IMAGE INFORMATION
EditGordon Allan "Phat" Wilson (Born December 29, 1895 in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada – Died July 26, 1970) was a Canadian amateur ice Hockey forward.
Wilson did not even know how to skate when he he tried out for St. Andrew's, the town's church league Hockey team in 1914. Serving as a substitute, he improved his skating enough that he earned a full-time role playing defence on the Hockey team the following year.
Wilson played two seasons in the local junior Hockey circuit for the Port Arthur Columbus Club, before joining the Port Arthur War Veterans senior club at the age of 18.
Wilson moved to Iroquois Falls, Ontario for a season to play for the Iroquois Falls Flyers in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association / NOHA in 1921–22. The team made it to the Allan Cup playdowns, eventually losing to the Toronto Granites.
Wilson returned to Port Arthur the following year to play for the Port Arthur Bearcats. He was a top player in the NOHA, leading Port Arthur to an Allan Cup championship in 1925 as Canada's national senior champions. Wilson and the Bearcats repeated as champions the following year and won a third Allan Cup in 1929. Wilson's play did not go unnoticed by the pros and he was offered contracts with Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto but turned them all down, remaining instead in his hometown.
Wilson was A brilliant defenseman remembered for his rink-long rushes, he won several scoring titles throughout his career, including the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey scoring title in his last three years as an active player.
Wilson retired as a player in 1932 at the age of 37 and took on the dual role of coach and manager of the Bearcats.
Wilson was the co-founder of the local girls Hockey league and took the time not only to organize but to coach and referee games as well.
Wilson was also involved in the local baseball scene--as president of the Port Arthur National League--and went on to become the first Little League District Commissioner for the area.
Wilson also found the time to coach the Port Arthur senior Hockey clubs to the Western Senior Finals in 1938 and 1940.
Wilson was inducted posthumously into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame at its first induction ceremonies on September 25, 1982.
"Phat" Wilson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.