This month’s Alumni Spotlight focuses on Krista Wilson.
Krista Wilson bleeds Olds gold. Currently, the Lead Scheduler for Olds College, Krista grew up in Olds. She started playing minor hockey with the black and gold when she was six years old.
As a kid, Krista was brought to the rink to watch her older sister, Ashley, hockey practice. Thinking about how cool her sister looked on the ice, Krista needed to be just like her. She immediately told her Dad that she wanted to play hockey.
Wanting to be just like Ashley continued throughout Krista’s minor hockey career. When Ashley would score, Krista needed to score the next game. When Ashley trained to play AAA, Krista recognized how much work it took to play elite hockey.
Krista’s hard work paid off when she began playing in the now, Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL). She started traveling to Red Deer to play with the Sutter Fund AAA Chiefs in her second year of U15. The next season, she made the U18 AAA team and continued playing as a Chief through her three years of eligibility.
“Moving on to elite hockey, I was prepared to work for what was being asked and towards the common goal,” said Krista. “Playing in Olds, my coaches always reminded us to work hard and be gritty. So always coming ready to work and be ready to listen at the board in the dressing room.”
After graduating, all roads lead her home. Krista played two seasons with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds before transferring to Olds College. She switched her education from business to sports management and played her last three years as a Bronco.
Throughout her playing career, Krista worked with coaches who left a lasting impact on her. Coaches, Sarah Hilworth and Svend Weile, helped her develop both physically and mentally on and off the ice. Their influence is one of the reasons Krista is now coaching.
“Being able to come back and coach teams that I played for in Olds, or coach with Hockey Alberta, after being a part of the experiences as a player, has been my favourite part about hockey,” reflected Krista.
Growing up, Krista played volleyball and soccer and competed in cross country and track and field. Being a multi-sport athlete, she felt it re-enforced the importance of teamwork and improved her fitness for her on-ice performance.
“There is just an ease to hockey, where the noise from the day doesn’t matter and you get to go and skate with your friends,” said Krista. “You work towards a common goal and let your mind relax.”