Management
Don Waddell
Executive Vice President & General Manager, Thrashers
Executive Vice President, Atlanta Spirit, LLC
Since being named as the team’s first general manager in June 1998, Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell has guided the Thrashers from their inception, becoming one of the league’s most experienced and respected executives.In recognition of his leadership role of Atlanta Spirit, LLC, the parent company of the Thrashers, Hawks and Philips Arena, Waddell was named as an executive vice president of the organization this past offseason.
A veteran of 30 years of professional hockey as a player, coach and manager, Waddell has worked diligently to establish an organization prepared for success now and in the long-term future. His work has culminated in a franchise that features a dynamic combination of skilled youth, veteran leaders and experienced depth at each position.
Complete Bio >>
Rick Dudley
Associate General Manager
Associate General Manager Rick Dudley is in his first season with the Atlanta Thrashers after joining the team in June, 2009. He brings more than 40 years of experience in professional hockey as a player, coach and executive to the organization. In this role, he oversees professional and amateur scouting and player development for the organization and serves as an advisor to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell on all hockey operations issues.
Complete Bio>>
Larry Simmons
Vice President & Assistant General Manager
Vice President and Assistant General Manager Larry Simmons is responsible for assisting the general manager in all facets of the day-to-day operations of the hockey operations department.
These duties include player contract research and negotiations, salary arbitrations, strategic planning, budgeting, scheduling and the administration of the collective bargaining agreement.
Complete Bio >>
Dan Marr
Director of Amateur Scouting & Player Development
Director of Amateur Scouting and Player Development Dan Marr is responsible for evaluating players and preparing the team’s rankings for the NHL Entry Draft, as well as monitoring the development of Thrashers prospects.
Marr, who served as the team's chief scout for more than three years from 2000-03, was promoted to his current position on July 9, 2003. He joined the team as head scout on Sept. 1, 1998, after spending more than 12 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Complete Bio >>
Mark Dobson
Director of Player Personnel
Director of Player Personnel Mark Dobson oversees the professional scouting staff in the evaluation of talent in the NHL, AHL and Europe, and assists Thrashers Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell with
player decisions for the Thrashers.
Dobson, who was promoted to his current position in August 2006, joined the Thrashers scouting department on a part-time basis in 1998 and was promoted to a fulltime pro scout in 1999.
Complete Bio >>
Complete Hockey Operations Staff:
Marcel Comeau - Head Scout
Marcel Comeau, who was promoted to head scout on July 9, 2003, oversees all scouting activities and the evaluation of all amateur talent on a worldwide basis for the Thrashers … Comeau served as a part-time scout for the Thrashers during the 1999-2000 Inaugural Season, and was promoted to full-time scout on June 20, 2000 … Prior to joining the Thrashers in 1998, he served as a scout for RHO Hockey, an independent scouting service for professional hockey teams … Comeau has more than 15 years experience as a head coach for various teams in the AHL, IHL, CHL and WHL … He also coached the Canadian National teams to Gold Medals at the 1995 World Junior Championships and the 1994 Under-18 Competition … He was twice voted as the WHL Coach of the Year, and was also named CHL Coach of the Year for the 1992-93 season … He and his wife, Christie, reside in Federal Way, Wash.
Evgeny Bogdanovich- Amateur Scout
Evgeny Bogdanovich, who joined the Thrashers as part-time area scout prior to the 1999-2000 Inaugural Season, was promoted to part-time European scout in 2001 and given full-time status on Aug. 1, 2005 … The native of St. Petersburg, Russia, is responsible for the evaluation of talent in Russia, crossover scouting in Europe and coverage of major European tournaments … Bogdanovich, who speaks English and Russian, graduated from St. Petersburg State University with degrees in math and computers … Following graduation, he worked with a local St. Petersburg newspaper's sports department … He currently resides in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Bernd Freimuller - Amateur Scout
Bernd Freimuller, the team's first full-time European scout, scouts both amateur and professional players in Europe … He has served as the team’s full-time European scout since the 1999-2000 Inaugural Season … Freimuller joined the organization in 1998 from WEV, Vienna’s top league hockey team which competed in both the Euroleague and in the international Alpenleague … He also served as public relations manager and later as general manager for WEV … Freimuller worked as the media relations director for the Austrian Hockey Federation, served as the vice press officer at the World Championships in 1996 and acted as a European correspondent for the independent scouting magazine "Red Line Report" … He holds a master’s of arts degree in communications from the University of Vienna … He is single and resides in Vienna.
Mark Hillier - Amateur Scout
Mark Hillier, who joined the Thrashers organization on July 9, 2003, is responsible for the evaluation of talent for the Ontario region and also performs crossover scouting in other regions … Hillier spent over 13 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization from 1990-2002 before joining Atlanta … He served as Toronto’s director of amateur scouting from 1999-2002 after a four-year stint as an amateur scout with the club from 1995-99 … Hillier worked as director of administration for Toronto’s top farm team, the St. John’s Maple Leafs, from 1993-95 … He served as coordinator of hockey administration for Toronto from 1992-93 after joining the organization as a public relations assistant in 1990 … Hillier earned a sports administration degree from Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology in Oshawa, Ontario, in 1990 … He and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Cole and James, and reside in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Tavis MacMillan
Tavis MacMillan joined the Thrashers organization as a full-time U.S. amateur scout in August, 2007, after spending three seasons as head coach of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks … He compiled a 46-54-15 overall record and was 29-43-12 in the CCHA … A former Nanook star and UAF graduate, MacMillan played professional hockey with the Alaska Gold Kings of the West Coast Hockey League … He began serving as a player/assistant general manager in 1995-96, assisting with management, player recruitment, marketing, promotions and day-to-day operations while earning WCHL Second Team All-Star honors … The native of Milk River, Alberta, also played roller hockey for the San Jose Rhinos of the Roller Hockey International League in 1994 … MacMillan and his wife, Deon, reside in Rosemount, Minn., and have three daughters; Taryn, Camryn, and Lauryn.
Peter Mahovlich- Professional Scout
Peter Mahovlich, who joined the Thrashers as a full-time professional scout on Aug. 10, 1999, notched 773 points (288 goals, 485 assists) in 884 games over 16 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins from 1965-81 … Mahovlich appeared in 88 Stanley Cup playoff games, helping Montreal win four Stanley Cups … Following his retirement as a player, Mahovlich served as a scout for the Edmonton Oilers … Before joining Atlanta, he worked as a professional scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 1997-1999 … Peter and his brother, Frank, who played 18 seasons in the NHL from 1957-1974, formed one of the most successful brother combinations in league history … The brothers from Timmons, Ontario, combined for 1,876 points (821 goals, 1,055 assists) in 2,065 NHL games … Peter, a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, resides in Glens Falls, N.Y.
Bob Owen - Amateur Scout/Consultant
Bob Owen, who currently serves as a consultant and full-time scout in Western Canada, helped build the Thrashers franchise as the team's director of player evaluation and development for nearly five years from 1998 to 2003 … Owen, who owns a wealth of scouting expertise, consults with team management on player-related personnel decisions … Prior to joining the Thrashers in 1998, Owen established RHO Hockey, North America's first independent professional scouting service, in 1995 … Owen spent 10 years with the LA Kings organization from 1984-1994, serving in several capacities, including scout, director of amateur scouting, director of scouting and development and director of player personnel and player development … From 1980-84, Owen served
as a scout for the NHL's Central Scouting, concentrating mainly in western North America … Owen, a native of Regina, Sask., and his wife, Evelyn, reside in Kelowna, B.C.
John Perpich - Professional Scout
John Perpich has served as a full-time scout for the Thrashers since the 1999-2000 Inaugural Season … After serving as an amateur scout for six seasons, Perpich enters his fourth season as a professional scout with the organization … His duties include advance scouting of the Thrashers opponents as well as assisting in the evaluation of talent in the AHL … Perpich spent four years with the LA Kings prior to joining the Thrashers in 1998 … He served as an assistant coach in the NHL with the Capitals and the Kings, and also coached the Kings minor league prospects from 1996-98 … Perpich coached Ferris State from 1986-90, and at St. Cloud State from 1984-86 … He played hockey for the University of Minnesota, where he completed his undergraduate studies in physical education, and received a master of arts degree with an emphasis in motor learning … Perpich and his wife, Kendra, reside in Bloomington, Minn.
