Jeff Truitt’s daughter provides a helping hand at Rockets’ training camp

“It is cool to hear stories now, being back in Kelowna, and people that were here that say they saw me on the ice”, Truitt told RocketFAN. “When I was born, a lot of my extended family saw me for the first time on TV.”

Truitt is in her second year attending UBC-Okanagan, getting her kinesiology degree (Now known as health and exercise sciences) while job shadowing Kelowna Rockets Athletic Therapist Scott Hoyer.

“Being around Scotty [Hoyer] has been awesome, seeing him on the bench and in action,” excitement resonated from Truitt’s voice. “There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that isn’t seen by the public. For him to trust me and get my hands on a few players if that’s taping or making an ice tub, he lets me in with the boys and he became a mentor.”

How have the players responded to having Truitt around as a helping hand?

“I had a few odd looks at first, which was my interpretation that I was looking out of place”, Truitt laughed. “I think they trust me because they trust Scotty, so if he is going to bring other people to help, they will be just as good.”

Truitt was so good at supporting Hoyer during rookie camp, that she was asked to stay on for main camp. On top of those duties, she will also be helping the university women’s volleyball team as a junior athletic trainer.

“The injuries that athletes suffer are more impactful than if you fell at work”, Truitt explained. “The games are elevated, it’s fast now, and even with the volleyball girls, it is those harsh landings. You have to keep them at their top tier. This is a young part of these player’s careers, and they have so much more ahead of them, and same with those girls in university, so if you can keep them healthy at this age and keep them going, that’s my job.”

Working with the Rockets and getting hands-on experience is invaluable for Truitt, who hopes this job shadow leads to ever greater things down the road.

“The dream is to have a sports medical clinic of my own, and have my own practice as a physiotherapist, but getting this experience with the Rockets has opened up another door.”

While Truitt was born in Kelowna, she and her family have moved several times, thanks to her dad receiving coaching offers in the U.S, and most recently in the Western Hockey League with Red Deer and Prince Albert, where Jeff Truitt is currently the head coach of the Raiders.

“I think my dad has the coolest job in the world”, Truitt’s eyes lighting up. “I was raised in this environment. I feel so comfortable here [in an arena] and I owe that all to my dad.”

In our nine-minute interview, you can tell the 19-year-old has a lot of admiration for her father.

“I never miss a game he is involved in”, Truitt getting emotional. “I may be WHL Live’s biggest fan. Not everyone’s dad is a head coach of a WHL team, in those big roles, and his job is very public and I know he loves it still, so it’s nice to see.”

It only seems fitting that Jeff Truitt helped the Kelowna Rockets to championship success, so now the organization returns the favour by giving his daughter, Kerrington, the tools she needs to excel in her chosen field.

“I have my mom’s compassion for sure”, Truitt thanking her lucky stars for having the best qualities of both her mom and dad. “She has a giving nature as a nurse. She is so loving and will give everything to you.

“My dad is driven and dedicated, and it’s the main reason why I wanted to get into the medicine sports field was because of the combination of both of their jobs.”

by Regan Bartel

Jeff Truitt’s daughter provides a helping hand at Rockets’ training camp

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