Senators’ Chris Phillips announces retirement from hockey
Posted May 26, 2016 06:42:54 AM.
Last Updated May 26, 2016 04:16:20 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — Senators defenceman Chris Phillips announced his retirement from hockey at a news conference at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.
The Senators selected Phillips first overall at the 1996 NHL draft. Phillips has played his entire NHL career with the Sens — something that rarely happens.
“For the Senators, (only) three players really stand out with that type of stature: Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Phillips and Chris Neil,” said Randall Moore of our rock station, CHEZ 106.
Phillips has 71 goals and 217 assists in 1,179 games with Ottawa. However, he missed this entire season and hasn’t played a game since January of 2015 because of a back injury.
“You can’t play hockey with a bad back,” said Moore. “(Phillips) has slowed down, the last few years, and they have a lot of young guys coming up who deserve the ice time.”
Moore says there’s no question fans would miss seeing Phillips on the ice, if he does decide to hang up the skates.
Phillips was joined by general manager Pierre Dorion, senior hockey advisor Bryan Murray as well as Chris Neil, Kyle Turris and former teammate Mike Fisher.
with files from Sportsnet
