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(TEAM) WHL – Seattle Thunderbirds

About

The Seattle Thunderbirds Mission Statement
Our mission is to uphold the Western Hockey League mission of providing affordable family entertainment in the form of high-caliber, competitive hockey, and to develop our players and staff in a positive professional direction. By establishing the Seattle Thunderbirds in this way, we make a dynamic contribution to the Greater Seattle community. The Thunderbirds are dedicated to developing the players’ athletic, educational, and professional talents.

About the Seattle Thunderbirds
Thunderbird players must attend high school until they graduate grade 12. Players that have graduated are encouraged to attend local area colleges, such as Green River Community College or the University of Washington. All education expenses are paid by the team. Players attend online school. Practice is at 10:30 a.m, daily, with school taking place after practice with tutors. Seattle is located on the west coast of the United States, two and a half hours south of Vancouver, B.C. Although snow is rare, there is skiing and other snow recreation an hour away.

The teams’ home, the accesso ShoWare Center is located 18 miles south of downtown Seattle, in the City of Kent. All Thunderbirds games are broadcast on 1090 KJR. The Thunderbirds are covered by six major television stations, over 50 radio stations, two daily newspapers and several weekly newspapers. Thunderbird players are billeted with host families interviewed and approved by the hockey club.

About the Western Hockey League (WHL)

WHL Overview

  • Established in 1966, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs – 17 based in Canadian markets (five in British Columbia, five in Alberta, five in Saskatchewan and two in Manitoba) and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
  • The WHL is a member of the Canadian Hockey League together with the Quebec and Ontario Hockey Leagues.  The CHL membership consists of 60 Clubs – 51 in Canada and 9 in the U.S.

WHL Scholarship

  • The WHL is the leading provider of hockey scholarships in Western Canada.
  • For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a full year guaranteed Scholarship, which includes tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees, to a post-secondary institution of their choice.
  • Read more about the WHL Scholarship HERE
  • The WHL Scholarship, combined with additional financial assistance from Universities in Western Canada, makes Western Canada’s Premiere Hockey Scholarship equivalent to any other scholarship offer available in North America today.
    • Since 1993, the WHL has awarded over 6,000 WHL Scholarships representing an investment in excess of $25 million by WHL member Clubs.
    • The WHL awarded a record 405 scholarships to current and graduate players during the 2018-19 academic year.
    • The WHL and Athabasca University have entered into a partnership which allows players in all WHL centers to access University courses online while playing in the League.
    • Close to 70% of all players in the Canadian University West Conference are WHL graduates.
  • Read more about the WHL Scholarship HERE

WHL’s Support to Minor Hockey

  • The WHL is the leading financial contributor in Western Canada to local and provincial Minor Hockey programs.
    • Each year the WHL and its member Clubs contribute over $1 million annually in support of local Minor Hockey and charities in Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest where WHL Franchises are located.