Chris Wilson inducted within the Officers Class
Within the Officers class of this yr’s Corridor of Fame, Area Hockey Canada is proud to induct Chris Wilson for his exceptional contributions to the game. Wilson’s profession as a global umpire spanned 15 years, throughout which he officiated 89 worldwide matches, together with three Pan American Video games, two Commonwealth Video games, and two Junior World Cups.
“It’s very good however it’s extraordinarily humbling to be included with fellow colleagues and umpires that I’ve identified my complete umpiring profession. Youthful Chris undoubtedly wouldn’t even have dreamed of being acknowledged from Area Hockey Canada and being nominated for the corridor of fame,” stated Wilson.
Wilson’s discipline hockey journey started in his hometown of Victoria, BC, the place his early publicity to the game got here naturally. His mother and father had been each concerned in discipline hockey and ran the Rebels Area Hockey Membership, with the clubhouse even located of their childhood basement for over a decade. Rising up surrounded by the sport, Wilson achieved important success as a participant, together with successful a bronze medal at a U13 provincial event and a U15 trophy throughout the border.
On the age of 18, Wilson moved to Vancouver with hopes of constructing the BC group. Nevertheless, his promising taking part in profession confronted a setback as he’d suffered a career-ending knee damage, abruptly ending his time on the sector as a participant. Regardless of this setback, Wilson’s ardour for the game endured as he selected to transition to umpiring on the age of 19, inspired by his household and others within the discipline.
“Watching Chris come onto the sector for the primary time, you could possibly see he had it. It was solely a matter of cultivating his skillset from there,” stated Alan Waterman, fellow FHC Official Corridor of Famer.
Wilson’s willpower and talent shortly turned obvious, leading to his first worldwide appointment on the 1996 Junior Pan American Video games in Barbados, simply six years into his umpiring profession. He continued to excel, receiving appointments to main tournaments such because the Junior World Cups, the Pan American Video games, and the Commonwealth Video games. His success was marked by a simple, no-nonsense strategy to officiating.
“With Chris, his type was easy, no nonsense, no theatrics, no ego. Typically in officiating, you run the chance of getting umpires attempt to make themselves the centre of consideration, however Chris had no situation with ego, not with Chris,” stated Waterman.
Wilson stepped away from worldwide umpiring in 2011, he continued to contribute domestically in Victoria as an umpire and mentor for others. In 2022, he made a extremely anticipated return to the pitch as a participant throughout the Masters Match.
Reflecting on his legacy, Wilson hopes to be remembered as somebody who beloved the sport and was devoted to guiding future umpires. “I needs to be remembered as somebody that beloved the sport, beloved umpiring, and wished to assist future umpires by demonstrating on and off the sector learn how to be a very good sportsperson and simply love a recreation, no matter recreation it’s,” stated Wilson.
As Chris Wilson is inducted into the Area Hockey Canada Corridor of Fame, his legacy as a devoted and humble umpire is firmly established. His journey is a testomony to the profound impression of ardour and perseverance within the sport, inspiring all who aspire to go away their mark in discipline hockey.
