UNews - Ken McInnes

Three-time Olympic medalist Meaghan Mikkelson headlines 8th annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 23:02:53 +0000

12-year Canadian National Women's Hockey Team veteran and three-time Olympic medalist Meaghan Mikkelson will headline the 8th Annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

The Pronghorn Breakfast has raised more than $320,000 in support of the Pronghorn Athletics Scholarship Program since its inaugural event in 2013.

“The Breakfast is always a great chance to host our supporters on campus and for them to join us in listening to one of our student-athletes share their story as well as a keynote speaker share their sporting journey,” says Executive Director of Sport and Recreation, Ken McInnes. “It is always a great way to kick off your day!”

Mikkelson, originally from St. Albert, AB, has been a mainstay on the blueline of the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team for the better part of 12 years, winning gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games and a silver medal in the 2018 Olympics.

She was also a member of the gold medal winning team from the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Championships, and six silver medals from the 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championships.

Mikkelson is currently living and training in Calgary with the ambition to represent Canada and win gold at the 2020 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Prior to joining the national team, Mikkelson starred for the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA, winning two NCAA titles (2006, 2007), and was named the 2007 MCHA Defensive Player of the Year.

She was also a participant in the Amazing Race Canada – Season 2, finishing in second place overall with fellow national team member Natalie Spooner.

A mom of two children, Calder and Berkley, Mikkelson enjoys the challenge of balancing motherhood and training as an elite athlete.

Tickets for the Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast are available here.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup teams, seedings are set, Pronghorns open against Canada West champion Golden Bears

trevor.kenney — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:52:26 +0000

Tournament week for the 2019 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship is here. The field is set, the tournament bracket has been finalized and single game tickets are now on sale at all Enmax Centre ticket locations.

The Pronghorns men's hockey team will open the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup against a familiar foe, the Canada West champion ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Golden Bears.

“There’s been a lot of preparation for this week, and it’s something we’ve been excited about for a long time,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “We feel very fortunate to have been trusted with this national championship event and we can’t wait to show off U SPORTS men’s hockey and the city of Lethbridge to the rest of the country. It’s going to be a great week.”

Over the weekend, the final qualifier for the eight-team tournament was declared and on Sunday evening the field was seeded and first-round, quarter-final matchups were determined.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Golden Bears, one of three teams representing the Canada West Conference, were selected as the top seed and will face off against the host ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns on Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the tourney kicks off at 1 p.m. Thursday with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph Gryphons, the Ontario ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Athletics runner-up, against the Canada West runner-up ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Following are the first-round matchups:

(All games at Enmax Centre)

Thursday, March 14

(4) ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph Gryphons vs. (5) ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Huskies, 1 p.m.
(1) ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Golden Bears vs. (8) ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns, 7 p.m.

Friday, March 15

(2) ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of New Brunswick Varsity Reds vs. (7) Carleton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Ravens, 1 p.m.
(3) Queen’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Gaels vs. (6) St. Francis Xavier X-Men, 7 p.m.

Tournament semifinals will be played on Saturday, March 16 at 1 and 6 p.m., followed by Sunday’s Bronze Medal Game at 1 p.m. and the Gold Medal Game at 6 p.m.

Tickets for each game are now available at enmaxcentre.ca.

In addition to the games, there are a number of activities associated with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup event. On Wednesday evening, U SPORTS will honour the top performers from across the country at the annual Awards Banquet, and on Thursday afternoon, the Light It Up in Lethbridge Tailgate Party (go.uleth.ca/lightitup2019), 5 p.m. outside the Enmax Centre, invites all southern Alberta hockey fans to come and get fired up for the Pronghorns opening game later in the evening. As well, all Pronghorns alumni are invited to the 2019 Horns Alumni Reunion (go.uleth.ca/hornsreunion2019) on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Canadian Western Bank Lounge. Rogers Hometown Hockey (hometownhockey.com) then gets in on the festivities with two days of activities outside the Enmax Centre, Saturday and Sunday.

“I see this week as a really great opportunity for everyone to come together to show their community spirit and their Pronghorn pride,” says Ken McInnes, executive director for Pronghorn Athletics. “Southern Alberta has a wonderful tradition of supporting big-scale events and I expect this week will serve as another great example.”

Cavendish Farms title sponsor for 2019 U SPORTS ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship

trevor.kenney — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 16:50:05 +0000

Cavendish Farms announced Wednesday that it is throwing its support behind the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns as the title sponsor of the 2019 U SPORTS ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship.