Ray Bear - Strength and Conditioning Coach
Ray Bear, who is in his eighth season and ninth year with the Thrashers, is responsible for all strength and conditioning programs for players and prospects throughout the organization … The Portsmouth, Ohio, native served as the Atlanta Braves' minor league strength and conditioning coach during the 2000 and 2001 seasons ... Prior to joining the Braves, Bear served as the assistant strength coach for all sports teams at Ohio University from 1999-2000 … Bear worked as the strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Royals for the 1998 and 1999 seasons and served as the athletic trainer/strength coach for the Huntington Blizzard of the ECHL during the 1997-98 season … He graduated from Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio, with a degree in sports medicine in 1998 … Bear enjoys mountain climbing, cave exploring, weightlifting and outdoor activities … He and his wife, Maria, and their children, Levi, Elija and Caidy Rae, reside in Dacula.
Tommy Alva
Tommy Alva is in his second season as head athletic trainer … In this role, he is responsible for the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of player injuries and assists 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 … 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.
Stephen Roberts - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Step Roberts, who joined the Thrashers organization as assistant athletic trainer for the 2005-06 season, is in his fifth season with the organization … In this position, he assists the head trainer in all treatment and rehabilitation procedures for injured players … Prior to joining the Thrashers, Roberts spent one season as the head athletic trainer for the Mississippi SeaWolves of the ECHL and two seasons as a trainer for the Jackson Bandits of the ECHL … Roberts, who was born in Pocahontas, Ark., and raised in Mississippi, earned a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., in 2000 … Roberts was a collegiate swimmer and competes in triathlons during the off-season … He and his fiance, Haley, reside in Roswell.
Inar Treiguts - Massage Therapist
Inar Treiguts joined the Thrashers organization prior to the 1999-2000 Inaugural Season, bringing over 12 years experience as a massage therapist to the club … Treiguts, a native of Latvia who has earned his U.S. citizenship, spent one year at Spa Sydell in Atlanta before joining the Thrashers, participates in various workshops yearly and recently received certification in Active Release Techniques … Treiguts worked as the massage therapist for Team USA at the 2005 and 2008 World Championships … He has also worked for Body Works in Santa Monica, Calif., Cal-Med Clinic in Los Angeles, and in private practice in Knoxville, Tenn. … He is single, and resides in Atlanta.
Bobby Stewart - Equipment Manager
Bobby Stewart enters his tenth season and 11th year with the Thrashers, the second Atlanta hockey team that he has worked for … Stewart joined the Atlanta Flames as their equipment manager prior to the 1973- 74 season, and remained with the organization when it moved to Calgary in May of 1980 … The 1998-99 season was Stewart’s 26th year with the Flames … Stewart is responsible for all equipment and supplies for the Thrashers players, and his duties include sharpening skates, ordering equipment and aiding the transportation of all the team’s equipment around the NHL … A native of Montreal, Stewart spent four seasons with the Montreal Junior Canadiens before joining the Flames organization … Bobby and his wife, Sherri, and their son, Joshua, reside in Lawrenceville.
Joe Guilmet - Assistant Equipment Manager
Joe Guilmet, who is in his tenth season and 11th year with the Thrashers, is responsible for assisting the head equipment manager with equipment inventory and daily maintenance and transportation of all the team’s equipment … Prior to joining the Thrashers, Guilmet worked as assistant equipment manager for the Orlando Solar Bears of the former International Hockey League for four seasons from 1995-1999 … Guilmet served as assistant equipment manager for Team USA at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, and at the 2009, 2008 and 2001 World Championships … The San Diego, Calif., native spent five years with the equipment department of the San Diego Gulls (IHL) before joining Orlando … Guilmet, and his wife, Kim, reside in the Virginia-Highland area of Atlanta.
