Three young boys immediately recognized Chris Phillips, even though he was not in his usual No. 4 jersey but wearing a tracksuit and ball cap as he chatted with a reporter beside a rink at Sensplex Thursday morning.
After asking for an autograph, they had more pressing questions.
"How's your back?" one of them wanted to know.
"Getting better," replied Phillips.
"What was wrong with it?" wondered another.
"It was sore," said Phillips. "Take care of yourself, boys."
"Are you retiring?" asked the third lad, who couldn't have been more than seven-years-old.
"No," said Phillips, breaking into a big grin as the impromptu scrum was coming to an end.