ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year Julia Phillips Found Her Home in Hockey

For Julia Phillips, athletic training never felt like just a job—it felt like exactly where she was supposed to be.

Now, after only a few years in professional hockey, the South Carolina Stingrays Athletic Trainer has been named the 2025-26 ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year, an honor voted on by her peers across the league.

“It’s kinda crazy, honestly,” Phillips said. “I’m just thankful to be among a successful group and honored that I was voted for by my peers.”

Phillips graduated from the University of Florida in 2021 and immediately jumped into hockey after an internship with the Orlando Solar Bears introduced her to the sport.

“I fell in love with it from there,” she said.

Her career path eventually brought her to South Carolina, where she found not only a team, but a strong support network through the Stingrays’ connection with the Hershey Bears and Washington Capitals organizations.

“We talk all the time,” Phillips said of the Athletic Trainers within the affiliate system. “They are always available if I need help with injuries or just life advice.”

Now deep into playoff hockey, Phillips says consistency is everything. Recovery, monitoring injuries, and helping players manage the physical demands of postseason hockey all become even more important.

But for Phillips, the most rewarding moments come after the rehab process.

“I love the relationships that I make with the athletes,” she said. “Watching them come back to the ice and succeed… knowing I was a part of that.”

Her advice for future Athletic Trainers is simple:

“Stay consistent and don’t cut the small stuff. Building relationships and trust is just as important as the care that you provide.”

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