At a fundraising breakfast for Special Olympics Ontario today, former Ottawa Senators star defenceman Chris Phillips spoke about the power of sport — beginning with its knack for keeping fans up late.

“It can even keep you up until two in the morning,” he joked about staying awake until the 15th inning of the 18-inning World Series marathon between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Luckily, his sleep deficit was nothing that a couple cups of coffee couldn’t fix for his role as guest speaker of the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast. It was presented by Kelly Santini LLP and held in the Trillium Ballroom at Rogers Centre Ottawa.

For nearly two decades, Phillips was “the cornerstone” of the Ottawa Senators franchise, said Royal LePage Performance Realty commercial realtor Matt Jacques, who co-emceed the breakfast with his good friend Lisa Langevin, a partner at Kelly Santini LLP.

The energetic hosts worked their way through a playful lineup of props, beginning with a Blue Jays cap. As the live auction got underway, they moved on to a fire rescue helmet, a spa headband and finally a ski helmet with goggles.

Special Olympic athletes, coaches and volunteers were escorted in with dignitaries by the Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band. The celebration also featured highland dancers, a rhythmic gymnastics performance and the singing of O Canada by the GleeCeptional group.

Matt Jacques, commercial realtor with Royal LePage Performance Realty, and Lisa Langevin, a partner at Kelly Santini LLP, co-emceed the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, which involved a playful rotation of props. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Don Burke, a senior partner at Kelly Santini LLP, in conversation with Kimana Mar, a three-time world champion rhythmic gymnast with Special Olympics, during a fundraising breakfast for Special Olympics Ontario, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa and presented by Kelly Santini LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band escorted the athletes into the ballroom during the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, senior partner Pat Santini of Kelly Santini LLP, and senior wealth advisor Steve Gallant (Gallant MacDonald at Wellington-Altus Private) at the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, presented by Kelly Santini LLP and held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

A group from GleeCeptional performed O Canada during the opening ceremonies for the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Sports have always been part of Phillips’s life. Born in Calgary, he spent his summers on the baseball diamond and his winters on the ice. The NHL was just a dream until he began playing junior hockey at 15. That’s when the dream became a goal.

In 1996, Phillips was selected first overall by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Draft. He played his entire 17-season career with Ottawa, retiring in 2016. He still holds the team’s record for most games played: 1,179.

He and his wife, Erin, have also volunteered for numerous community causes while raising their three children in Ottawa. Today, Phillips continues to work with the hockey club as its vice president of business operations.

Phillips said that sport taught him skills and values that reach far beyond the rink, including teamwork, confidence, discipline, dedication, resilience, a strong work ethic, good communication, respect and the ability to handle loss.

“I never received a business degree, or any degree for that matter. I finished high school and went straight to the NHL,” said Phillips, who gained firsthand business experience as the former co-owner of Big Rig Brewery, named after his on-ice moniker for his size, strength and steady play.

Having skated with members of the Capital City Condors and Ottawa Special Hockey Stars, Phillips told the athletes in the room how much they inspire him, and also referred to the Special Olympics motto: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Phillips reminded the athletes: “There’s more to sports than winning and losing. Winning is great — and trust me — it is way more fun than losing, but it is not everything.

“Focus on the journey, not the medal.”

Phillips acknowledged that the NHL is a different world, where the stakes are high and results are what matter. “Our jobs were to win games,” he said. Coincidentally, the Senators had done just that the night before.

Skating on the same ice as legends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux remains one of his favourite memories. “I grew up cheering for them; they were heroes of mine.”

From left, guest speaker Chris Phillips sat alongside Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and lawyer J.P. Zubec (Kelly Santini LLP) at the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

What Phillips misses most from his hockey days isn’t the game itself — it’s the camaraderie. “What I really miss are the guys, being in the locker room and essentially growing up together.”

Phillips said he was fortunate to be part of a close-knit group of players who all got married and started families around the same time. “That’s the part of the game that I miss the most. I truly believe the essence of sport lies in the enjoyment it brings you — in a variety of ways.”

Among the 300 attendees was Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who later helped to present athletic achievement and volunteer dedication awards to recipients. Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs was seated at the same breakfast table as Ottawa firefighters Scott Williams, Tony Prud’homme, Evan Carter and Jim Bowman. During the live auction, the firefighters offered to cook dinner for the highest bidder, which turned out to be Langevin (firetruck included).

A Thomas Chabot-signed jersey sold to Don Burke, a senior partner at Kelly Santini. He was on the breakfast organizing committee with Langevin, Sophie Cairs, Liija Eskola and Leah Billard.

Also sold were four great seats to the upcoming Senators vs. New Jersey game, a family ski pass to Camp Fortune and a wellness package at the Omniscient Wellness Centre that got scooped up by Jacques’ wife, Samantha Iturregui. She’s a partner at Kelly Santini and a small claims court deputy judge.

The breakfast ran like a well-oiled machine, wrapping up by its scheduled time of 9 a.m. — unlike last night’s never-ending World Series game.

From left, Ottawa firefighters Tony Prud’homme and Evan Carter, Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs, Ottawa firefighters Scott Williams and Jim Bowman at the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Guest speaker Chris Phillips posed for photos with attendees after delivering his remarks at the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Samantha Iturregui, a partner at Kelly Santini and a small claims court deputy judge, with son Jakson Iturregui-Jacques, 12 (almost 13), daughter Makenzie Iturregui-Jacques, 11, and husband Matt Jacques, a commercial realtor with Royal LePage Team Performance and co-emcee of the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa, included highland dancers. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe helped present a series of awards, including the Unified Partner of the Year Award to Glebe Collegiate graduate Will Groves for his involvement in the Special Olympics Unified Champions Schools program that promotes social inclusion. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Matt Jacques donned a spa headband while selling of a spa package donated by the Omniscient Wellness Centre, during the 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The 19th Annual Special Olympics Festival Breakfast was organized, from left, Leah Billard, Lisa Langevin, Sophie Cairns, Liija Eskola and Don Burke, all with Kelly Santini LLP. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Supporters of Special Olympics Ontario at the 19th annual fundraising breakfast, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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