Homegrown Talent: Raleigh Native Phillips Represents At Development Camp

RALEIGH, NC. -"I was kind of numb when I got the phone call, but I just wanted to come out here and make the best of the opportunity."
What Devin Phillips felt when receiving an official invitation to Canes Development Camp was understandable. After all, it's not every day that a kid gets the offer to showcase his talent for the NHL team he grew up rooting for.

Born and raised in Raleigh, the now 21-year-old "fell in love" with the sport after the franchise won the Stanley Cup in 2006. He grew up idolizing Josef Vašiček and enjoyed the All-Star festivities when the game came to town in 2011.
Now he's taking steps toward forging his own potential path to the NHL.
"It meant the world to me," Phillips continued when describing his emotions of receiving the invitation from the Canes. "I've been cheering for this team since I was born, so it's definitely an honor."

Having played his 16U hockey with the
Carolina Junior Canes
, the skilled forward received the chance after a third successful season with the Brooks Bandits - a Tier II junior program in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Posting 91 points in 45 games, his offensive prowess has led him to a commitment to the College of Holy Cross, where he'll play Division I NCAA this fall.
"The youth hockey scene] is definitely getting a lot better. The Hurricanes do a great job of that," Phillips offered when asked about his path to Brooks and now Worcester, Massachusetts. "Whether it's the Junior Canes, NC Force, Carolina Stars, they all just seem to keep getting better and better... I still keep in touch with most of the guys that I played Junior Canes with. It's great to come up through there and it's an unreal experience to be in this locker room and to be on this ice."
The captain of the roster Phillips will be joining at Holy Cross? Fellow Raleigh native and former Junior Canes player Nick Hale, who was invited to Canes Development Camp in 2019.
"If we can have homegrown talent, that's the biggest thing," Defenseman Development Coach Peter Harrold remarked. "We want to grow the game of hockey at-large, so it's great to have [Phillips] out there. Hopefully, some of the younger players saw it and they keep working."
After skating with the franchise's draft picks and fellow invitees for the week, the Cardinal Gibbons High School product said that despite being initially anxious about the experience, he was impressed by the character of those whom he shared the locker room with.
"When I got the call I was really nervous, but getting here and getting to meet some of the guys, seeing how down-to-earth they are, it's been a lot of fun. I want to learn from them. There's obviously a lot of talent in here."
As he attempts to improve his foot speed in the next year, his takeaway message from his time spent with the Canes coaching staff and prospects was a simple one.
"Just to be the best I can and to try and be better each day. That's what they've been preaching here and I want to follow that model."
**Worth A Click:**
[Canes Re-Sign Mattheos To One Year Deal
Canes Agree To Terms With Lagesson
Kids Gear Up For 2022 First Goal Program
Canes Weekly: Deals, Development Camp, Theme Nights & More
Montgomery Stands Out, Takes It In At Development Camp
Pacioretty Eager To Help Canes In Areas Of Need
CanesCast Episode 218: Trading Frenzy
Burns 'Energized and Excited' To Join Canes
Canes Offseason Player Tracker