Phat Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phat Wilson |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1963 | |||
| Born | December 29, 1895 Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | July 26, 1970 (aged 74) Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Position | Defence | ||
| Played for | Port Arthur Bearcats | ||
| Playing career | 1917–1932 | ||
Gordon Allan "Phat" Wilson (born December 29, 1895 – died July 26, 1970) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was an amateur, meaning he didn't play for money. Phat Wilson was known as one of the best amateur players of his time. He won the Allan Cup three times with his team, the Port Arthur Bearcats. The Allan Cup is a big championship for amateur hockey teams in Canada. Wilson was so good that he was put into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.
Hockey Career
Gordon Wilson was born in Port Arthur, Ontario. When he joined a church league in 1914, he didn't even know how to skate! He started as a substitute player. But he worked hard and got much better at skating.
The next year, he earned a full spot on his team. He played two seasons of junior hockey. Then, at age 18, he joined the Port Arthur War Veterans senior team.
In 1921–22, Wilson moved to Iroquois Falls, Ontario. He played in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA). A year later, he came back to Port Arthur. He then joined the famous Port Arthur Bearcats team.
Wilson was a top player in the NOHA. He helped Port Arthur win the Allan Cup in 1925. This made them Canada's national senior champions. Wilson and the Bearcats won the championship again the next year. They won a third Allan Cup in 1929.
Professional teams noticed how well he played. Teams from Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto all offered him a spot. But Wilson said no. He chose to stay in his hometown instead.
He was an amazing offensive defenceman. This means he played defence but also scored many goals. He won several scoring titles during his career. Wilson stopped playing in 1932 when he was 37. After that, he became the coach and manager of the Bearcats.
Because of his great career, Wilson was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962. He was also part of the first group of people put into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.
Off the Ice
Besides hockey, Gordon Wilson also played baseball. He was a volunteer and leader in both sports. In 1952, he became the first president of Port Arthur's Little League. He also helped start the community's girls' hockey league. He even coached and refereed games for them.
