Ethan Phillips fell in love with the game of hockey in his hometown of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Along with MacDonald and Plandowski, Phillips played in the Team Nova Scotia system as a teenager. After spending time in junior hockey with Sioux Falls Stampede, Phillips played for South Kent’s 18U team for 21 games, scoring 9 goals and recording 10 assists as a center.In 2019, Ethan Phillips was selected 97th overall by the Detroit Red Wings.
In order to develop his game further, Ethan Phillips pivoted to collegiate hockey, starting his career as a Boston University Terrier. Phillips played for the Terriers for four years, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists in 89 games. In addition to his improved play on the ice, Phillips excelled in the classroom, as he was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team twice (2020-21, 2021-22). He is currently using his fifth year of eligibility to play at Western Michigan University.