The Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey team has hired Tom Orr as its new athletic trainer.
Orr has spent the last nine months as the head athletic trainer at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. He replaces Phil Varney, who left the T-Birds this summer after 17 years with the team to pursue a new hockey opportunity.
“We are happy to add Tom to our staff,” said Seattle coach Matt O’Dette in a Monday, Aug. 12 press release. “He’s a valuable addition and we look forward to him continuing the exceptional care that our training staff gives to our players.”
Orr worked for four months in 2023 as as assistant athletic trainer with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, the same league as the T-Birds.
Orr earned a master of science in athletic training in 2023 from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, according to linkedin.com. He earned a bachelor of science in kinesiology in 2021 from Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Training camp starts the end of August for the T-Birds, who open the regular season Sept. 20 at the Vancouver (B.C.) Giants. Their home opener is 6:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 against the Wenatchee Wild at the accesso ShoWare Center.
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