gslhockey.com - WTM Coach, Lancer earns honor

WTM Coach, Lancer earns honor

Tuesday, June 27, 2006
By Fran Sypek

from masslive.com

When he's not playing hockey, Longmeadow's Brian Phillips is either coaching or officiating the sport.

Foremost in Phillips' teaching of the game to young players is sportsmanship. Phillips instructs the kids to respect their opponents and the officials, just as he was taught by his coaches.

So it was hardly a surprise when last month Phillips was announced as the recipient of the 2006 Massachusetts High School Hockey Sportsmanship Award.

"It means a lot to me to get an award like this," said Phillips, who graduated from Longmeadow High School earlier this month. "I owe it all to the kids I've been coaching - they're the ones who taught me how to have sportsmanship and at their age still have fun."

Phillips coaches Squirt A hockey.

"For them, the game is about having fun," said Phillips, who has coached the kids for the past two years.

Phillips received his award at the Massachusetts Hockey annual meeting earlier this month. His name will appear in the 2006-07 annual guide.

In his application, Phillips wrote "any good sportsmanship qualities that I may have were taught to me over the years by the many great coaches I was fortunate to have as positive role models who always led by example. They instilled in me that winning is not everything and that no matter what the outcome you must always hold your head up high and conduct yourself as a gentleman."

That's the message Phillips delivers to his squirt hockey players. Learn the right way how to conduct yourself on the ice and you'll become a more well-rounded player.

Jim Fortsch, Mark Dorsey, Brian Foley and Jim Joyce are some of the coaches who have guided Phillips during his hockey career.

"When I was little, my coaches made the practices fun," Phillips said. "I enjoy hockey and coaching the little kids is fun."

Phillips capped his high school career by helping Longmeadow High School to its first Division III state high school hockey championship in March. He played right wing for the Lancers.

"It was unbelievable," Phillips said of the state title. "It meant a lot to our team."

The year before, the Lancers won the Western Massachusetts championship.

Phillips will attend The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., in the fall.

"I'd like to play college hockey," Phillips said.

Even though he's an official himself, Phillips won't shy away from voicing his opinion on a questionable call.

"We're all friends and they know me," he said.

They know Phillips plays the game the right way. That's the only way he knows how to play thanks to being taught from the start, and now he's passing that along to a new generation of players.