:Jonathan Phillips (ice hockey)
{{Short description|Welsh ice hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Jonathan Phillips
| image =
| image_size = 230px
| position = Forward
| shoots = Right
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 181
| team = Sheffield Steeldogs
| league = NIHL
| played_for = Sheffield Steelers
Cardiff Devils
EHF Passau Black Hawks
| ntl_team = GBR
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1982|7|14}}
| birth_place = Cardiff, Wales
| draft =
| draft_year =
| draft_team =
| career_start = 1998
| career_end =
}}
Jonathan Phillips (born 14 July 1982) is a Welsh professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Sheffield Steeldogs of the NIHL
He captained the Sheffield Steelers from 2007-2013 and 2014-2023.
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/2016/10/31/phillips-gb-future-in-safe-hands/|title=Phillips: GB future in safe hands|publisher=Ice Hockey UK|date=31 October 2016|accessdate=25 August 2017|archive-date=25 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825104912/https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/2016/10/31/phillips-gb-future-in-safe-hands/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/100-caps-for-jonathan-phillips-and-debut-cap-for-sam-jones/|title=100 caps for Jonathan Phillips and debut cap for Sam Jones|accessdate=2 June 2021}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/jonathan-phillips-set-to-become-most-capped-player-in-gb-history/ | title=Jonathan Phillips Set to Become Most-Capped Player in Gb History – Ihuk | access-date=23 May 2022 | archive-date=5 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405022456/https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/jonathan-phillips-set-to-become-most-capped-player-in-gb-history/ | url-status=dead }}
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.{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Terry |title=Welsh Winger And Former Devil 'Jonna' Celebrates 1,000 Match Landmark – In Steelers' Colours |url=http://www.dai-sport.com/49900-2/ |website=dai-sport.com |accessdate=29 March 2020 |date=25 October 2019}} He spent three seasons with the Devils in the Elite Ice Hockey League before joining the Sheffield Steelers under coach Dave Matsos.{{cite web |author1=Craig Anderson |title=Millennium man Phillips hits massive milestone |url=https://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/post/millennium-man-phillips-hits-massive-milestone/ |website=britishicehockey.co.uk |accessdate=29 March 2020 |date=25 October 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=Jonathan Phillips to set new Elite League record |url=https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/213-jonathan-phillips-to-set-new-elite-league-record |website=eliteleague.co.uk |accessdate=29 March 2020 |date=23 October 2019}} During his first three seasons, Phillips led the team to two Playoff Championships and League title.{{cite web |title=Captain Jono To Lead the Steelers Once Again. |url=https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/news/detail.php?id=6639 |website=eliteleague.co.uk |accessdate=29 March 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505120645/https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/news/detail.php?id=6639 |archivedate=5 May 2009 |date=28 April 2009}} In September 2011, Phillips underwent surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments.{{cite web |title=Steelers Captain Jono Undergoes Surgery |url=http://www.chesterfieldpost.co.uk/sport/steelers/steelers_articles/sports_steelers_0000005.html |website=chesterfieldpost.co.uk |accessdate=29 March 2020 |date=20 September 2011}}
During the 2013–14 season, Phillips lost his captaincy to Stephen Goertzen but it was returned the following season.{{cite web |title=Captain Phillips – A Testimonial Year for the Most Successful Captain in the Clubs History. |url=https://sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/captain-phillips-a-testimonial-year-for-the-most-successful-captain-in-the-clubs-history/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528100404/https://sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/captain-phillips-a-testimonial-year-for-the-most-successful-captain-in-the-clubs-history/ |archive-date=28 May 2023 |accessdate=29 March 2020 |website=sheffieldsteelers.co.uk}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4830-sheffield-steelers-win-play-off-title-and-make-history.html|first=Robert|last=Newbolt|title=Sheffield Steelers win play off title and make history|publisher=European Ice Hockey|date=10 April 2017|accessdate=26 August 2017}} After re-signing with the team,{{cite web |title=STEELERS RE-SIGN CAPTAIN PHILLIPS |url=http://www.pointstreaksites.com/view/eliteicehockey/latest-news/news_503185 |website=pointstreaksites.com |accessdate=29 March 2020 |date=8 May 2018}} he set another milestone by becoming the first EIHL player to reach 1000 games played.{{cite web |title=No sign of Sheffield Steelers' Jonathan Phillips slowing down after EIHL milestone |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/no-sign-sheffield-steelers-jonathan-phillips-slowing-down-after-eihl-milestone-1748424 |work=The Yorkshire Post |accessdate=29 March 2020 |date=28 October 2019}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/jonathan-phillips-back-for-a-15th-season/|title=Jonathan Phillips Back for a 15th Season|accessdate=4 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/927-eihl-board-suspend-2020-21-season|title=EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season|website=EIHL|date=21 August 2019 |accessdate=4 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://blackhawks-passau.de/aktuelle-news/signed-black-hawks-verpflichten-jonathan-phillips-und-anthony-deluca |title=Signed! Black Hawks verpflichten Jonathan Phillips und Anthony DeLuca |language=de |date=4 November 2020 |access-date=9 April 2023}}
In February 2021, Phillips returned to the UK to sign for NIHL side Sheffield Steeldogs ahead of their Spring Cup series.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/190288554339778/posts/3690051181030147/ |title=Steeldogs roster for the Spring Cup|website=Facebook|accessdate=8 February 2021}} 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.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/ice-hockey/64743563 | title=Jonathan Phillips: Great Britain & Sheffield Steelers legend to retire| work=BBC Sport| date=23 February 2023}} 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.{{Cite web | url=https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/game/4008-she-not | title= Sheffield Steelers 7-4 Nottingham Panthers, 16 April 2023}}
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.{{Cite web | url=https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/thank-you-jono-a-great-britain-legend/ | title=Thank you Jono - a Great Britain legend| date=4 May 2023}} GB won 5-3 to win promotion back to the top tier of the IIHF World Championship.{{Cite web | url=https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/gb-win-gold-and-promotion-on-dramatic-in-nottingham/ | title=GB win gold and promotion on dramatic night in Nottingham| date=5 May 2023}}
He would sign with the Sheffield Steeldogs for the 2023-24 season.{{Cite web |title=Roster Round Up – Sheffield Steeldogs |url=https://www.steeldogs.co.uk/roster-round-up/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en-GB}} Later in the season Jonathan would return to the Steelers for a weekend. The Steelers won both games 3-0 (Manchester) 6-3 (Coventry).{{Cite web |title=Steelers Ask and Jonno Answers for the Steelers – Sheffield Steelers |url=https://www.sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/steelers-ask-and-jonno-answers-for-the-steelers/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Tansey's Steelers 3-0 Victors Over the Storm – Sheffield Steelers |url=https://www.sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/tanseys-steelers-3-0-victors-over-the-storm/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Tansey Brace Helps Steelers to Victory – Sheffield Steelers |url=https://www.sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/steelers-win-6-3-2/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en-GB}}
In April 2025, Phillips was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.https://www.sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/welsh-honour-for-former-steelers-captain-jonathan-phillips/
Personal life
Phillips met his wife Kirsty in 2000 and they married in 2012.{{cite news |title=What is it like being the wife of a Sheffield Steeler? |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/what-it-being-wife-sheffield-steeler-444959 |accessdate=29 March 2020 |work=The Star |date=8 March 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Jonathan}}
Category:Welsh ice hockey forwards
Category:Sheffield Steelers players
Category:Cardiff Devils players
Category:EHF Passau Black Hawks players
Category:British expatriate ice hockey people
Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Germany