At 11 years old, Eli Phillips was turning his head
The incoming sixth grader from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory in Quebec finished 10th in this year’s US Individual Championships, ahead of nearly 700 other students.
He received thousands of votes from the public.
“I was really surprised. I thought it was going to be a fun little contest and it went viral,” said Bryce Thompson, Eli’s stepfather.
Phillips has been growing his hair since he was 5 years old, right after he started playing hockey. He said he was inspired by his favorite NHL player.
“I like Patrick Kane. I like his hair and his movements,” Phillips said.
“Since then, he’s rocked that mullet,” Thompson said.
Andi Phillips, Eli’s mother, said: “On the day it happened, I almost started crying. “I said like ‘no, we can’t do that to him… and now look at him!”
Phillips says his hair gets a lot of attention.
“What do people say?” CTV National News reporter Vanessa Lee asked. “They love it!” Phillips replied.
