From RAAF to rink

FLTLT Chris Parks, one of the country’s leading ice hockey officials, represented Australia at the International Ice Hockey Federation Referee-in-Chief Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

At the high-level gathering, he collaborated with 20 other senior officials from across Asia and Europe to strengthen officiating programs and grow the sport in their countries.

As Referee in Chief (Head of Officiating) for Ice Hockey Australia, FLTLT Parks manages the program for about 350 officials nationwide, with oversight of policy, standards, safety and development.

Every July, he goes through the nomination process from each state and then selects the country’s top 15 officials and brings them together to officiate the Ice Hockey Australia National Championships.

In addition to refereeing, FLTLT Parks is a tactical coordinator on the MQ-4C Triton at 9SQN, having served in RAAF for 17 years after a 22-year career in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is also a recognised elite athlete with the Air Force Sports Council.

“I started playing ice hockey when I was six years old,” he said.

“In Canada, it’s just what you do. After school, we’d head straight to the frozen ponds and lakes with our skates and sticks, and play until it got dark.”

A wrist injury in his late 20s, while playing for a military team, forced a change of direction. Unable to hold a stick at the time, he began refereeing to stay on the ice. That decision launched a 30-year officiating career that continues today.

“I’m still officiating and still playing,” he said.

One moment, in particular, stands out for FLTLT Parks – when he was asked to referee a Canada-USA exhibition series in Australia in 2016.

“They flew me to Sydney, and I got to officiate in front of nearly 19,000 people," he said. "Ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky dropped the puck for the game I was working. That was pretty special.”

Balancing elite-level officiating with full-time Air Force duties is no small feat, yet FLTLT Parks said 9SQN has given him outstanding support.

“Most of the high-level hockey in Australia happens on weekends, so my supervisors have been really flexible,” he said.

“They’ve allowed me time off for tournaments and even a week-long international conference. I try to give that time back whenever I can.”

FLTLT Parks credits Defence values for helping him excel on the ice.

“You have to have strong communication skills, integrity and respect,” he said.

“As an official, you’re the one who knows the rule book inside out. You’re managing a four-person officiating team – we even call ourselves the ‘third team’ on the ice.

“The discipline, leadership and teamwork I’ve learned in the Air Force have definitely helped me excel as an official.”

He remains deeply involved in Defence ice hockey as former ADF Ice Hockey Association referee in chief and current head coach of the Air Force team.

The ADF holds an annual triservice championship – in Melbourne during November this year – where the best players from Air Force, Navy and Army compete, with top performers selected for the ADF national team.

He also plans to coach the ADF national team for an ice hockey invitational with US ice hockey defence force teams in Minnesota in 2027. While FLTLT Parks is in the US, the team will play at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs – what he calls “possibly my last big hurrah” before considering retirement from full-time service.

He encourages more aviators to get involved in the sport.

“Every state has ADF ice hockey training sessions,” FLTLT Parks said.

“We even have starter gear available through the ADF Sports program so people can try it out. You don’t have to be an expert skater to begin – we take everyone and build from there.”