Chris Wilson inducted within the Officers Class
Within the Officers class of this yr’s Corridor of Fame, Subject 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 but it surely’s extraordinarily humbling to be included with fellow colleagues and umpires that I’ve identified my entire umpiring profession. Youthful Chris positively wouldn’t even have dreamed of being acknowledged from Subject Hockey Canada and being nominated for the corridor of fame,” mentioned 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 dad and mom have been each concerned in discipline hockey and ran the Rebels Subject 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 profitable a bronze medal at a U13 provincial match and a U15 trophy throughout the border.
On the age of 18, Wilson moved to Vancouver with hopes of constructing the BC crew. Nevertheless, his promising taking part in profession confronted a setback as he’d suffered a career-ending knee harm, abruptly ending his time on the sphere 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 sphere for the primary time, you might see he had it. It was solely a matter of cultivating his skillset from there,” mentioned Alan Waterman, fellow FHC Official Corridor of Famer.
Wilson’s dedication and ability shortly grew to become 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 model was simple, no nonsense, no theatrics, no ego. Typically in officiating, you run the danger of getting umpires attempt to make themselves the centre of consideration, however Chris had no difficulty with ego, not with Chris,” mentioned 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 through the Masters Match.
Reflecting on his legacy, Wilson hopes to be remembered as somebody who liked the sport and was devoted to guiding future umpires. “I must be remembered as somebody that liked the sport, liked umpiring, and wished to assist future umpires by demonstrating on and off the sphere how you can be an excellent sportsperson and simply love a sport, no matter sport it’s,” mentioned Wilson.
As Chris Wilson is inducted into the Subject 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.