(above) DU bound defenseman Paul Phillips will attend the Chicago Blackhawks player development camp this weekFrom: Chicago Tribune by Chris Kuc
Many of the 53 players attending the Blackhawks' Prospects Camp this week will have traveled long distances to be there.
For Darien native Paul Phillips, the trip is short, but his excitement level may be highest of all the prospects participating in the camp, which runs Monday through Friday at Johnny's Ice House in Chicago.
The 17-year-old defenseman, who was a seventh-round selection (195th overall) in last month's NHL entry draft, was born and still resides in the western suburb of Chicago and is a lifelong fan of his new team.
"Everyone wishes they could get drafted or play for their hometown team, and I'm one of the few people who have a chance to do it," Phillips said. "I have to take full advantage of it and work hard."
Phillips attended Hinsdale South for two years and played for junior programs the Chicago Mission and Chicago Chill during that time before spending the last two years as a member of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound Phillips had nine goals and 27 assists in 103 games in two USHL seasons. He will attend the University of Denver in the fall.
"He's a real solid defenseman and he's going to a good program at Denver," Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "He's an error-free type of player. He's a very conservative defenseman who moves the puck well and doesn't make any mistakes."
While playing for Cedar Rapids, Phillips lived with a host family and returned to Darien when the season ended. He said he went to "a ton of Hawks games when I was younger" and cites Chris Chelios, Ed Belfour and Steve Smith as his favorite players.
Starting Monday, Phillips will begin the process that he hopes will one day lead to him playing in the same arena as those players.
"The real work begins now," Phillips said. "I'm just going to get acquainted with the older kids . . . and see how I do, and then go to Denver. I want to get bigger and stronger at Denver and hope to learn the game more and take positive strides."
For Darien native Paul Phillips, the trip is short, but his excitement level may be highest of all the prospects participating in the camp, which runs Monday through Friday at Johnny's Ice House in Chicago.
The 17-year-old defenseman, who was a seventh-round selection (195th overall) in last month's NHL entry draft, was born and still resides in the western suburb of Chicago and is a lifelong fan of his new team.
"Everyone wishes they could get drafted or play for their hometown team, and I'm one of the few people who have a chance to do it," Phillips said. "I have to take full advantage of it and work hard."
Phillips attended Hinsdale South for two years and played for junior programs the Chicago Mission and Chicago Chill during that time before spending the last two years as a member of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound Phillips had nine goals and 27 assists in 103 games in two USHL seasons. He will attend the University of Denver in the fall.
"He's a real solid defenseman and he's going to a good program at Denver," Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "He's an error-free type of player. He's a very conservative defenseman who moves the puck well and doesn't make any mistakes."
While playing for Cedar Rapids, Phillips lived with a host family and returned to Darien when the season ended. He said he went to "a ton of Hawks games when I was younger" and cites Chris Chelios, Ed Belfour and Steve Smith as his favorite players.
Starting Monday, Phillips will begin the process that he hopes will one day lead to him playing in the same arena as those players.
"The real work begins now," Phillips said. "I'm just going to get acquainted with the older kids . . . and see how I do, and then go to Denver. I want to get bigger and stronger at Denver and hope to learn the game more and take positive strides."
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