Former Tornado Great Blatchford Joins Front Office
December 21, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
FRISCO, TEXAS - (December 21, 2010) - The Texas Tornado hockey team has added a familiar name to the front office. Former defenseman and team captain Brett Blatchford has joined the team to work as a ticket account executive and officially started his position with the team on Monday, December 20th.
Originally from Temperance, Michigan, Blatchford moved to Frisco, Texas back in 2003 to play hockey for the Tornado where he played defense and served as team captain during their three National Championship seasons from 2003-06. He still holds the all-time record for assists by a Tornado player. "I am excited about the opportunity to be back with the Tornado organization again. I am eager to move forward with the next step of my professional career and will be interested to be on the other side of things in the front office, rather than the lockerroom," said Blatchford. "I have so many fond memories inside the Dr Pepper Arena, including playing in front of the best fans in junior hockey. I want to be able to help provide this year's players with the same experience."
In 2006, Blatchford was named to the North American Hockey League first team and was also honored with the NAHL Academic Achievement Award. He then earned a scholarship to play hockey collegiately at the University of Notre Dame where he appeared in 153 games and scored 72 points. During his time at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish won two Central Collegiate Hockey Association titles and competed in the NCAA Division I National Championship game. During his senior season, Blatchford was awarded with the Charles "Lefty" Smith Coaches Award. The award is presented to the unsung hero of the hockey program, a player who is unheralded, has overcome adversity and shows loyalty and commitment to his teammates, Notre Dame hockey and the University of Notre Dame. Blatchford earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2010 and finished the 2009-10 season playing professionally for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.
Brett returned to Frisco in November with his fiancée, Kaci. In addition to hockey, Brett's hobbies include travel, watching sports, working out, coaching and spending time with friends and family.
The Texas Tornado, proud members of the 27-team North American Hockey League, are back in 2010-11 for another season of exciting family entertainment at the state-of-the-art Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, which now offers more seating, more amenities and more great action featuring the players that are the future of hockey. Since their inception in 1999, the Texas Tornado has set the standard for excellence for hockey for players 21 and under in the United States. Besides their three straight National Championships from 2004-2006, the Tornado has won seven NAHL Regular Season Division titles and had seven straight 40+ win seasons from 1999-2007. Since 1999, the Tornado have developed and moved on over 110 players in nine years onto NHL, NCAA and professional teams.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2010
- Monsters Begin Holiday Hockey Camp at Gateway Ice Center Tonight - Fresno Monsters
- Former Tornado Great Blatchford Joins Front Office - Texas Tornado
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