Castan Sommer has joined the Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey team as an assistant coach.

“We were looking for a young guy to really concentrate on the development of our incoming group of players and especially our forwards,” said general manager Russ Farwell. “Castan has done skating and skill development with young professionals, and we felt he would be the ideal addition to our staff. He is extremely keen to get his first chance as a coach and he is excited to get started.”

Last season Sommer played for the Kallinge/Ronneby Division 1 team in Sweden. In 36 games, Sommer had 11 goals and seven assists. Sommer was a skating coach at the San Jose Sharks Development Camp in 2016. He led on-ice skating instruction and development for prospects.

Sommer played four seasons at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., where he appeared in 148 games .

“We are excited to add Castan,” said head coach Matt O’Dette. “He is a young and hungry coach that will help round out our staff.”

The T-Birds start the 2017-18 Western Hockey League regular season against the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the ShoWare Center.