Thrashers Name Tommy Alva Head Athletic Trainer

The Atlanta Thrashers have named Tommy Alva as head athletic trainer, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. He will be responsible for the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of player injuries and assisting with the overall medical and training programs of the organization.

Alva joins the Thrashers after serving as the head athletic trainer for the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League during the 2007-08 season and spent the previous four years as assistant athletic trainer for the Dallas Stars from 2003-04 to 2006-07.

Prior to his role with the Stars, he spent one season as the head athletic trainer for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe in 2000 and worked as the head athletic trainer for the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer for four seasons from 1996-2000.

Alva also has experience as the medical coordinator for the Texas Collegiate Baseball League, as the athletic training coordinator for the Presbyterian Sports Network and as a summer assistant trainer for the NFL’s New York Jets. He also spent six years working in an athletic training capacity at two Dallas-area high schools.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Alva earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Henderson State University in Arkansas. He and his wife, Stephanie, have a son, Kaleb, and reside in Lawrenceville.