Four times during his career, Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Jeff Thorburn has donned his country乌鸦传媒檚 colours at an international sporting event.

With all due respect to the people and teams involved the first three times, it乌鸦传媒檚 likely nothing will match what the 43-year-old athletic therapist is experiencing this month in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Thorburn is one of two athletic therapists working on the staff of the at the

乌鸦传媒淚t may sound clich茅, but this is truly an honour to be a part of such an incredible national team and such a monstrous event,乌鸦传媒� said Thorburn. 乌鸦传媒淚 am so excited to be a part of this team and this spectacle.

乌鸦传媒淩eally, much like any of the athletes and coaches, I want the team to win,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淗elping and supporting Team Canada in any capacity is a great highlight of my career so far.乌鸦传媒�

ALSO READ: UBCO therapist gets Olympic call from Hockey Canada

The head athletic therapist at UBC Okanagan since 2013, Thorburn spent seven seasons with the WHL乌鸦传媒檚 Kelowna Rockets, during which time he worked for Hockey Canada three times乌鸦传媒攖he last at the 2012 world junior hockey championship in Calgary and Edmonton.

When Scott Salmond from Hockey Canada乌鸦传媒檚 management team contacted Thorburn last summer about the potential of revisiting his hockey experience with a trip to PyeongChang, a decision wasn乌鸦传媒檛 long in coming.

A father of three who would have to be away from his family and his job for an extended period of time, there were more than a few factors to consider.

Still, in the end, Thorburn said accepting the role was a no-brainer and an honour 乌鸦传媒渇or anyone working with sport or athletics to jump at an opportunity like this.乌鸦传媒�

Thorburn and the men乌鸦传媒檚 hockey team are based in Gangneung, the athlete乌鸦传媒檚 village for all ice sports and a 30-minute bus ride from PyeongChang.

The scope of the world乌鸦传媒檚 largest sporting event and the excitement generated by the games have captured Thorburn乌鸦传媒檚 full attention and imagination.

乌鸦传媒淭he village and the city have a great vibe,乌鸦传媒� Thorburn said this week via email. 乌鸦传媒淓veryone is excited about being here and the people of Korea are very excited to be hosts to the world. Everyone is very friendly and helpful, although the language barrier often makes things challenging when you are outside of the village and venues.

乌鸦传媒淏eing in Korea, even after the first couple of days, you had a sense of the true magnitude of the Olympic Games.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒⑩赌⑩赌�

Thorburn is part of a small but talented contingent of Kelowna athletes is proudly wearing the Maple Leaf at the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The most renowned of the local competitors is Kelsey Serwa who will be pursuing her second career Olympic medal in the women乌鸦传媒檚 ski cross event.

Serwa, 28, will compete with her Canadian teammates on Friday, Feb. 23.

In her first Olympic Games, Tess Critchlow, 22, competed this week in the women乌鸦传媒檚 snowboard cross, finishing in ninth place.

Julia Ransom, a member of the Canadian biathlon team, is expected to compete in the women乌鸦传媒檚 relay next week. Earlier in the week, Ransom placed 28th overall in the 10 km pursuit.

Lake Country乌鸦传媒檚 Ian Deans is serving as an alternate on the men乌鸦传媒檚 ski cross team. The men乌鸦传媒檚 ski cross qualifications and finals are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21.

A coach from Kelowna is also at the 2018 Olympics but is providing his expertise for another country. Bob Ursel, a former B.C. men乌鸦传媒檚 champ, is guiding the host South Korean men乌鸦传媒檚 team in the curling competition.

乌鸦传媒⑩赌⑩赌�

Back home in Kelowna, Thorburn has more than a few people tracking his and the Canadian hockey team乌鸦传媒檚 progress in South Korea, including colleague and friend Kevin Phillips.

A fellow athletic therapist and the strength and conditioning coach for the UBC Okanagan Heat, Phillips is excited for Thorburn and his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 something to be said for the flag, representing your country is a tremendous honour whatever and wherever the event is,乌鸦传媒� said Phillips, who has worked previously with the B.C. Lions, Soccer Canada and the Vancouver Whitecaps. 乌鸦传媒淲hen Jeff got the call, his eyes lit up, you could tell how excited he was for the opportunity to work with a national program, like any athletic therapist would be.乌鸦传媒�

Phillips, who has worked in an international setting with Soccer Canada, knows firsthand the role athletic therapists are asked to play in a team-first environment.

In a largely behind-the-scenes position where the team乌鸦传媒檚 success is paramount, Phillips says Thorburn乌鸦传媒檚 personality, experience and skill set are well-suited for a national men乌鸦传媒檚 Olympic program.

乌鸦传媒淵ou have to try to make it the best environment possible for them to perform at 100 per cent, you can乌鸦传媒檛 have a selfish attitude,乌鸦传媒� said Phillips. 乌鸦传媒淛eff fits perfectly into that, he乌鸦传媒檚 such a caring, selfless and kind person, it乌鸦传媒檚 not difficult for him to put others before himself.

乌鸦传媒淗e understands his job, what乌鸦传媒檚 asked of him and he carries that out like the professional that he is.乌鸦传媒�

While Thorburn has proven time and again to be very much a team player, he also understands and embraces the personal benefits he乌鸦传媒檚 gaining during his latest tour of duty with Team Canada.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 an excellent professional development opportunity,乌鸦传媒� Thorburn said. 乌鸦传媒淭here are always things to learn and pick up on when working alongside a great medical staff, and management and coaching staff.乌鸦传媒�

The Canadian men乌鸦传媒檚 team continues the Olympic competition this Saturday with a game against the Czech Republic, then will battle the host Koreans on Sunday.

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