Jonathan Phillips (ice hockey)

Jonathan Phillips (born 14 July 1982) is a retired Welsh ice hockey forward who last played for and captained the Sheffield Steelers in the EIHL.

Jonathan Phillips
Born (1982-07-14) 14 July 1982
Cardiff, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Right
Played for Sheffield Steelers
Cardiff Devils
EHF Passau Black Hawks
Sheffield Steeldogs
National team  Great Britain
Playing career 1998–2023

Phillips also captained the Great Britain men's national ice hockey team from 2012–2023 and passed 100 senior caps at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.[1][2]

In May 2022, Phillips passed Ashley Tait for the most senior Great Britain ice hockey caps with 111, achieving the feat at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.[3]

Career

Phillips played both football and ice hockey growing up, however by the age of 11 he fully committed to ice hockey. He caught the attention of Cardiff Devils's coach Paul Heavey while playing for Great Britain's Under 18 and Under 20 International team, and was named to his squad for 1999-00 season.[4] He spent three seasons with the Devils in the Elite Ice Hockey League before joining the Sheffield Steelers under coach Dave Matsos.[5] In his first season with the Steelers, he was named an alternate captain before being promoted to captain midway through the season after Shawn Maltby was injured.[6] During his first three seasons, Phillips led the team to two Playoff Championships and League title.[7] In September 2011, Phillips underwent surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments.[8]

During the 2013–14 season, Phillips lost his captaincy to Stephen Goertzen but it was returned the following season.[9] In April 2017, Phillips helped lead the Steelers to two milestones. He became the most-capped Sheffield Steelers player in history and also helped the team become the second in UK history to record ten playoff wins.[10] After re-signing with the team,[11] he set another milestone by becoming the first EIHL player to reach 1000 games played.[12]

Phillips initially agreed to re-sign with the Sheffield Steelers in 2020 for a 15th year, however after the 2020–21 Elite League season was suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, he moved to the German Oberliga side EHF Passau Black Hawks in November 2020.[13][14][15]

In February 2021, Phillips returned to the UK to sign for NIHL side Sheffield Steeldogs ahead of their Spring Cup series.[16] He then rejoined the Sheffield Steelers ahead of the Elite Series in April 2021.

In February 2023, Phillips announced the 2022–23 season would be his last as a professional ice hockey player.[17] He made his final Sheffield Steelers appearance on 16 April 2023, a 7-4 victory over the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite League third/fourth place play-off.[18]

His final professional game - and record-extending 116th senior appearance for Great Britain - was the 2023 IIHF World Championship Division I decider on home ice against Italy at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on 5 May 2023, with Phillips again as captain.[19] GB won 5-3 to win promotion back to the top tier of the IIHF World Championship.[20]

Personal life

Phillips met his wife Kirsty in 2000 and they married in 2012.[21]

References
  1. "Phillips: GB future in safe hands". Ice Hockey UK. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. "100 caps for Jonathan Phillips and debut cap for Sam Jones". Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  3. "Jonathan Phillips Set to Become Most-Capped Player in Gb History – Ihuk".
  4. Phillips, Terry (25 October 2019). "Welsh Winger And Former Devil 'Jonna' Celebrates 1,000 Match Landmark – In Steelers' Colours". dai-sport.com. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  5. Craig Anderson (25 October 2019). "Millennium man Phillips hits massive milestone". britishicehockey.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. "Jonathan Phillips to set new Elite League record". eliteleague.co.uk. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  7. "Captain Jono To Lead the Steelers Once Again". eliteleague.co.uk. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  8. "Steelers Captain Jono Undergoes Surgery". chesterfieldpost.co.uk. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  9. "Captain Phillips – A Testimonial Year for the Most Successful Captain in the Clubs History". sheffieldsteelers.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  10. Newbolt, Robert (10 April 2017). "Sheffield Steelers win play off title and make history". European Ice Hockey. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  11. "STEELERS RE-SIGN CAPTAIN PHILLIPS". pointstreaksites.com. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  12. "No sign of Sheffield Steelers' Jonathan Phillips slowing down after EIHL milestone". The Yorkshire Post. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  13. "Jonathan Phillips Back for a 15th Season". Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  14. "EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season". EIHL. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  15. "Signed! Black Hawks verpflichten Jonathan Phillips und Anthony DeLuca" (in German). 4 November 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  16. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/190288554339778/posts/3690051181030147/. Retrieved 8 February 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. "Jonathan Phillips: Great Britain & Sheffield Steelers legend to retire".
  18. "Sheffield Steelers 7-4 Nottingham Panthers, 16 April 2023".
  19. "Thank you Jono - a Great Britain legend".
  20. "GB win gold and promotion on dramatic night in Nottingham".
  21. "What is it like being the wife of a Sheffield Steeler?". The Star. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
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