Hall of Fame inductions have a way of bringing things full circle. Nick Gilbert remembers getting his big break out of the Cowichan Secondary Thunderbirds: “George [Pakos] took me on with Victoria Athletics at age 17 and it turned into the best decision of my life.”
Athletics playing-coach Pakos would go on to score two of the four goals in the final round of qualifying that got ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ to the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Gilbert would go on to play pro and earn 12 caps for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ and now joins previously-inducted Pakos in the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Soccer Hall of Fame with the Class of 2024.
Gilbert also adds his name alongside other ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½-capped Island players such Bob Bolitho, Ian Bridge, Brian Robinson, Josh Simpson, Clare Rustad, Emily Zurrer, Nicole Wright and also the likes of Dave Turner, Daniel Imhof, David Ravenhill, and more broadly provincially Carl Valentine, Bruce Wilson, Bob Lenarduzzi, Dale Mitchell and Dominic Mobilio.
“I was happy to get the induction call but I didn’t think I belonged in that company,” said the humble Gilbert.
His record as a swift, intelligent and knifing striker says otherwise. Gilbert was a leading light of the pro Canadian Soccer League, which included the Victoria Vistas and was a precursor to the current Canadian Premier League, from 1987 to 1993. Gilbert won the CSL scoring title and was named league MVP in 1987 in leading the Calgary Kickers to the championship. It was Calgary’s last pro soccer title since Cavalry FC won the CPL championship last weekend. Gilbert’s 37 goals with Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto ranks seventh all-time in the seven seasons of CSL history.
Gilbert’s 12 caps for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, seven as a starter, came between 1988 and 1992, including in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup and in winning the 1990 Three Nations Cup as ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ beat the U.S. and Mexico. His three goals got him to the top of the podium in the Francophone Games as ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ beat host Morocco in the gold-medal final. Gilbert began his international career by winning silver with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ in the 1984 CONCACAF U-20 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
“I was blessed to get the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf and that we won more than we lost in my time playing for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½,” said Gilbert.
His Vancouver Island Soccer League exploits following his pro career were also extensive, including playing for the VISL all-stars in games against Dundee in 1985 and Dundee United and Chelsea in 1992, and being named VISL MVP three times.
Gilbert, 58, has been assistant technical director and a coach in the Juan de Fuca Youth Soccer Association for more than a decade.
“I invest a lot of time with a lot ages and calibres,” said Gilbert.
“That’s because I never forget that I was only a silver-level player in Duncan but went on to play for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½.”
Also enshrined with the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is former VISL Gorge FC star Jamie Ackinclose, who retired in 2018 as the greatest Canadian Para player of all-time with 35 caps and 25 goals in nine years. The only thing missing was not qualifying for the Paralympics after ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ fell just short for London 2012 and Rio 2016. But Ackinclose, who suffered serious concussions in his career, led ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ into the Para Pan Am Games and Para World Cup.
Also enshrined in the players category, during the induction ceremony last month, was Sharolta Nonen of Vancouver, capped 63 times for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ between 1999 and 2006.
Powell River Villa and the Vancouver Whitecaps were inducted in the organization category. Four-time Vancouver Island Soccer League-champion Villa was cited for: “Having given its local players the chance to shine and progress to a bigger stage since 1973 and thriving despite its isolated community’s economic challenges and having to travel to the Island every other week.”
In separate ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Soccer awards during the ceremony, 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Don Moslin, who coached Nanaimo youth teams from 1991 to 2007, was given the A.C. Sanford Award for service to soccer and veteran referee instructor, co-ordinator and assessor Tiberio De Frias of Victoria was made a Life Member of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Soccer.
