The Inferno Interview - Phil Hill

27th Jan 2012 | Posted by The Inferno

Our latest interview is with the Caveman himself, Phil Hill. Part of that BNL squad, Phil has risen through the Devils junior ranks with fellow GB stars Jonathan Philips and Matt Myers. Maybe due to his loyalty to his home town team (we'll ignore that brief dalliance with Steelers) Phil hadn't received the plaudits his classmates have received, he has found his stride in recent seasons. Now getting a regular shift on Devils top lines, Phil's power forward style has cemented him as an Elite Brit and gained him a much deserved regular GB slot.

We talk to Phil on his career, his move to Sheffield, his future plans and his conditioning camps he's about to begin in the off season.

The Inferno (IF) - What got you started playing hockey in the first place? What age did you start? Have you always played as a forward?

Phil Hill (PH)- Probably started playing around 9/10 years old, my brothers would play street hockey in the park with their mates, and i kind of tagged along even though they were all 7/8 years older than me, they let me play and id stay over there all day until it got too dark. They would arrange games against other groups of kids in fairwater and canton, and we would skate to wherever we were playing. That kind of led into us going skating and then watching the devils and then me joining the juniors. I’ve always played forward apart from a few years early on in juniors when we were struggling for d men, so i went back.

IF - In all your years playing, what’s your favourite memory?

PH - It’s tough to single out a memory, obviously my first game for Great Britain stands out, it’s just an amazing experience playing in those tournaments, from the standard of hockey, to the way you are treated, to the level of professionalism of the programme. Through juniors we won national championships, at most age groups and that was an amazing time, we had a great group of players (Jonathan Phillips, Matthew Myers, Gregg Rockman etc) and it was the first experience of seeing what it took and felt like to win championships. For the devils, the challenge cup win, just because of the atmosphere that night and the way it was won, don’t think anyone who was there will ever forget that night!! You also look back at wins when we were skating short, and pulled off wins with guys giving everything they had, or incidents in practice or in the room or on the bus which happen most days and make playing hockey the best job possible.

IF - If you had to pick one part of your game you would improve, what would it be and why?

PH - My start off speed, you look at guys like max, Piercy and before that Tyson and Tylor, and you kind of wish you focused more on that when you were younger, having that explosive ability to beat guys from a standing start like those guys is something most players would like.

IF - What’s been your best moment playing hockey so far?

PH - It would probably be the last world championships in Kiev, There were so many memories crammed into such a short space, beating Ukraine in front of their home crowd, scoring with a few minutes left against Poland to win our last game, then sitting in a sold out arena with the team watching Ukraine - Kazakhstan knowing a Ukraine win would see us win gold. Despite coming back with silver it was an amazing time with a great group of people, in a great city.

IF - Who is the best forward you’ve played on a line with and who’s been that one guy you’ve had a nightmare playing against?

PH - I enjoy playing with Stu, he sees the ice really well and has great patience on the puck, you rarely see him make a bad play, and it’s just a case of trying to get open for him. The same with Scott, before the injuries hit we were on a line, and you learn to appreciate how good he is at both ends of the ice, everyone is aware of ability going forward, but playing on a line with him you are rarely scored on.

Toughest opponent would probably be Jody Lehman, he was such a competitor, and the bigger the game the more he thrived on it, he was a great goalie in this league, and in Sheffield you learnt why he was so respected.

IF - Your season in Sheffield.. Something you'd like to forget or a good move at the time?

PH - I always wanted to go and try and prove myself at another team, i was aware that staying in Cardiff i might have become comfortable, and at that stage of my career i needed to experience the pressure of going away and focusing on hockey, and having to prove myself to fans and teammates who had never seen me.

It was more of a timing thing regarding why it came about, it was the year the WNIR closed and there were strong rumours that the new rink would not be ready and they would be travelling to train etc, and i just figured it was a good time to take the step and focus on working hard at my game for a year.

IF - "You were part of the Challenge Cup winning team in 2005/2006, the next season with Bob Phillips purchase of Sheffield Steelers you moved to the Steelers roster. The next season you were back. How did that move come about and can we expect to have you staying in Cardiff for the foreseeable future?"

