Nashville Predators Duo Show Skills Behind the Mic

Professional athletes spend years practicing and playing their chosen sport. Like the line from the sports movie Moneyball projects:  “We’re all told at some point in time that we can no longer play the children’s game, we just don’t know when that’s going to be. Some of us are told at 18, some of us are told at 40, but we’re all told.”

For former Nashville Predators‘ players Chris Mason and Hal Gill, that day came at the ages of 39 and 40; an age where men in most professions are hitting their stride.

Chris, a Canadian born goalie, had two stints with the Predators before hanging up his skates after 18 years as a pro. The 6’7″ Hal, a Massachusetts native, played professionally for 16 seasons.

Before embarking on a broadcasting career, Hal was in player development for the Florida Panthers and coached high school hockey. Intrigued by broadcasting, he began looking at options. Chris followed a more direct path, grabbing a microphone soon after retirement.

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Although their lives remain hectic studying player and team stats, these two husbands and dads can enjoy the fruits of their labors, especially when it comes to cars and bourbon. Between poses with a couple of luxury convertibles supplied by Carlock Motorsports at Leiper’s Fork Distillery, Hal and Chris discussed their new careers and adopted hometown.

Both could live anywhere. Fortunately, they chose Nashville for this new chapter in their lives.

“I played here for several seasons,” Chris says while enjoying a taste of the distillery’s Colonel Hunter’s Select Barrel Bourbon. “Nashville is one of those special places people want to live in or near. I always knew we would return. Brentwood is a wonderful community and living here is the best decision we could have made for our family. I feel fortunate to be calling games for the Predators.”

“We’ve always loved Nashville, so it was an easy trigger to pull when the Preds asked if I’d consider broadcasting,” states Hal. “I knew I’d be working with Mason, plus my kids love their school. We’re happy we moved back, and hope to be here for a long time.”

The question some fans ponder is how difficult it is to transition from the ice to the mic.

Chris initially was skeptical about jumping into broadcasting, thinking coaching was more appealing. As a player, he says he became accustomed to wearing a headset and adding commentary during the third period rests.

“Bob Kohl, my boss, asked if I had an interest in broadcasting,” explains Chris. “I laughed it off, thinking I’d play forever. I love it, but it’s a different world. What I like best are our fellow broadcasters. They have a passion for hockey and it feels like a team. Working with Hal is cool, too. We’re both new so we ask lots of questions. Our colleagues have taken us under their wings and made us feel at home.”

Both agree it was challenging to broadcast. Announcers that provide what’s known as ‘color commentary’ need to instinctively know how and when to weigh in on the conversation. That’s different for both men. Chris is part of the TV broadcast team while Hal works exclusively on the radio.

“Going to the booth was probably easier for me because I always talk too much,” said the lanky Hal.

“The challenge is knowing when to go in, stay out, and what to say. It’s been trial by fire for me. With radio, you have to paint the picture, whereas, with TV, it’s more visual for fans. You learn how to provide commentary without coming across as harsh or too critical or the jackass that says the wrong thing. After all, I played with some of these guys, and for the Predators, so you never want to be negative. Like hockey, you’ve got to practice and prepare.”

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During this mid-April photo shoot, the Preds and all pro sports were on the coronavirus pandemic hiatus. So, how do hockey players keep in shape during a shutdown, and will the hockey season be completed?

“The NHL and the Predators are doing everything possible to finish this season; I know they want to,” Chris explains. “I think they’ll finish, even if it’s teams playing at neutral sites. They’ll probably start without fans to take the necessary precautions and reintroduce them later.”

Hal also is concerned about player safety. “Most guys have home gyms, and if they didn’t, they do now. There has to be some type of training camp before resuming play. Personally, I’d be a little nervous about returning too quickly. You need time to get your ankles and legs in shape.”

When will the Preds win a Stanley Cup? “Any year is the year,” said Hal, raising a glass to his team.

“Nashville has youth teams that are nationally ranked, so we’re starting to see local kids make their mark in hockey. It’s exciting to watch hockey grow in the South,” says Chris, answering his buddy’s toast.

This article was originally published in Brentwood Lifestyle magazine.