Chris McPhail

Club career

McPhail showed promise as a youngster winning MVP on several occasions with the Canberra Phoenix. McPhail started playing for the Canberra Knights in 2008 and won rookie of the year. In 2009, Chris was selected as team MVP at the National U18 Championships for IHACT after scoring two goals in four games. McPhail was a prominent member of the Knights squad between 2010 and 2012, playing on the first line before the Knights wound up in 2014 when owner John Raut handed back his AIHL licence.

Chris signed with the CBR Brave in March 2014 once the new Canberra team was announced. Chris was one of the first to sign on with the new club.

12 April 2014, McPhail made his CBR Brave debut in the Brave's inaugural AIHL match against the Newcastle North Stars at the Phillip Ice Centre, Canberra.The Brave would go on to lose the match 2-0 in front of 800 people.

26 April 2014, Chris scored his first two goals for the CBR Brave including the second goal in the franchise’s history as Chris helped the Brave to their inaugural AIHL victory, winning 6-2 with a third period demolition over the Sydney Ice Dogs at home in front of a sold out crowd.

Chris had a stellar debut season with the Brave in 2014 that culminated in Chris through four goals and three assists for a combined seven points assisting the team finish third in the regular season and reach the AIHL Finals for a shot at the Goodall Cup, the first time a Canberra team has achieved this since 1998. Chris played in his first finals game in the semi-final match against the Melbourne Ice but the Brave lost the match 1-6.

International career

Chris first represented Australia at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships. Australia were participating in Division III Group A that was held in Taipei, Taiwan between 27 February - 5 March 2009. McPhail played in all four of Australia's matches against New Zealand, Taiwan, South Africa and Mongolia. Chris scored on the power play in Australia's 16-1 victory over South Africa in their second match of the Championships. Australia went on to top the table and get promoted to Division II for 2010 edition of the tournament.

McPhail continued his international career with the Australia U20's teams that contested the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division III that took place in Istanbul, Turkey and 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships - Division II that took place in Miercurea-Ciuc, Romania.

In the 2010 tournament Chris contributed one assist in the four games he played as Australia secured promotion to division II for the 2011 Championship after defeating Bulgaria and New Zealand in group A to progress to the qualification play-offs. There we beat North Korea to ensure the qualification to division II and set up a Final with Iceland. In the Final Chris assisted the team in winning the gold medal with a 3-1 victory over Iceland.

In 2011 Chris and co were pitted in Division II Group B up against Poland, Hungary, South Korea, Romania and China. Chris again played in all Australia's games this tournament however Australia struggled against tougher opposition and narrowly avoided relegation back to division III thanks to a solitary victory over China in the second match. McPhail contributed 3 assists in the 5 matches as Australia finished fifth out of the six teams in the ladder.

Personal

McPhail's hockey idol is Marc-Andre Bergeron. As of 2012, McPhail has been rumored to be dating local Sydney celebrity Maude Garrett, however both parties have denied any meetings ever occurring and McPhail claims to be faithful to his mum. Chris attended Daramalan College until 2009. His most proud moment was performing a traditional Canadian Sun dance before the 2010 Winter Olympics grand final hockey match in his native Vancouver. He was praised for his fluid and provocative movement, and pioneering of new subgenres of the dance.

Career statistics