Phil Housley says Fort William Gardens is the nicest rink in the entire Superior International Junior Hockey League.
That’s pretty high praise from a former NHLer, a veteran of 21 seasons in the big leagues that began in Buffalo in 1982 and wound down with a one-game stint in Toronto at the tail end of the 2002-03 season. These days Housley, is enjoying life as a hockey dad and high school coach.
The 48-year-old was in Thunder Bay this week watching son Wilson and the Wisconsin Wilderness make easy work of the Fort William North Stars, closing out their SIJHL semifinal sweep with a pair of wins Wednesday and Thursday at the Gardens.
So far, he likes what he’s seen in the SIJHL, where Wilson has spent most of the past two seasons.
“I think it’s a good development league. It gives the kids another opportunity to further their hockey career. I’ve enjoyed watching him recently, since our season’s been over,” said the elder Housley, who coaches the Stillwater High School hockey team in his native Minnesota.
The highest-scoring American-born defenceman in NHL history, Phil Housley said he never once asked his son to follow in his blue-line footsteps.
“No, I told him to stay at forward. He’s got a good knack around the net. Since he’s been back here in Wisconsin he’s done a good job and filled some holes for the team and tried to contribute,” said Housley, on his first road trip of the season with the Wilderness.
“I just tell him to work hard. Nothing comes easy in life, for that matter, and you have to earn it. Every shift counts and all those other things will come when you put your effort into it.”
Having the Housley name has been both a blessing and, at times, a curse, the elder Housley admitted.
“It’s been difficult, especially with the Canadian teams. He’s got a mark on him, but he’s handled it quite well and he understands that it’s going to be hard for him. I know I probably couldn’t do what he’s doing, but he’s played through it and he’s doing a great job with it.”
Wilson, who collected 43 points in just 30 games with the Wilderness, after starting the season in the North American Hockey League, said the Housley name has its ups and downs.
“It’s tough with a name like my dad’s A lot of guys come at me, the same old stuff on the ice. But it also helps getting places and moving on to the next level,” said Housley, who had a pair of goals Wednesday and picked up an assist on Thursday on Jordan Shockley’s series-clinching goal.
Having dad around to offer advice has been great, added the 20-year-old, who next year moves on to play Division 3 hockey at Augsburg College in downtown Minneapolis.
“My dad, I can’t put it into words what he’s done for me. He’s been a hero to me as a son. He’s a great guy and I’m speechless almost to say what he’s done for me and so many other kids,” Wilson said.
A former Olympian who represented the United States 11 times internationally, Phil Housley is about to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation hall of fame next month. Hockey’s highest honour, however, the Hockey Hall of Fame, has eluded him to date, despite a career that saw him post 338 goals and 894 assists.
Seven times he netted 20 or more goals, and topped out with a 97-point campaign with the original Winnipeg Jets in 1993.
The hall-of-fame snub isn’t causing him to lose any sleep.
“There are a lot of good hockey players, guys who have been inducted recently in the past who deserve to be there. There’s no argument,” he said. “Hopefully one day I’ll get in there and be very honoured – and hopefully sooner than later. But I’ll just have to wait my turn.”
In Canada once again, Housley also wanted to clear up a myth, that as an American he was not fond of his time north of the border.
Though cheering for Chicago and Buffalo to make the playoffs, he’s got a soft spot for Winnipeg, where the Jets have returned this season after a 15-year absence.
Follow Leith Dunick on Twitter: @LeithDunick
