"It's always a lot of fun," said Josi, Predators defenseman and team captain. "You have a lot of fun and joke around with them. You become friends and it's so good to see them again."

Instead the Preds stars traded in their Gold jerseys for black ties and attended a much different event being held at Bridgestone Arena. In place of the ice was a dance floor for the Best Buddies Prom, a celebration put on by Best Buddies Tennessee, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to create opportunities for friendship and advancement for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

No one would blame Roman Josi and Pekka Rinne for wanting to take an evening off. It was last Friday night with no Nashville Predators game scheduled, a rarity in a stretch that included five games in eight days.

More than 2,000 young people with and without disabilities attended the prom, which included a full-size stage down on the event level of Bridgestone Arena. There was dancing, food donated by Hunt Brothers Pizza, karaoke and even a special appearance by country musician Hunter Hayes, who attended after being asked by Best Buddies member Rachel Rodgers. The two sang a duet of Hayes's song "Wanted" together.

"For many of our participants, it's the most special night of the year and the one they look forward to all year," said Daniel MacDonald, state director of Best Buddies Tennessee. "They love seeing the players there and it lights up the room. They're incredible people."

Along with his involvement in the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Twice Daily, Rinne has worked with the Best Buddies program since former Preds Head Coach Barry Trotz helped bring it to Middle Tennessee nearly a decade ago. Josi came on board not long after joining the Predators just a few years later.

After donating his time once, Josi was hooked.

"I met so many amazing people. The kids and the organization became something really close to my heart that I wanted to be a part of," he said.

When it's crowded schedule allows, Bridgestone Arena has hosted the Best Buddies Prom.

"With the partnership with our players and the Nashville Predators Foundation supporting Best Buddies Tennessee, it's just a natural fit to see how we can work with them," said Predators Senior Director of Community Relations Rebecca King. "We have the building, the space that could house 2,000-3,000 young people who want to dance. It's just this feel-good event that our staff loves to volunteer at and our corporate partners jump onboard."

That kind of support from the Preds was what helped Best Buddies get off the ground in the area years ago. The continued partnership will ensure success for years to come, MacDonald said.

"We're incredibly grateful to the players and the entire Predators organization for everything it does to support Best Buddies and the work we do to make our community more inclusive and accepting, to change the world for people with intellectual disabilities," MacDonald said.