The Nashville Predators have signed former Yale Hockey Academy student-athlete Tanner Molendyk to an NHL Entry Level Contract after selecting him in the first round, 24th overall at the 2023 NHL Draft.
Molendyk spent two seasons in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) with Yale, joining the program in 2019/20. The Kamloops, BC defender would record 55 points in 27 U15 Prep games that season, a CSSHL defensemen record that still stands. His record setting season would earn him CSSHL U15 Prep Top Defenseman honours. At the conclusion of the season the Saskatoon Blades would select Molendyk in the first round, fifth overall at the 2020 Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft.
The following COVID-19 shortened season Molendyk would finish with six points in five U18 Prep games. He would also suit up in 17 WHL games with the Blades, recording 2 assists.
In his first full WHL season in 2021/22 Molendyk would finish with 3 goals and 15 assists in 55 games.
This season Molendyk would record 9 goals and 28 assists in 67 games while having the opportunity to represent Team Canada U18 at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he tallied 1 goal and 3 assists in 5 games as Canada brought home a gold medal.