The Stanley Cup has nothing on the Stanley Keg.
Competition is something that a lot of humans crave. Whether it be working up the corporate ladder, or becoming the best of the best at a certain sport, many have a yearning to see where they stand amongst others. Others like to compete… but don’t wish to take things so seriously. That’s where organizations called “Beer Leagues” come in, and a group of artists, songwriters, and hockey players in the Nashville area have one that’s no laughing matter.
Beer League is defined by Dictionary.com as “a community sports league, such as for hockey, softball, or soccer, whose members are amateurs of diverse ages and walks of life and play purely for the fun and socializing involved: games are usually accompanied or followed by alcohol and food.” Chances are you (the reader) have been in one yourself, or you at least know someone that has a ton of fun participating in one themself.
This particular beer league in Nashville is a recreational hockey league, and you might recognize the names of some of the people that lace up their skates. Country music’s Dierks Bentley and Trevor Rosen (Old Dominion), and former and current NHL players Ryan Smyth, Mike Fisher, Ryan O’Reilly, David Backes, and Bobby Ryan all participate in the league that even has a song about it coming out.
Howie Jennings, a Nashville-based songwriter and lifelong hockey player, is another member of the beer league. Before he got into songwriting full-time, Jennings officiated over 700 hockey games on nights and weekends while focusing on songwriting during the day. With his song and accompanying music video that’s set to release on September 18 – “Beer League” – those two worlds are officially coming together.
Jennings and other beer league members compete for something called the “Stanley Keg.” Teams by the name of “Big Loud Beauties” and “The Barn Boys” are pitted against each other, and everyone wants to lift up the Stanley Cup-inspired trophy that Mike Fisher (former Nashville Predators star and husband to Carrie Underwood) says he grew up dreaming about:
“That’s all I’ve ever thought about growing up, was winning the Stanley Keg. This is one step up from the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup is like, ‘Bleh, who cares about that.’ This is what really matters.”
Pretty high praise coming from a former NHL player.
Dierks Bentley had much of the same to say about the Stanley Keg. The country singer says the beer league’s trophy eclipses the NHL’s grand prize, and says that winning a Stanley Keg would be the high point of his life:
“The Keg means everything to me. There’s a thing called the Stanley Cup, but why have a cup when you can have a Keg? To get the Stanley Keg would be the pinnacle of my life. Greater than having a family.”
Looks like a whole lot of fun is had at this particular, star-studded beer league. Make sure to keep an eye out for the release of Howie Jennings’ “Beer League” and it’s music video on September 18.
And until then… we’ve got to figure out how to stream these beer league games, am I right? Who doesn’t want to watch the likes of Dierks Bentley and Mike Fisher battle it out on the ice to see who gets to lift up the Stanley Keg?
