T-Birds Summer Update
June 25, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
This is the first edition of the T-Birds Summer Updates we will be sending out over the course of the summer.
It is an exciting time in the T-Birds office right now as we have moved into our new temporary offices (109 2nd Ave S. Kent). We are just four blocks south of Kent Station. Our new mailing address is 625 W. James Street, Kent WA 98032. We will take up permanent residence inside the Kent Events Center late this fall. The Thunderbirds office staff went on our first official tour of the 6,025-seat arena on Tuesday afternoon. We were able to see the progress from the ground up.
As a staff we were excited to see our new administrative office, box office, The Hockey Store and our hockey training facilities begin to take shape. However the most impressive part of the tour was definitely visualizing the Event Center bowl filled with 6,000 T-Birds fans.
The following were some of the first impressions from our staff:
"Standing where center ice will be, I can't believe how close the seats will be. Even the top row is low. There will not be a bad seat in the house."- Priscilla Stultz, Account Executive.
"I couldn't believe how low the ceiling is and how steep the seats will be. The intimacy reminded me of the old Mercer Arena days. Welcome back! Home ice advantage T-Birds!" - Rick Ronish, Director of Operations.
"EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS! I walked out of our tour clapping and it continued all the way to work today. Next year can't get here soon enough!" - Sean Runnels, Director of Ticket Sales.
"The noise from Opening Night last year (September 29, 2007 vs. Everett) in the Key is going to seem like being in "church" when we score our first goal. I cannot wait." - Jason Thomsen, Director of Corporate Partnerships.
"First impressions? Wow! This will be as close to the action without playing the game as it gets." - Kevin Cochrane, Account Executive.
"After getting over the initial shock I realized this is ours. Sightlines are amazing and will make The Kent Event's Center second to none in the Western Hockey League." - Jason Pouliott, Account Executive.
The Seattle Thunderbirds announced their 2008-09 Exhibition Schedule today.
The T-Birds will play seven games in the exhibition season.
The exhibition season starts Labor Day weekend with the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament at the Everett Events Center (EEC).
The T-Birds play the Chilliwack Bruins on Friday, August 29, at 11:30 a.m. at the EEC.
The T-Birds play the Silvertips on Saturday, August 30, at 7 p.m. at the EEC.
The T-Birds finish out the tournament against the Portland Winter Hawks on Sunday, August 31, at 3 p.m. at the EEC.
The T-Birds will then travel to Kennewick for two games at the Red Lion Hotels' Preseason Tournament. On Friday, September 5, the T-Birds will face the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. at the Toyota Center.
The team takes on the Portland Winter Hawks at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, at the Toyota Center.
The last two games of the exhibition schedule are a home-and-home series with the Portland Winter Hawks.
The T-Birds travel to Portland on Friday, September 12, to take on the Winter Hawks at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
Seattle's only home exhibition game is on Saturday, September 13, at 7:05 p.m. at Kent Valley Ice Centre against the Winter Hawks. Tickets for the only exhibition home game will go on sale later in the summer.
T-Bird training camp for the 2008-09 season start Monday, August 25, and will take place at Kent Valley Ice Centre.
Western Hockey League Stories from June 25, 2008
- Tokarski-Spurgeon Invited to Canada's Junior Evaluation Camp - Spokane Chiefs
- Aulie to Attend National Junior Camp - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Sexsmith Invited To World Jr. Team Summer Camp - Vancouver Giants
- National Junior Team Camp Invitations announced by Hockey Canada - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Last Chance to Signup for the Third Annual Lethbridge Hurricane - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- T-Birds Summer Update - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Bringing in the New Year - Hurricanes Preseason Schedule - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- T-Birds Release 2008-09 Exhibition Schedule - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Bruins Release Pre-Season Schedule - Chilliwack Bruins
- Bruins Acquire Defenseman from Lethbridge - Chilliwack Bruins
- Americans Announce Full 2008-09 Pre-Season Schedule - Tri-City Americans
- WHL Announces 2008 Exhibition Schedule - WHL
- Cody Eakin Named to Canada's Under 18 Selection Roster - Swift Current Broncos
- Beattie named Assistant Coach - Kootenay Ice
- CHL Import Draft Set For Thursday - Brandon Wheat Kings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
