February 11, 2014

Continuing to Deal: Stamps send Phillips to Ottawa

Stampeders.com

CFL.ca Staff

CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders have made their second trade in less than 12 hours, sending DL Justin Phillips to Ottawa in exchange for third round picks in 2014 (19th overall) and 2015.

“We tried to get Justin during the expansion draft but things did not work out then, but we`re glad to be able to acquire such a quality player now,” said Marcel Desjardins, general manager of the REDBLACKS. “Justin is an Ottawa guy and we believe he’s going to thrive in this environment.”

Phillips played seven seasons with the Stampeders and was a member of Calgary’s Grey Cup-winning team in 2008. The Wilfrid Laurier product recorded 78 defensive tackles, 78 special-teams tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 102 career regular-season games for the Red and White.

“We have great respect for Justin as a player and as a person and appreciate everything he has done for the Stampeders over the past seven years,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “We know that this trade is a good step for Justin’s football career and that playing in his hometown will also be beneficial to him on a personal level.”
 
The 28-year-old Phillips attended Sacred Heart High School in Stittsville and played youth football with the Kanata Knights of the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) and university football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Knights, helping his team win the 2005 Vanier Cup.
 
In his third and final season at Wilfrid Laurier in 2006, Phillips was named a first-team Ontario University Athletics (OUA) all-star and a second-team Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) All-Canadian.