A former 50-goal scorer with the Victoria Royals has made the leap to the NHL after securing a spot on the Washington Capitals.
Matthew Phillips played parts of four seasons with Victoria’s WHL team between 2014 and 2018. The winger cracked Washington’s opening night roster, which was announced on Wednesday (Oct. 11) ahead of the team’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
“It feels really good, it’s something I’ve been working all summer for and, frankly, I’ve been working my whole life for,” Phillips said while speaking to media.
The 25-year-old put up 281 points in 215 games with the Royals, highlighted by a 50-goal 2016-2017 campaign and 112 points in his final season with the club. The Calgary native was drafted by his hometown team in 2016 when the Flames took him at 166th overall.
Phillips spent last season with the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, where he scored 36 goals and 76 points. He played in three regular-season NHL games before being signed as a free agent by Washington this summer.
Phillips had three points during the preseason and scored the overtime winner against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 3.
Asked why he earned a spot on the team, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said Phillips had a phenomenal training camp, he’s able to find open areas on the ice and he’s a really smart player who can execute tight spaces.
“He’s resilient, hard-working, detailed and has a pretty impressive skill set,” Carbery told media. After Phillips was grinding in the AHL in recent years, the head coach said the 25-year-old exemplifies what the team wants to be.
"It was a shot I was pretty happy with."
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 4, 2023
Matthew Phillips speaks to the media following his game-winning overtime goal.#CapsBruins pic.twitter.com/pLS2rxzSjd
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