Backchecking With Phil Russell

Len Painter of the Grand Haven Tribune recently caught up with former NHL defenseman Phil Russell. Painter tells us Russell, 62, in now a stay at home dad to a 3 year old daughter, but he had a couple of interesting jobs before returning to hockey rinks.

Following retirement, Russell dabbled in the business world, taking a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade.

“I found that to be more intimidating than the Boston Bruins,” he said.

He also owned a tavern before deciding to venture back into hockey. In 1988, Russell became an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the now-defunct International Hockey League. That team won the league championship in 1988. He was named head coach in 1991, a job he held for three seasons.

Here's the full story. And here is my profile of Phil Russell.