Thousands Gather To Remember Life Of Chris Hall

Thousands of friends, family and members of the lacrosse community gathered at the Victoria Conference Centre in Victoria, B.C. on Monday to remember the life of NLL Hall of Famer Chris Hall, former head coach of the Calgary Roughnecks and Vancouver Stealth, who passed away on December 21 at the age of 64 after a four-year battle with cancer.

Watch the video from the services via Victoria’s local CHEK News station by clicking here.

“Chris Hall was not only a Hall of Fame coach, but a Hall of Fame person,” said NLL Commissioner George Daniel in a statement released by the league last month. “Chris was a brilliant coach with an engaging personality. He was a true champion and his legacy in the NLL will be everlasting.”

Hall, who was inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2014 during a ceremony this past September, served as a head coach in the league for 12 seasons, first with the Calgary Roughnecks from 2002-2007 before finishing his coaching career with the Vancouver Stealth franchise from 2009-2014.

“Losing ‘CH’ today is devastating,” said Stealth veteran defenseman Curtis Hodgson last month. “CH was a tremendous coach but more importantly he was an outstanding person and role model who brought out the best in his players. The courage he showed while leading our team over the last several seasons despite his health issues have had an enormous impact on us all. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Pam and the entire Hall family.”

Hall’s 85 regular-season wins rank third all-time behind Darris Kilgour (121) and Les Bartley (93). With an 11-6 career record in the postseason, Hall’s 11 playoff wins rank fourth all-time behind Bartley (22), Troy Cordingley (12) and Kilgour (12). “CH” had taken on an advisory role with the Stealth this past summer after stepping down from head coaching duties.

“Words cannot express the loss and emptiness that we are all feeling right now,” said Stealth president and general manager Doug Locker. “CH was a dear friend, mentor and confidant. His battle over the last several years has served as an inspiration to all of us who watched him bravely fight this terrible illness. He will forever be remembered in our organization and throughout the lacrosse community for all the good he brought to the game we love.”

In 2010, Hall became just the second coach in NLL history to win the Champion’s Cup with two different teams as he led the Stealth to its first-ever title after winning it all with Calgary in 2004. The Stealth reached the championship game in three of four seasons from 2010-2013 and Hall was a co-recipient of the 2010 NLL Head Coach of the Year award.

Hall is survived by his wife Pam, his sons Brock and Drew, his granddaughter Georgia, and his sister, Janice.