PH - Sheffield was a good move for me, and i think it definitely helped my career , I learnt a lot in a short time, and met some great people. From a hockey perspective they have a great set up, with the arena and ice Sheffield, and a great gym, as a player you can have no complaints.

IF - We've been hit by injuries this season and with players missing for other reasons, how do the changes in a line affect you? Do you just get on with it or can changing one player affect how the line and you play?

PH - It has been tough this year in trying to find settled lines, and we’ve lost some huge players for this team. If you are looking for a positive it is that we still have Stu and Scott up the middle, and benny and dobs who can both play centre too. I’ve played with Scott and stu this year, and both are going to make you a better player when you are on their line.

IF - You’ve got a day off, what are you doing? What’s the ideal day outside of “work”?

PH - Usually sleep in a bit, get to the gym in the morning for an hour, the rest of the day ill usually go for food with my girlfriend and go and see the family and their kids, then just watch some TV in the night or meet up with the guys.

IF - Are you one for superstitions and rituals pre-game? If you are would you comfortable telling us what they might be?

PH - Have a few superstitions the rest are probably more just habit. Leave my stick a certain way before games, do the same warm up before we go on the ice and a few others.

IF - Where do you think the British leagues focus their future development plans? Do you have any thoughts on Import levels? What should GB hockey do to improve?

PH - Not sure if i have the answers, i think the import levels are about right, maybe drop one or two, but i think as a British player it should be tough to break into the top league, some people say drop the import levels to 4-6 but the product would drop off, you would have British guys just sat on the bench as an unused 3rd line. In terms of developing British players teams have come a long way, you look at most teams now, British players are spread throughout the line-up, that never used to be the case.

The main issue i think is the structure of the league at the top, as a sport we struggle to gain the sponsors and coverage needed to make the sport nationally recognised. You look at the job Todd Kelman has done in Belfast and the way he sees the sport and you can’t help but think if he was running the league it would be in a far better place.

As for G.B. its simply funding, the job Andy Buxton and Paul Thompson did for that programme, made the players realise what an honour it was to be a part of it. They had to fight for every last inch in regards to preparation, clothing, off ice staff etc. You then get to the world championships and realise that the south Korean team have been in Germany for a month on a camp, and it kind of puts into perspective the difficulties facing the coaches in trying to compete at this level.

IF - Where do you see hockey taking you? When you hang up your skates is coaching something you’d consider or do you have ambitions in mind for after hockey outside of the sports?

PH - I would like to coach the juniors at some point, I’ve helped out for a few years, and seen the great work the coaches do down there, and it’s pretty amazing seeing how much these kids improve on a weekly/monthly basis. As for outside of hockey, moving to the states is something im pretty focused on, so that will probably happen sometime after I stop.

IF - We understand that you are working towards qualifying as a personal trainer? How's that going? Also we've heard about a Hockey Conditioning Camp you’re going to be running in the off season? Any more information on this?

PH - I’m enjoying it, I’ve always enjoyed working hard off the ice to try and improve as a player, and this has just helped with my understanding and given me something to focus on away from the rink. The camp was something Kenton spoke to me about, and having coached the demons and knowing a few of the other adult teams in Cardiff, i thought it would be a good idea to offer a camp for these guys where we can work on specifics with them and try and give them an approach they won’t have had before. We have set up a Elevation hockey conditioning page/group on Facebook, and we are posting our information through there. ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/255651381175541/?ref=ts )

IF - Do you follow an NHL team?

PH - Pittsburgh.

IF - Cardiff are producing some good youngsters who are now starting to make the step up from ENL to EIHL. As a British player yourself, what sort of advice can/do you pass onto those who are making a big step up?

PH - Just to be a sponge for advice and coaching, you are not always going to agree with everything you are told, but it all helps build experience and an understanding of the game. Also to stay level headed, you are going to get spells where you don’t see the ice for 15-20 games, and you’ll have spells where you score and fans heap praise on you, and its coming through this as the same person.

IF- Anything else you would like to add?
PH - Thank for the support and the chants!!

We’d like to thank Phil for taking time out to speak to us, if you’d like to find out more about Phil’s Conditioning Camp you can find out here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/255651381175541/?ref=ts