everyone involved.
Things could not have gone better for Roman Josi on Monday
For starters, Josi’s actual performance in the game was once again stellar. He recorded two goals and one assist, and his first goal was unassisted and created by him from the blue line all the way down low.
Roman Josi scores against SC Bern in the arena he used to ride his bike to as a kid. What a cool moment. #Preds #SCBern pic.twitter.com/BXvZ9XimaG
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) October 3, 2022
But the real excitement came from the way the crowd embraced Josi. The interaction between the two sides is truly a beautiful moment to witness.
What a night for Roman Josi pic.twitter.com/zsD4V0hMtw
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) October 3, 2022
New acquisition Nino Niederreiter was also returning to his home country, and the crowd did not hesitate to acknowledge him either.
#Preds Nino Niederreiter and Roman Josi get huge ovations from the home crowd in Bern. 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/NvwApaDFvc
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) October 3, 2022
Every NHL player is playing with a heavy heart when they are in front of their own country, but Josi’s case seems particularly special. There are not nearly as many Swiss players as there are Russians, Americans, Canadians, Swedes, or Fins, and it only magnifies the importance of the event when the best player in the country’s history is right in his hometown.
Josi is clearly everything to hockey in his country, and that is saying something considering how beloved he is in Nashville. But it is no surprise that he is so well loved.
Besides being such a consistently great player, his contributions as a leader in the locker room and just by example make him so desired on any team. He is such a good guy, and it is really tough to find anything not to like about him.
light. More. Josi Scores Twice in Homecoming vs SC Bern
It is moments like these that make Predators fans realize how lucky they are to have their captain. It is a good thing he will be in town all the way until the end of his career, as he is well on his way to going down as one of the most iconic players in franchise history.