DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 1: Pekka of the Nashville Predators before the 2020 NHL Winter Classic game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 2020 in Dallas.・Rinne #35 warms up on the ice. Texas. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Legendary Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne entered the team office at Bridgestone Arena thinking he was going to meet the media.
Rinne, who serves as the team's European development coach, was rather surprised by the news that he will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as a first-ballot member of the 2024 class.
The former Pres star has a statue outside Bridgestone Arena, and his jersey hangs from the rafters inside. Rinne, who played his entire career in Nashville and became the franchise leader in nearly every goaltending category, said Music City is a second home to him.
“It's starting to get a little overwhelming,” Linnaeus said. “I mean, there's jerseys in the rafters, there's statues outside the rink, and now it's the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. It's pretty, pretty surreal…standing here and thinking about an honor like this. I am very honored to receive this.”
Rinne joins Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, Olympic gold medal figure skater Scott Hamilton, University of Tennessee and MLB baseball star Chris Burke, Millington business owner and philanthropist, late Williams “Babe” Howard, legendary East Tennessee State University golf coach Fred Warren, Nashville area tennis pro Tay Buchy, and the late Charlie Bayless, longtime basketball coach at Happy Valley High School., The full list of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees includes Tennessee tennis star Paul Annacone, Tennessee State track legend Gene Patton Latimer, Memphis champion racquetball player and coach Larry Lyles, Austin – Legendary Peas basketball coach Dave Ruth is listed.
The Predators were also named Professional Team of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
