Sam Phillips Sr. • Defense Red Wing, MN He said it	You know, ever since the first time I stepped on the ice here at Saint Mary’s, I knew it was going to be hard to say good-bye. I guess that is why I have been putting off writing my fair well for so long. Because to me it isn’t just that I am saying good-bye to hockey instead it is like I am losing a part of me. This part of me is made up of good times, great friends, some pain, some tears, and a whole lot of laughter. After playing hockey these past 20 years, it has become more than just a game to me, it has become almost a religion or a way of life. I remember starting out as a little three-year-old back in Red Wing, Minn., when the only reason that I wanted to play was to be like my older brother who was like a God to me. It seemed like every time I would watch him play I would think, “Man, if I can only be as good as him one day.” Now, I find myself still playing long after my brother has hung up the skates and I wonder if my little brother looks up to me and thinks the same things that I did at his age. Now hockey is more than just a way for me to be like my older brother. It is a reason to get out of bed in the morning on those days that nothing seems to be going my way. Because I know that everything will be all right as soon as I get to the rink. It is an escape from reality that my 25 best friends and I have created for ourselves. It is almost like a dream when I get to the rink everyday. But like all good things, they must come to an end and, unfortunately, this dream is winding down. But before that happens, I have to thank some people that have helped my dream come true. First off, I have to thank God, because He is the one who has blessed me with this opportunity to play the game that I love for as long as I have. Dad, I would like to thank you for giving me that competitiveness to make me the player that I am today. You have always showed me that second-best is never something I should settle for. Mom, what can I say? You are my backbone and my strength. You are always there to pick me up when I am down and keep my head from exploding when I get to full of myself. I would also like to thank all of my seven brothers and sisters and my step-parents for supporting my career. Not to single any of you out, but I must say that Nick, you have had a greater impact on my hockey career then you will ever know, all the way back to when you used to force your older friends to let me play with you guys, all the way up until you boldly walked into Coach O’s office and told him that you had a little brother that was interested in coming to play here. I would also like to thank the entire coaching staff here at Saint Mary’s. Coach “O,” you have been like a father to me and have taught me just as much about being a man on the ice as you have off of the ice. Coach Mannor, you are truly a great man and I am glad I had the opportunity to play for you. Donny, I hope that I am able to keep the promise that I made to you before my sophomore year and thanks for everything. Lastly, Coach “F,” thanks for always making sure I was ready to go out and play each game. I don’t know where I would be without each of you. Finally, I would like to thank the guys on the team. I couldn’t have been blessed with a better group of guys to play with. Holly, you are my boy, and Cus, I will finally admit that you are my favorite “D” partner of all time, but don’t let it go to your head. And to my fellow seniors, let’s keep this thing rolling and hold on to this dream as long as we can.