In 2004, the Nashville Predators drafted a 22-year-old goalie out of Finland, in the eight round of the NHL draft.
Pekka Rinne spent his entire 15-year career with the Preds organization, including time in the AHL affiliate. With regular season stats, he racked up 667 starts in 683 games, 369 wins, 60 shutouts. Not impressive enough? How about a goals against average of 2.43, 17,627 saves and a .917 save percentage. He also won the Vezina Trophy in 2018 and the King Clancy Trophy in 2021
In other words, Pekka, was impeccable.
He retired from the game in July of 2021, and the Preds retired his number 35 in February of this year. That is the first number to be retired in the organizations history.
But hockey fans, Preds fans in particular, have not see the last of Pekka. He’s about to be immortalized in bronze, thanks to a Clarksville man.
Scott Wise, is an alum of APSU, a firefighter and a sculptor. He’s been commissioned by the Nashville Predators to make a life-size, bronze statue of Rinne that will take up residence in front of Bridgestone Arena.
Wise got a whopping hour with Pekka on February 25th to gather everything he could in order to create this sculpture. The process then began with 3D printed foam that would be covered in clay, then wax and rubber to make a mold and then eventually filled with bronze to get to the final work of art.
Bill Wicket, who is the chief marketing officer for the Preds said “We believe that Pekka not only had an on-ice career that is Hall of Fame worthy, but his contributions to this community are immeasurable,.”
Wickett also said that they liked the idea of someone who was local, but more than that, a hockey fan. And Scott Wise, is a season ticket holder.
It will likely be next year before the statue gets unveiled, but I can already anticipate just how amazing it’s going to look.
Pekka called Nashville his home for many years and with this statue, it forever will be for not just Pekka, but the fans as well.
Here’s a look back on a few of many fantastic highlights from his career. Including, his inclusion into a very unique club; being one of 15 NHL goal tenders to score a goal, and the day his number was hoisted to the rafters in Bridgestone.
The Preds open their season at home on October 13th, against the Dallas Stars
