Matthew Phillips returns to Victoria

Former Victoria Royals captain Matthew Phillips returned to action in Victoria Monday night to the delight of the local fans.

Wearing number 41 for the Calgary Flames, the Victoria fan favourite was welcomed by a capacity crowd of 7,006 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre as the Vancouver Canucks took on the Flames in NHL exhibition action.

Phillips all smiles postgame

While a large majority of the crowd was there to see the pros on local ice, judging by the reception Phillips received throughout the evening, many of the fans were also there to see the former junior star. When the Calgary native was announced in the starting lineup, the crowd gave a thunderous ovation.

“I’ve heard this arena pretty loud and that was up there,” said Phillips of the crowd’s reaction. “So, it was pretty sweet.”

Included in the evening was a video montage of Phillips as a Royal, a tribute to everything he did on and off the ice for the team.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Phillips postgame.  “That was really cool. The montage they put together was is really special. Victoria is such a classy organization and there are so many good people here.”

“It was pretty cool to watch. I was probably grinning ear to ear watching it, as it brought back a lot of memories. I’ve changed a lot since I first came here and but at the same time, a lot of things don’t change. It was nice to be in that moment.”

The 21-year-old forward admitted some nerves coming back to Victoria. “It was pretty hard to focus. Getting off the plane and driving to the arena was a little difficult to be dialed in for the game.”

Those nerves seemed to be put aside quickly as Phillips set up former Kelowna Rocket Dillon Dube at 5:11 on the first period for the game’s opening goal.

It was the second time the two former WHL players connected on a goal as Phillips scored the game-winning goal, with an assist to Dube, in overtime in Red Deer during the Rookie Showcase.

“I felt good,” Phillips said of his exhibition showing. “I think I moved my feet really well. And yeah, the assist was good. I think I had a lot of good looks. Sometimes they go and sometimes they don’t. But I feel I created a lot out there.”

Now in his second training camp with the Flames, Phillips will continue to push to make the team as a regular player.

“I’m a lot more comfortable this year after playing a year of pro. I am more used to the speed of the game and more confident in myself. And that’s a big thing when you go to these camps and have confidence.”