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Former Stouffville Spirit defenceman Isaak Phillips has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks that runs through the 2023-24 season.

“Proud to announce I have signed my first ‪@NHLcontract with the ‪@NHLBlackhawks. I want to thank all my family, friends, billets, coaches, and everyone who has played a part in my career this far!,” the 19-year-old said on his Twitter account, @isaakphillips7, Wednesday.

The contract carries a $859,167 salary cap hit.

Drafted by the Blackhawks in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2020 National Hockey League Draft, Phillips has skated in 14 contests with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League this season, notching six points (2G, 4A). His two markers share second among IceHogs' defensemen while his six points rank fourth among Rockford blueliners.

A 6-foot-3, 194-pound blueliner, Phillips made his professional hockey debut on Feb. 13 at Iowa and notched his first professional point (1G) on Feb. 16 vs. Chicago.

A native of Barrie, Phillips played for the Spirit in the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2017-18 season. He had three goals and eight assists in 52 games.

He skated for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League during the 2019-20 season, recording 26 points (9G, 17A). His 26 points ranked second among Sudbury defensemen. Over two seasons (2018-20) with the Wolves, he tallied 40 points (12G, 28A) in 131 games.

Phillips also skated for Team Jamaica in the U20 Team Elite Prospect Tournament in 2018.

Spirit assistant general manager/head of hockey operations Thayne Hallyburton is the team’s Simcoe County connection. He’s followed Phillips career closely from his days playing minor hockey in Barrie.

“Isaak was the top player on his team when he was a peewee, but growth spurts were not kind and he sort of fell off as he got into bantam and midget,” Hallyburton said. “He was a fast skater but he was kind of all over the place. He was a mid-round guy in OHL draft (4th round, 80th overall in 2017) with some size and athletic ability who played a ton for us in Stouffville and started learning his body again.”

“As he got more control of his limbs and feet, he got better and better. He also started showing the offensive upside that he had when he was younger. A great example of what determination can do. Kind of an early and late bloomer.”

Photo: @isaakphillips7