The sponsorship continues a relationship between Cavendish Farms and U SPORTS that has seen the processor of frozen potato products support the men’s national championship nine of the past 13 seasons – most recently the last two editions at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of New Brunswick. Cavendish Farms also held the title rights to the tournament from 2007 to 2012.

“Cavendish Farms is pleased to return as the title sponsor of the 2019 U SPORTS ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship in Lethbridge,” says Robert K. Irving, President of Cavendish Farms. “Having been involved in the past, we know this national championship produces hockey that is high calibre. We’re happy to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns to bring this event to the community and hockey fans alike.”

Cavendish Farms is currently building a state-of-the art frozen potato processing plant in Lethbridge to replace its existing facility. The plant will start up by fall 2019.

The eight-team tournament, featuring the host Pronghorns men’s hockey team, takes place from March 14 to 17, 2019 at the Enmax Centre. It will mark the first time the men’s hockey national championship has been held in Alberta since 2006 and only the third time it’s been in the province in the last 30 years. The winner will be awarded the David Johnston ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup, named after the former Governor General of Canada.

“We’re thrilled to have Cavendish Farms support this outstanding tournament as the title sponsor,” says the U of L’s Ken McInnes (BA’91, BMgt’97, Mgt Certificate ’02), executive director, Sport & Recreation Services. “That they are excited to come on board as a major contributor to this event speaks well to their commitment to our community. This is a unique circumstance where we get the chance to host an event of this caliber and the involvement of Cavendish Farms will only add to the experience.”

“We are excited to once again welcome back Cavendish Farms as title sponsor for the 2019 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup,” says U SPORTS President and CEO Graham Brown. “Year after year, Cavendish Farms has backed our Men’s Hockey National Championship – one of the most exciting events on the U SPORTS calendar. We look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership this March on the ice in Lethbridge.”

Cavendish Farms has a long-standing history of supporting its employees and their communities through charitable donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer opportunities. They support a wide range of activities and organizations, focusing on education, sports, community infrastructure and wellness initiatives.

Ticket packages for the 2019 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship are on sale through the Enmax Centre box office. Full tournament packages (featuring all eight games) are $160 for adults, $136 for seniors and $100 for students.

To engage with U SPORTS, Pronghorns hockey and the national championship event on social media, follow @USPORTS_hockey, @HornsHockey on Twitter and @USPORTSCanada and @Pronghorns on Facebook.

Broadcaster and former NHL goaltender Kelly Hrudey to headline 7th Annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast

trevor.kenney — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 17:02:05 +0000

Former National Hockey League goaltender and Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Kelly Hrudey will headline the 7th Annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

Kelly Hrudey will headline the 7th Annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

“To be able to have Kelly Hrudey come in as our guest speaker, just as we are gearing up to host the U Sports ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s National Hockey Championship, is a perfect fit,” says Robb Engen, manager of Development & Marketing, Pronghorn Athletics. “Kelly is respected for an outstanding playing career and as one of the best on-air personalities in the game.”

The Pronghorn Breakfast has raised more than $289,000 in support of Pronghorn Athletics programs. As part of its ongoing commitment to athletics, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will once again match $100 per ticket, with the funds going directly to the teams.

“Canada West just may be the most competitive conference in the country and in order for our programs to compete, we need to attract the best athletes,” says Ken McInnes (BA’91, BMgt’97, Mgt Certificate ’02), executive director, Sport & Recreation Services. “Through events such as these we are able to offer scholarship packages that bring the best student-athletes to the U of L and create a culture that allows them to succeed both academically and in the athletic arena.”

Hrudey, originally from Edmonton, is well known to southern Alberta hockey fans. He played junior hockey with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers for three years before being drafted by the NHL’s New York Islanders in the second round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He enjoyed a 15-year NHL career with the Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, playing alongside some of the game’s most legendary names, including Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky.

Hrudey joined CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada full-time in 1998-99, following four years of contributing to the show on a part-time basis during his final four seasons in the NHL. In addition to his work as a studio analyst, Hrudey served as a co-host for the post-game show, After Hours, and also worked as a game analyst for western game broadcasts.

He joined the NHL on Sportsnet team in August 2014, and acts as a studio analyst for national broadcasts, including Hockey Night in Canada, and as a game analyst for Sportsnet’s Calgary Flames regional broadcasts.

In 2007, Hrudey received a Gemini Award for Best Studio Analyst, recognizing his work on Hockey Night in Canada. In addition to his work with the NHL, Hrudey has covered three Olympic Winter Games including Salt Lake 2002, Torino 2006, and Sochi 2014.

