Washington Gov. Jay Inslee honored the Seattle Thunderbirds 2017 Western Hockey League Championship with a reception Monday afternoon at the Executive Residence in Olympia.
At the reception, Inslee signed a proclamation honoring the T-Birds WHL Championship and declaring Monday, Sept. 25, as Seattle Thunderbirds Championship Day, according to the T-Birds website.
Seattle players, staff, owners, doctors, billets and Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke attended the reception. The group toured the governor’s residence on the Olympia Capitol campus, signed the residence guest book and enjoyed a buffet meal.
In remarks made after the buffet, Inslee congratulated the T-Birds on winning the WHL Championship and read the proclamation. It is the first WHL title for the T-Birds in their 40-year history.
Russ Farwell, T-Birds president and general manger, thanked the governor for his hospitality, told Inslee about the team’s championship run and acknowledged Cooke for her great support. Farwell also applauded Alfred Blue for his more than 50 years of service as a team doctor to the Seattle Totems, Seattle Breakers and T-Birds.
After the remarks, T-Birds captain Turner Ottenbreit presented Inslee with a T-Birds jersey.
“We are very honored Gov. Inslee took time today to recognize our WHL Championship,” Farwell said. “The recognition given to our organization and the WHL with the proclamation and with his interaction with the team today is something we will not forgot. It was a great experience for our team and organization.”
The T-Birds chronicled the visit on their social media platforms and posted a video of the visit on the team website.
The T-Birds play Friday, Sept. 29, against the Prince George Cougars at 7:35 p.m. at Kent’s accesso ShoWare Center. Seattle beat the Tri-City Americans 4-3 in its season opener on Saturday.
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