Flight Lieutenant Chris Parks, one of the country’s leading ice hockey officials, recently represented Australia at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) 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, Flight Lieutenant 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.
A tactical coordinator on the MQ-4C Triton at 9 Squadron in South Australia, Flight Lieutenant Parks has served in the Royal Australian Air Force 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, 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,” Flight Lieutenant Parks said.
One moment stands out.
“In 2016, I was asked to referee a Canada-USA exhibition series in Australia,” he said.
“They flew me to Sydney and I got to officiate in front of nearly 19,000 people. Ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky dropped the puck for the game I was working. That was pretty special.”
‘The discipline, leadership and teamwork I’ve learned in the Air Force have definitely helped me excel as an official.’
Balancing elite-level officiating with full-time Air Force duties is no small feat, yet Flight Lieutenant Parks said 9 Squadron 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.”
Flight Lieutenant 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 a former Australian Defence Force (ADF) Ice Hockey Association referee in chief and current head coach of the Air Force team.
The ADF holds an annual triservice championship, this year in Melbourne in November, where the best players from Navy, Army and Air Force compete, with top performers selected for the ADF national team.
He is also planning to coach the ADF national team at an ice hockey invitational in Minnesota in 2027 against United States Defence Force teams, with additional matches at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs – an opportunity he describes as “possibly my last big hurrah” before considering retirement from full-time service.
Flight Lieutenant Parks encouraged more aviators to get involved.
“Every state has ADF ice hockey training sessions,” he 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.”
