Tournament GUESTS & STAFF

To produce the nations largest and most inclusive hockey tournament takes a tremendous amount of work. In addition to our amazing sponsors & supporters, Seattle Pride Hockey Association would like to thank the individual contributions of those who help curate such an amazing tournament experience and all the behind-the-scenes work that’s required to pull this whole thing off. 

We can’t thank you enough.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steven Thompson, President

Budgeting, registration, scheduling, team formation, jersey procurement, game operations and logistics.

Joey Gale, Vice President

Sales, marketing, branding, social media, jersey design, and sponsorships.

Photo of Joel Hennig

Joel Hennig, Treasurer

Scholarship committee, budget review, finances & taxes.

Steven Laing, Secretary

Multimedia, photography & videography shoots, editing, final development.

SUPPORT STAFF

Gavin Parker, Manager, Tournament Productions

Gavin oversees overall tournament production, including volunteer support, hockey/team operations.

Brett Leonard, Manager, Hospitality Operations

Brett will be overseeing all participant & hotel hospitality operations, including the Icebreaker Welcome Reception and tournament + hotel check-in experiences.

Randy Cote, Manager, Game Experience

Randy assists in a variety of forms, most notably with producing run of show schedules & scripts.

Alexis Haire, Manager, Communications & Website Maintenance

Alexis helps oversee our website development & testing, as well as seamless tournament email communications.

Photo of Gilbert Villalpando

Gilbert Villalpando, Manager, Diversity & Inclusion

Gilbert ensures all communications and tournament production are through an equitable DEI lense.

Wendy Thomas

Wendy, although a goalie in the tournament, helps with scorekeeping and producing our day-to-day operations schedule.

Michelle Mendez, Manager, Graphic Design & Marketing

Michelle, while leading our Events & Programs division, helps oversee graphic design and other tasks related to tournament production.

Colden Cullen, Manager, Jersey Design & Production

A huge THANK YOU to Colden Cullen for once again helping design and produce the Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride jerseys and our regular jerseys.

Jessica Bennett, Tournament Assistant

Jessica joins us in her second year, and will oversee duties supporting the overall operations of the tournament.

Brandon Clayburn, Tournament Assistant

Brandon is joining us in his first year and will help with duties supporting the overall operations of the tournament

Guests

PRO PLAYERS

Erin Ambrose (born April 30, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for PWHL Montreal of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and member of the Canada women’s national ice hockey team. She made her debut with the Canada women’s national ice hockey team at the 2014 4 Nations Cup. On September 18, 2023, Ambrose was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, by PWHL Montreal in the 2023 PWHL Draft.

Jamie Lee Rattray (born September 30, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for PWHL Boston of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). As a member of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2010 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, a hockey card of her was featured in the Upper Deck 2010 World of Sports card series. Rattray was drafted in the third round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by Boston.[13]

Joshua Thomas Brown (born July 2, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. He is the current TV analyst for the Seattle Kraken at Root Sports Northwest. On June 21, 2021, Brown joined Root Sports Northwest as a color commentator for the Seattle Kraken. On February 17, 2022, Brown and Everett Fitzhugh called the Kraken’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. The pairing was the first all-Black TV broadcast in NHL history.

Jessica Platt (born May 8, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player with the PWHPA and an advocate for transgender rights. She played for the Toronto Furies in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and was the first transgender woman to play in the now defunct CWHL.

Andrew has long been a supporter of social change initiatives to help the environment, and he is also a big supporter of promoting equality and inclusion in the sports.

It comes as no surprise then that Ference became involved in a Kickstarter campaign for Pride Tape, a pro-quality hockey stick tape in rainbow colors which aims to show support for LGBTQ+ athletes.

Luke Prokop (born May 6, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League as a prospect for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL), who selected him in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 2021, Prokop came out as gay, becoming the first player under contract with an NHL team to do so.

MULTIMEDIA, PHOTOGRAPHY & SOCIAL MEDIA

ENTERTAINMENT

DJ Lucky Strike – DJ, Starbucks Rink

Seattle Kraken + Seattle Thunderbirds Music Director

David Schwartz – DJ, Smartsheet + VMFH Rink

Founder/Owner, Orion Entertainment

Everett “Fitz” Fitzhugh Play by Play Announcer, Starbucks Rink (Sunday)

Seattle Kraken radio play-by-play announcer

(Consolation/Championship and Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride games only)

Tom Helm – Play by Play Announcer, Smartsheet Rink (Sunday)

Everett Aquasox in-arena announcer

(Consolation/Championship games only)

Tyler Gunhus – Player by Play Announcer, VMFH Rink (Sunday)

Seattle Thunderbirds in-arena announcer

(Consolation/Championship games only)

Ladie Chablis – Emcee & Host, Icebreaker Welcome Reception (Thursday)

Creator & Host, Lashes, Seattle’s longest running drag show

(Icebreaker Welcome Reception presented by CCM & HockeyWolf)

Sofia Da Silva – In-Arena Host, Consolation, Championship + Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride (Sunday)

Advocate. Educator. Performer. Author. Student. Founder.

(Donning medals on participants for all Consolation, Championship + Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride games)

Reign City Riot is a brass band and drumline that supplies high-energy entertainment before, during, and after home matches of OL Reign, our powerhouse professional NWSL soccer team. A joint venture of OL Reign and Rainbow City Performing Arts, the Riot includes many members of other RCPA ensembles and music groups from around the community who share a common love of music, OL Reign, and bringing spirit to both the athletes and the fans.

(Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride game only)

Buoy – Sunday

Buoy is the Seattle sea-troll who inhabits the caverns of Climate Pledge Arena and for who nothing beats a day filled with Kraken hockey and the team’s fans.

Odds are you’ll see the troll roaming out and about around the Pacific Northwest as well as hanging with the Fremont Troll, who happens to be Buoy’s uncle. Buoy is a great admirer of the Kraken and pays tribute to the mysterious deep sea creature with unique touch of magic in his hockey hair flow.

(During the Pride Skate with Buoy on Sunday afternoon)

Tex, a three-year-old 115lb Great Dane Great Pyrenees mix. He has extensive training, outdoorsy spirit, passion for Lake Chelan, and unwavering loyalty. He is excited and looking forward to being a part of the Seattle Pride Classic!

(Alaska Airlines: All Stars of Pride game only)

HOCKEY OPERATIONS STAFF

OFF- & ON-ICE OFFICIALS

Doreen Fararr – Scorekeeper

Dan White – Scorekeeper

Dan Brown- Scorekeeper

Pat Barlow – Scorekeeper

Michelle Lim – Chief Referee

Brie Stewart – Referee

Tomas Blum – Referee

RJ Copeland – Referee

Julee Felts – Referee

Jack & Teresa Owens – Referees

MANAGE ALL YOUR HOCKEY IN ONE PLACE

Go directly to mySPHA: my.seattlepridehockey.org