He says he’s looking forward to coming back to southern Alberta to talk hockey, Pronghorns and the upcoming national championship event.

“I’m extremely excited about coming to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and sharing my stories from the great game of hockey,” says Hrudey. “As an Albertan, I consider it a huge honour to be visiting Lethbridge and especially right before a big event like the men’s national hockey championship.”

Tickets for the Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast are available at gohorns.ca/breakfast.

U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship comes to Lethbridge

caroline.zentner — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 17:37:16 +0000

It’s just the fourth time in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 51-year history that it will host a U Sports national championship, and the first time the country’s best men’s hockey programs will battle on Enmax Centre ice for the right to raise the David Johnston ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup. Today, ticket sales opened for the prestigious U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship tournament.

“This is such a great opportunity for our community, for Pronghorn Athletics and for the hockey fan in general,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “This championship dates back to 1963 and very rarely ventures into Alberta, so we’re thrilled to host such a high-calibre event and to welcome hockey fans from around the country to Lethbridge.”

The U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship, March 14-17, 2019, has not been hosted in Alberta since 2006 and only then by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta – four times over the last 33 years. The U of L Pronghorns, who won the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup in their lone championship appearance in Toronto in 1994, will join seven other programs in a single-elimination competition over the course of four exciting days.

"It’s hard to believe it has been 25 years since we pulled off that unimaginable run. It's an accomplishment I’ll cherish forever and one I reflect on often," says Dana McKechnie, a key member of the 1994 national championship team and father of current Pronghorn Sam McKechnie. "So many people in the community and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ shared that experience with our team. I’m already seeing fellow alumni and community members begin to rally around this year’s team and the exciting opportunity they now have to host the national tournament. Even more special is the opportunity to watch our son Sam and this exciting group of talented players make a run at repeating the unthinkable."

Ticket packages for the tournament are now available at enmaxcentre.ca, with adult eight-game packages priced at $160, senior packages at $136 and youth/student packages at $100.

“With each team’s season riding on the result of every game, the intensity level is incredible and makes for amazing hockey,” says Ken McInnes, executive director of Sport and Recreation Services. “These players have all played at the highest levels throughout their youth careers and the majority are from Canadian Hockey League programs. They’re now mature young men and the quality of hockey is outstanding.”

The tournament format pits the country’s four regional conference champions (Canada West, OUA East, OUA West, AUS), the host Pronghorns and three assigned berths (Canada West runner-up, OUA third place, AUS runner-up) against one another. The first two days feature a pair of quarter-final games each, followed by Saturday’s semi-final contests and third-place and championship games on the concluding Sunday.

The championship weekend also features a visit from Rogers Hometown Hockey, a championship awards gala and associated community events.

The U of L Pronghorns men’s hockey team is back at home this weekend hosting the defending national champion ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Golden Bears. Game times are Friday at 7 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena and Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Enmax Centre.

Pronghorns set new mark for Academic All-Canadians

trevor.kenney — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 23:27:27 +0000

Pronghorn Athletics announced its largest-ever class of Academic All-Canadians on Monday, a clear indication a culture of success has been created that extends to all aspects of the student-athlete experience.

As 63 student-athletes were recognized by U Sports for maintaining an 80 per cent academic average while participating in varsity sport, Sport and Recreation Executive Director Ken McInnes (BA ’91, BMgt ’97, Mgt Certificate ’02) was crediting his athletes for not only achieving excellent grades, but for creating an expectation throughout the program that success is attainable both on the field of play and in the classroom.

“They have created and are creating a culture where this is important. You can have both, I don’t think they are mutually exclusive,” says McInnes, a former Pronghorn track athlete. “These young leaders are showing that you can do both and do them well.”

The 63 Academic All-Canadians are the most in the history of the program, both in terms of quantity and percentage, representing more than 30 per cent of the school’s eligible varsity athletes. Last year, the U of L was among the country’s leaders with 25 per cent, 46 in total, of its athletes pegged as Academic All-Canadians.

“I think it speaks more about the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a whole than Pronghorn Athletics, in terms of the programs we offer, the students we recruit, and the work our coaches put into the program,” adds McInnes. “It also says a lot about our senior athletes, who have heard the message that this is important and made it a priority.”

Cormac Southam is a third-year neuroscience major from Nelson, B.C. A defender on the Pronghorns men’s soccer team, he came to the U of L for soccer, and also because the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is one of the few schools in the country to offer an undergraduate neuroscience program as well as undergraduate research opportunities.

