Country music star Dierks Bentley was named the host of the 2023 NHL Awards in Nashville, taking place on June 26.
A country music star is set to host the 2023 NHL Awards in Nashville on June 26.
The NHL named Dierks Bentley as the host for the event, which will celebrate the 2022-23 NHL season and reveal the winners of 13 regular-season awards, including the Hart Trophy for the most valuable player, Ted Lindsay Trophy for the most outstanding player, Vezina Trophy for the top netminder, Norris Trophy for the best defenseman and the Calder Trophy for the rookie of the year.
After actor Kenan Thompson hosted the past two in-person award shows in 2022 and 2019, Bentley said in a statement that getting to host the NHL Awards is an honor.
"Hockey plays a big part of my daily life," Bentley said in the news release. "I've been to rinks all over the country with my travel hockey son. I coach his spring league games and spend hours in the local hockey store, telling him, 'No, you do not need a new stick.' We love watching YouTube highlight reels, the whole family loves going to Nashville Predators games and watching the Stanley Cup final together. And I am a proud member of a beer league team here in Nashville."
Bentley also spent one year at the University of Vermont in 1993-94 when Tim Thomas and current Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis were freshmen on the Catamounts squad, according to a 2011 ESPN feature.
The three-time CMA Awards winner also performed alongside Miranda Lambert at the 2022 Stadium Series when the Predators hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The NHL Awards is scheduled for Monday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET, two days before Nashville hosts the NHL draft as well on June 28 and 29. TNT, Sportsnet and TVA Sports are slotted to have the broadcast.