Life-Long Phantoms Fan is Son of Former Phantoms’ Trainer, Chris Felix
April 27, 2022
Lehigh Valley, PA – Defenseman Colin Felix has been signed to an Amateur Try Out (ATO) contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Last week, Felix had signed an AHL contract for the 2022-23 season but was not on the team’s active roster for this season until today.
Colin is the son of Chris “Cat” Felix who was head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia Phantoms from 1996-2004. Colin attended many games and practices of the Philadelphia Phantoms when he was a little boy and was a familiar presence to players, coaches and Flyers’ management.
(pic above, Colin Felix in mask, with Chris Felix and little brother, Colby Felix)
Courtesy, The Score, Felix Family
The right-handed shooting defenseman from Audubon, NJ completed his four-year collegiate career at UMass-Amherst where he played in 140 games scoring four goals with 38 assists for 42 points. On April 10, 2021, UMass defeated St. Cloud State 5-0 in the Frozen Four championship game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh for the first-ever national title for the Minutemen. Felix had a +3 rating in the championship win. It was the second straight appearance in the National Championship game for UMass who had lost to Minnesota-Duluth 3-0 on April 13, 2019 at Keybank Center in Buffalo.
Felix, 23, was invited by Flyers Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr to participate in Flyers Development Camp in 2019. The 6’1″ and 195 pound blueliner was thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Flyers’ organization with development coaches who remembered him as a kid. Now, he is officially joining the Phantoms as a member of the team.
Felix is well known to long-time Flyers’ development coaches and staff such as Daniel Briere and Kjell Samuelsson.
From John Matisz article in The Score: “Little Colin would high-five players, bump fists with coaches, and get a cookie from longtime executive Paul Holmgren. In the trainer’s room, he would sit on a vacant medical table and try to participate in adult conversation. Former Phantoms captain John Slaney – who briefly lived with the Felix family, inspiring Colin to play defense and wear No. 26 – remembers Colin asking if he was OK minutes after Slaney got his teeth knocked out. Back home, Colin walked around wearing a helmet with a visor, chinstrap undone, just like the pros in warmup.”
Felix played with Daniel Briere’s son, Carson Briere, when they were kids on Team Comcast where Daniel was helping out head coach, and former Flyer, Derian Hatcher.
A three-time Hockey East All-Academic Team selection at UMass, Felix rates 10th in program history in games played. He began his collegiate career with a 124-game ironman streak. He was also named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team this past March putting up 10 points on two goals and eight assists in helping the Minutemen repeat as league champions. Before college, Felix attended St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island.
The Phantoms play their second-to-last game of the season tonight hosting the Cleveland Monsters at PPL Center.
