September 13, 2019  

Guilford, Conn., - Expansion to the Pacific Northwest is coming to the NHL with Seattle in 2021. But the ECEL has already expanded to the Seattle market as we have welcomed the Seattle Jr. Thunderbirds. 

The Jr. Thunderbirds are a AAA program that is looking to send it’s players to the next level. That is what the team is looking to do within the ECEL and is one of the reasons they joined the league. “Our goals are to develop players to the best of our ability and play games in locations and against teams that provide the maximum exposure for their upward mobility,” said U16 Head Coach Mike Butters. 

They will not be the only team from the state of Washington. Seattle will join the Wenatchee Wild from Wenatchee, Wash. “Having both teams in this league, will allow these teams to faceoff against each other and build a rivalry while growing the game in each market,” said Commissioner of the ECEL Peter Alden. 

This U16 team has the chance to be special this season. They have a lot of buzz around its players as a few have been shortlisted, drafted, or highly rated prospects. Goalie Andy Vlaha, forwards Sal Collora, Jackson Gram, Trevor Loucks, defenseman Koen Mueller, and Ty Waram have been on the scout's radar of some of the best junior leagues in the country. 

Seattle has some things that are available to its players that set it apart from other teams. They have it’s own full-time locker-room facilities, full-time strength and conditioning coach, mental performance coach, and nutritionist. Most teams do not have facilities and that is what makes the team unique. 

“It’s very unique that we have a mental coach and nutritionist at this level,” Butters explained. “But these staff members are what set our program apart and help our players be at their best on the ice.” 

Get to know Head Coach, Mike Butters:   Prior to joining Sno-King, Mike worked for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL where he served in many capacities, from professional and college scout to General Manager of their top affiliate in the American Hockey League.  Mike’s coaching philosophy places an emphasis on family, education and hockey: “Creating a hockey player is more than skills on the ice. It’s about teaching and mentoring players to be the best they can be in all aspects of life.”

The Jr. Thunderbirds are playing in the U16 Premier Division and will look to be in the mix for the ECEL Cup. They will start its campaign for that title at the Fall Classic on Friday, October 12 against the New Hampshire Avalanche. 

Learn more by about the Sno-King 16U AAA team: Click Here

Founded in 2013, the East Coast Elite League is a four-weekend showcase series that will provide maximum exposure for its member organizations and their players, by playing in top venues, in ideal scouting locations. Spread across the U15, U16, and U18 divisions and represented by several of the top hockey organizations across the country, the ECEL is the premier showcase series in the United States, unmatched in its format and exposure opportunities. For more information on the ECEL, log on to http://www.ecelhockey.com or on Twitter @ECELHockey and Instagram @ecel_tier1.