The 21 year old Beverly born blueliner, who spent last season in Belfast and had planned on returning there this season, was invited to the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp by former Basingstoke Bison General Manager, and Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations, Mark Bernard.
At tche amp, Phillips pit his talents against the Blackhawks top prospects, players such as Kyle Beach, the Blackhawks 2008 1st Draft Pick in 2008, as well as controversial character Akim Aliu, and in the end he impressed enough to earn a contract with the Ice Hogs, the Blackhawks AHL affiliate.
Phillips (far left) at the Blackhawks prospect training campAlthough Phillips did not earn himself a full NHL contract with Chicago, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the camps five scrimmages became enough to warrant a two-way contract offer from Rockford and their ECHL feeder club, Gwinnett Gladiators.
Phillips was delighted to accept the offer, in a huge move for his career, he told belfastgiants.com:
"I'm really excited about this and I think it is a great opportunity. I never even dreamed of ever getting to skate with prospects from an NHL team in front of their scouts and management and now I’ll have the chance to play week in, week out with them. ”The Brit's contract with the Belfast Giants has now been mutually terminated by Phillips and GM Todd Kelman, and he will move on to Rockford training camp later in the year before a decision is made about where his North American career will begin.
Photo courtesy: http://www.photographybybrad.com/photographybybrad/Gallery/Galleries/09070901/
