NEWS

Defence is one of the tougher positions for a player to play cleanly. Clearing out the front of the net, protecting their goaltender and battling in the corners are just a few responsibilities that fall on a defender’s shoulders. Oakville Blades rookie defenceman Phil Hampton (photo credit - Morley Doan) has managed to excel at doing just that this season, while not recording a single penalty minute thus far; a truly remarkable accomplishment that speaks to the level of sportsmanship that he portrays on the ice.

Phil Hampton was born on July 15, 1992 in Oakville, Ontario and has worked his way through the Oakville Minor Hockey system. His career in Oakville culminated in the Minor Midget ‘AAA’ Rangers program during the 2009-10 season. The defenceman helped lead the Rangers to a second consecutive OMHA title, defeating Ajax-Pickering 2-1 in the championship game, as well as a somewhat disappointing bronze medal at the 2010 OHF Provincial Championship. Hampton would record one assist as the Rangers downed Sault Ste. Marie 6-5 to finish in third place in the province.

The 5’11”, 182 lbs. defenceman’s play throughout his midget season would earn the notice of then-Burlington Cougars head coach Mark Jooris, who would sign him to an affiliate player card. Hampton would get the call for six games with the Cougars, recording no points and 12 penalty minutes during his first taste of junior action.

During the off-season, Jooris jumped to the nearby Oakville Blades, becoming their new head coach and Hampton would also join him for his rookie season in the OJHL. During the Woodchuck Classic in Vermont, a pre-season exhibition tournament, the rearguard played at the top of his game, with his coaches taking notice. “His hockey IQ is what sticks out as the best part of his game.” said Jooris, “He’s a good skater and he’ll be looked upon to provide some offence. He had a great tournament in Vermont and showed us that he’s going to be a big part of this team. He’s got a flair for offence and should put up some numbers.”

Hampton has done just that for the Blades thus far, recording eight points in 17 games, including four points on the power play, along with the remarkable stat of not recording a single penalty this season. His early season play earned him a try-out at the Team Canada East camp and it wasn’t long before head coach Todd Gill realized what he had on his hands, naming Hampton to the squad that is currently competing at the 2010 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Penticton, B.C.

The graduate of St. Ignatius of Loyala Catholic Secondary School now attends McMaster University and is enrolled in their Engineering program. Playing in the OJHL has allowed him to remain both NCAA and CIS eligible for any future in hockey.

This concludes the series of OJHL Features on its members of Team Canada East. For more information and updates on the World Junior 'A' Challenge or Team Canada East, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wjac.