Ottawa Senators D Chris Phillips Officially Announces Retirement
By Ryan Ritchie
Ottawa Senators D Chris Phillips Officially Announces Retirement Following 19-Year NHL Career
Ottawa Senators D Chris Phillips officially announced his retirement on Thursday after a long 19-year NHL career.
Taken 1st overall back in 1996 by the Senators, Phillips managed a rare feat in today’s NHL spending his entire career with the single franchise which drafted him.
The decision comes after Ottawa Senators D Chris Phillips missed the entire 2015-16 campaign due to back problems/issues.
Chris Phillips via Official News Conference,
“Nineteen years of professional hockey takes a toll on a body.”
“I prided myself on playing through a lot of ailments but because of back problems that required surgery last spring that I could not fully recover from, I’ve made the decision along with family and doctors to retire from the game of hockey.”
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Ottawa Senators D Chris Phillips accumulated 288 points over 1179 career regular season games. He also had 15 points in 114 playoff contests.
Known as more of a stay-at-home defenseman, Phillips served an important role logging big minutes for the Sens over the past two decades.
His overall play took a dip in recent years, but he continued to play a strong leadership role both on and off the ice.
Moving forward, Chris Phillips has accepted a position within Ottawa’s front office where he will be involved in various things such as business development, community programs, and alumni relations.
A bigger role may open up somewhere down the road as Chris generates experience.
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Comments from Sens Owner Eugene Melnyk,
“Chris’ trademark leadership, determination, hard work and resilience as a hockey player gave our city and our fans the opportunity to witness an impressive 19-year journey in the National Hockey League.”
“Chris’ commitment to our team and our city places him among one of the greatest players to don a Senators uniform. He will forever hold a special place in the history of our hockey club.
“Chris, his wife Erin and their children Ben, Zoe and Niomi will always be part of our Senators family and I look forward to their ongoing involvement with our team, our community and various foundations.”
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At 38-years-old, Ottawa Senators D Chris Phillips enjoyed a very successful and lengthy career.
This unfortunately marks a sad day in Sens history losing yet another face of the franchise. With their original inception back in 1991, players such as Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Phillips became polarizing figures in the Nation’s Capital.
Good luck to Chris and his family as they move forward and start a new chapter in their lives.