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Rod Phillips
Rod Phillips
Born (1941-09-09)September 9, 1941
Calmar, Alberta
Nationality Canadian
Occupation radio broadcaster
Spouse(s) Debbie[1]
Children 2 (Quinn, Devan)[1]
Relatives Chris Phillips (nephew)

Rod Phillips (born September 9, 1941[1]) is a radio broadcaster for 630 CHED in Edmonton, Alberta. Phillips is best known as the play-by-play man of the World Hockey Association and National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers since 1973, succeeding longtime Edmonton Eskimos broadcaster Bryan Hall despite having no experience in the field. He is most famous for his loud, long scream of "scoooooooooores!!!!!", considered a classic for Oilers fans. Many fans attending games are known to bring radio sets with them to listen to his broadcasts and many people watching games on television will listen to his play-by-play commentary instead of the television's. In 2003, Phillips received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Prior to being a hockey broadcaster, Phillips hosted Edmonton's first-ever late-night television show in 1967.

Rod Phillips is the uncle of Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips.[2]

Phillips announced his retirement on May 28, 2010. Although retired, he will broadcast 10 more games of the 2010-2011 season, referred to as a "farewell tour", dubbed "Rod's Classics".[1]

On-air durability[]

Well known for his on-air durability, Phillips once even tried to call a game while suffering a bleeding nose so bad that it blurred his vision and was known to call games even while sick with severe colds. Phillips had only missed 9 periods of Oilers hockey - two full games missed due to illness and three first periods missed after participating in on-ice ceremonies - until November 2008, when he missed a 7 game road trip only after being banned from flying by his doctors due to an ear infection. At the time, Phillips said that felt that he was 'letting people down.' Bob Stauffer, the regular color commentator, filled in for him on during the road trip, an admirable performance which led many to speculate Stauffer would be Phillips' eventual replacement. Upon Phillips' retirement, Jack Michaels was named as his replacement.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rod Phillips retires & Oilers announce 'Rod's Classics'. Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved on 2010-05-28.
  2. Bring Stanley home. Western Standard. Retrieved on 2009-01-15.
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