Jimmy Milliken Named President and GM of Thunderbirds

Winston-Salem, NC - The Carolina Thunderbirds are happy to announce the appointment of Jimmy Milliken as the team's new President and General Manager. Milliken comes to the Thunderbirds organization with years of entertainment experience, including a successful music career as the Co-Owner and Vice President of a Nashville-based record label and management group. His sports experience is deep, including serving as an assistant GM for two years in the SPHL and working with the FHL's expansion committee for the last three years. “I am very excited to take this position with such a great organization like the Thunderbirds. The fan base here is second to none and I can’t wait to meet everybody and cheer on the Birds with them”. 

Milliken is a South Carolina native with a career path that has taken him all throughout the Carolinas in sports and entertainment, including being in Winston-Salem during the Twin City Cyclones days. He says the Thunderbirds are in a much stronger situation and built to last in the area. “There is such a strong group here that was built up and I’m extremely excited to lead this front office staff into the 2019-2020 season and beyond. Scott Brand did a tremendous job with this group and we're set up for a lot of success right away."

The Carolina Thunderbirds thank Scott Brand for his three years of service with the team and wish him luck in his future endeavors. "I was honored to be part of this great revival of Thunderbirds hockey. Once a Thunderbird, always a Thunderbird, and until we meet in another hockey arena again sometime... What's the word?!"


The Carolina Thunderbirds are proud members of the Federal Hockey League, now entering its 10th season. The Thunderbirds are entering their third season of play as the defending 2018-2019 Commissioner's Cup Champions. The Thunderbirds have set an FHL record at the gate, breaking their own attendance record with over 70,000 fans through the doors this season. Season and group tickets are on sale now by calling (336) 774-GOAL(4625).