By Jeff D'Andrea

Chris Phillips returns to Prince Albert for Wall of Honour induction

Mar 3, 2018 | 2:42 PM

Chris Phillips last played a game for the Prince Albert Raiders halfway through the 1996-97 season. But now that he’s returned to P.A. to be inducted into the Raiders’ Wall of Honour, it feels a lot more recent than that.

“It felt pretty cool walking back in here,” Phillips said while being interviewed in the Raiders’ dressing room. “In some respects, it kinda felt like yesterday.

“I drove around a little bit around town yesterday. A lot of things have changed or I didn’t remember but a few things I remembered as well. Had a few flashbacks when we were driving around.”

Before the Raiders take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday at 7 p.m., Phillips will join the wall as a player. In the builder category, the Raiders will induct Roger Mayert to the wall. Voice of the Raiders Trevor Redden caught up with Mayert here in his latest column. 

“I’m really excited about it. When I got the call that they were going to recognize me with that, I was very honoured,” Phillips said. “I loved my time playing here for the Raiders in Prince Albert. It was a great experience, obviously it was a stepping stone for what turned out to be a long NHL career.”

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“When I came in, there was some great history and a great group of guys that welcomed me in. The city itself making me feel comfortable. For the young guys that are leaving home, it’s a brand new experience in a new city without your family—that’s what you lean on.”

Phillips played two years of major junior hockey and played on two separate teams, the Raiders and Hurricanes. But once he got to the NHL, Phillips stuck with the team that drafted him first overall in the Ottawa Senators from 1997 until he retired in 2006.

“It was a great place to play hockey,” Phillips said. “We had some great teams there, obviously success and everything is good when you’re winning. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring a Stanley Cup but did go to the finals. I married my wife [Erin], a local girl from Ottawa and we have kids of our own. It couldn’t be a better place to raise a family.”

Phillips played 93 games with the Raiders from 1995-1997 before getting traded at the halfway point of the season to the Hurricanes. The ‘Canes went on to get to the Memorial Cup finals that year, but ended finishing in second behind the Hull Olympiques, a team coached by Claude Julien.

So where do Phillips’ loyalties lie?

“Green and Gold tonight for sure,” Phillips said.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW