The ECHL announced on Wednesday that Julia Phillips of the South Carolina Stingrays is the 2025-26 recipient of the ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year Award, presented by Warrior Hockey.
 
The winner is determined in a vote of the league’s athletic trainers.
 
Phillips is in her second season with the Stingrays after joining the club before the 2024-25 season. Prior to joining the Stingrays, she served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Wichita Thunder during the 2023-24 season. The two seasons prior, she was the Head Athletic Trainer for the British Columbia Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild.
 
Before her first full-time hockey job, Phillips studied at the University of Central Florida, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences and a Master’s Degree in athletic training. As a graduate student at UCF, Phillips interned for the Orlando Solar Bears.
 
​ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year
2025-26           Julia Phillips, South Carolina Stingrays
2024-25           Nick Potter, Kansas City Mavericks
2023-24           Cody Lindhorst, Kalamazoo Wings
2022-23           Jordan Dutton, Allen Americans
2021-22           Tim Murray, Cincinnati Cyclones
2020-21           ECHL Athletic Trainers
2019-20           George Bullock, Indy Fuel
2018-19           Nick Potter, Kansas City Mavericks
2017-18           Matt Aiello, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
2016-17           Cole Libby, Utah Grizzlies
2015-16           Scott McLay, Alaska Aces
2014-15           Brad Fredrick, Toledo Walleye
2013-14           Steve Ruhmel, Florida Everblades
2012-13           Bob Case, Cincinnati Cyclones
2011-12           Mike Schroeder, Chicago Express
2010-11           Kevin Anderson, Stockton Thunder
2009-10           Bobby Walls, Ontario Reign
2008-09           Bryan Rodgers, Dayton Bombers
2007-08           Brian Grogesky, Reading Royals
 
About the ECHL
 
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 38th season in 2025-26. There have been 782 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.
 
About Warrior Hockey
 
Headquartered in Warren, Michigan, Warrior Sports is recognized as one of the sporting goods industry’s premier manufacturer of innovative, high performance, cutting-edge equipment, footwear and apparel for lacrosse and hockey athletes of all ages and abilities. Founded in 1992 by former champion lacrosse player David Morrow, Warrior was acquired by privately-held New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. in February 2004.