On November 9th, a collision with Kindersley forward Nic Malenica injured Red Wings goaltender Carter Phair. Phair left the game and didn’t return for the rest of the road trip. After a short period of time, an announcement many in the hockey community in Weyburn knew was inevitable. After suffering a severe concussion, Phair was retiring from hockey.

The announcement came last Monday, and since then, there has been an outpouring of support for the 19-year-old. Originally from Carnduff, he started out in the WHL as a 17-year-old with the Edmonton Oil Kings, who sent him down to Weyburn for conditioning. He split duties with Jack Burgart that year, and the team set a new franchise record for fewest goals against and lowest goals against average.

Phair started the 2016-17 season with the Kamloops Blazers before he came back to Weyburn. He would miss a good portion of the season due to injury, including the playoffs, but bounced back this year, looking as good as ever.

He was putting up the best numbers of his career when he was injured, and ultimately made the decision to retire, to give himself the time and chance needed to heal from the multiple concussions over his career.

Phair sat down with Steven Wilson in the Discover Weyburn studios, to talk about the decision to retire, and what his future holds.