Phillips Does Well At Blackhawks Camp

From: Post-Tribune.com
by Len Ziehm

"I think that everyone at camp is very talented and there are quite a few players that have a lot of skill. Kyle Beach, real good player; Akim Aliu, very skilled; Brandon Pirri, very skilled player and tough to play against; and Bill Sweatt [CC player], very very fast -- one of the fastest players I’ve played against. And there were a lot of college players that really impressed me. Mark Arcobello is very talented, and like I said, everyone here has a lot of skill. It’s tough to play against these guys."
-Paul Phillips at the Chicago Blackhawks Development Camp

CHICAGO -- Homegrown players have been a rarity for the Blackhawks. Eddie Olczyk, now the team's TV analyst, played in 322 games with the club from 1984-2000 and Craig Anderson, now a goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche, was on the roster off and on from 2002-06.

Next of this rare breed could be incoming DU Freshman Paul Phillips, a defenseman from Darien, Ill., who completed his first prospects camp with the Hawks on Friday. He was their seventh choice (195th overall) in last month's NHL draft.

The Hawks drafted only two defensemen this year, first-rounder Dylan Olsen and Phillips, and Phillips held his own during the five-day camp. General manager Dale Tallon was impressed.

"He's maintenance free. He makes no mistakes," said Tallon. "I love our young defensemen. They're very good, very mobile, and they can skate."

Phillips played for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the U.S. Hockey League last season and will attend the University of Denver in the fall. This week's first prospects camp won't likely be the last for him.

"It's something to put on the Blackhawk jersey. This was truly a remarkable scene," Phillips said.

Phillips grew up a Hawks' fan and saw some playoff games this season after his season ended in Cedar Rapids.

"Getting drafted by a great organization, an Original Six team.....it can't get any better than that," said Phillips. "(The Hawks) had a few tough years, but you stay a Blackhawk fan at heart when you grow up in Chicago. It was good to see the fans (at Johnny's Ice House). It shows what a backbone the Hawks are for this city."

Phillips knows he's got some work to do if he's going to make it to the NHL. The prospects' camp showed him that.

"You've got to be strong, physically and mentally, to play at such a high level," he said. "The whole pace of the game was so fast. You've got to be on your toes at all times."

That was especially true for Friday's last day of scrimmages.

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