Sad Day For Lacrosse Community

The NLL recently held the induction ceremonies at the Langley Events Centre and we had the opportunity to catch up with former Vancouver Stealth Coach, Chris Hall.

Following the induction, I had the opportunity to talk to Denise Watkin the Owner of the Vancouver Stealth and ask her what Chris meant for the team and the game.

His understanding of the game goes beyond just being a Coach, but rather a mentor, Father figure and a friend to all players he was ever involved with at any level.

Sadly he lost his battle with Cancer over the weekend and the lacrosse community mourns his loss.

The above photo is the first thing you see when you pass through door, make a quick left and walk into the Vancouver Stealth’s dressing room in their Langley Events Centre Field House practice arena.

It was Chris Hall that guided the (then) Washington Stealth to the National Lacrosse League Championship in 2010.

The photo displayed hangs above the stalls at the far end of the Stealth dressing room and is one of several photos on display.

It’s the lone photo that is not from last year, which was the team’s first season in Langley after the move from Everett to north of the 49^th.

Chris Hall was a young 64 years of age and was the Stealth’s longtime coach who passed away after a four-year battle with cancer.

He gained the respect from everyone and when he walked into a room, it suddenly became his.

There was a class and a dignity about the way the Victoria man known simply as “CH” in lacrosse circles handled himself last NLL season.

He, who was initially diagnosed with a tumor on his right tonsil in 2011 and missed a part of the Stealth’s 2012 season due to a recurrence, was sick again through much of this past season.

He was even undergoing what he would later call “maintenance chemotherapy,” during the campaign.

He never used it as an excuse, even though this struggling team thing was new territory for him.

He kept his situation from the players, too, although when it was announced that he was stepping down after the season many of them said they had inkling, that they had seen him ill before and he wasn’t himself.

The Lacrosse community suffers the loss of a true Friend!

Our sincere condolences to the Family