Homecoming for Hurricanes prospect camp was ‘a dream come true’ for Devin Phillips
Born and raised in Raleigh, Devin Phillips grew up watching the Hurricanes. Forward Josef Vasicek was his favorite Carolina player and made him love the game with the way he skated and presented himself off the ice.
For 21-year-old Phillips, the opportunity to skate as part of the Canes’ prospect development camp this week at Invisalign Arena was special.
“It meant the world to me,” the Holy Cross commit said. “I’ve been cheering for this team since I’ve been born so it’s definitely an honor.
“It’s obviously hard being out here, but it’s great having my family out here watching me, supporting me. Growing up here, it’s been awesome. It’s a dream come true to get this opportunity.”
Phillips, a 5-foot-9 forward and one of 21 prospects who took part in this week’s camp, aims to improve his foot speed. He plans to take the knowledge gained throughout the week, and from those at the camp, with him to college.
The camp brought Phillips, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Tuesday, back to Raleigh after a few years away. In 2019, he left his hometown to play for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and take the next step in his development. Phillips excelled this past season for the Bandits, finishing fourth in the league in scoring (91 points).
Hurricanes player development coach Peter Harrold said it was great to have Phillips, a former Carolina Junior Hurricanes player, among the prospects at camp.
“If we can have homegrown talent, that’s the biggest thing,” Phillips said. “... It’s great to have him out there, hopefully some of the younger players saw it and they keep working.”
Relying on FaceTime to see each other throughout much of the COVID-19 pandemic, the return home also provided Phillips’ parents with an opportunity to see their son, who started playing hockey at age 5, in action.
“The toughest year was during COVID because he was up there for nine months,” Phillips’ father, Drew, said. “He wasn’t able to come home for the holidays — he had to stay.”
While the Canes’ prospect development camp gave Phillips the chance to celebrate his birthday with his family, it wasn’t exactly a normal 21st birthday celebration.
“We did go to dinner that night after he got back, but he was quite tired and at about 9:30 he was in bed,” Drew Phillips said. “So you know, he didn’t get that 21st birthday drink. Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, which was their first drink?’ The kid drank water and went to bed. I guess you could say he was drunk on hockey?”
This story was originally published July 15, 2022 at 5:10 AM.