“I’ve been able to be part of a concussion research project here,” he says, working under the tutelage of Dr. Gerlinde Metz and NMR Manager Tony Montina. “As an athlete, this is very interesting to me because I get to see the effects of concussions on athletes and then get to analyze the actual data – which has been really cool.”

As a senior athlete, he takes his mentorship role seriously within the Horns program.

“That’s a big part of what I like to think is my role as a leader,” says Southam, one of seven men’s soccer players to achieve Academic All-Canadian status. “It’s not just on the field but it’s helping first and second-year teammates with what might be going on in the classroom or any other kinds of issues that might come up.”

Third-year Pronghorns women’s hockey goaltender Jessica Lohues says that receiving plaudits for work done off the ice is rewarding because she has always seen herself as a student first.

“This has kind of been my breakout year on the ice and to balance it with school, my parents have been really proud of what I’ve done and how I’ve been able to manage it all,” she says.

A Coaldale product who was third academically in her graduating class at Kate Andrews High School, Lohues says the support of teammates and a structured system have helped them achieve success.

“We have mandatory study times for everyone and even if you’re not actually studying, you’re in there and it’s getting you in that environment, in that study mode for the rest of your week,” she says. “The study hall hours are run by the senior players who tend to have the higher GPAs and I think it gives our younger players someone to look up to, and they know, if they are ever struggling, we’re here to help them out.”

Women’s hockey led the way with eight members achieving All-Canadian status, followed by men’s soccer and women’s swimming, each with seven. For a look at all those athletes honoured, check out the GoHorns website.

U of L named as host for 2017 CIS Women's Rugby Championship

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 18:23:18 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has been awarded the right to host the 2017 CIS Women’s Rugby Championship.

With 2017 being the institution’s 50th anniversary, the women’s rugby championships will also be a significant piece of the Pronghorn Athletics’ and institution’s celebrations.

The Pronghorns lasted hosted the CIS championship in 2008, winning their third straight national title.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is looking forward to showcasing our CIS Women Rugby athletes in Lethbridge in 2017,” says Ken McInnes, executive director of Athletics and Recreation. “We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary in 2017 and what a great way to celebrate that milestone by hosting the CIS Women’s Rugby Nationals. Partnering with CIS provides the U of L an opportunity to showcase these incredible athletes as well as our fabulous facility to the great rugby fans of southern Alberta.”

The event will mark the third time that Lethbridge has hosted a university national championship. The city played host to the women’s rugby championship in 2008, prior to the opening of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Community Stadium. That event was hosted at the Lethbridge Sports Park on the north side of Lethbridge and drew an enthusiastic crowd that saw the Horns capture their second of three successive CIS titles.

Lethbridge also hosted the 1987-88 women’s basketball championship, when the governing body was known as the CIAU.

No strangers to the CIS Women’s Rugby Championships, the Pronghorns have participated in the national championship tournament eight times in the program’s 16-year existence (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2015), winning three consecutive titles from 2007 to 2009.

The 2017 CIS women’s rugby championship with bring the top eight teams in the country to Lethbridge, November 2-5, 2017.

Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes to headline Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:02:46 +0000

Six-time Canadian Olympian and mental health advocate Clara Hughes will be the featured speaker as Pronghorn Athletics hosts its annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre.

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Clara Hughes as our guest speaker,” says Robb Engen, manager of Development & Marketing, Sport and Recreation Services. “As much as she is celebrated for her outstanding athletic career, Clara has made an immeasurable impact on Canadian society through her work as a mental health advocate and as a supporter of children facing adversity.”

Clara Hughes is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both summer and winter Olympic Games.

Now in its fifth year, the breakfast has grown both in terms of its profile in the community and the important role it plays in advancing Pronghorn excellence. As a key fundraiser for athletic scholarships, support for the breakfast directly affects the program’s ability to attract the country’s top student athletes. As part of its ongoing commitment to Pronghorn Athletics, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is offering to match the first $30,000 raised through ticket sales for the event.

“It cannot be underestimated how important it is to be able to offer competitive scholarship packages to student athlete recruits,” says Ken McInnes, executive director, Sport and Recreation Services. “The money raised through this breakfast directly affects our coaches’ ability to bring high calibre student athletes to campus.”

Hughes is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both summer and winter Olympic Games, representing Canada in both speed skating and cycling. In addition, she served as the flag-bearer for Team Canada in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games opening ceremony.

In 2011, Hughes served as the national spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk, a campaign designed to end the stigma attached to mental illness. In 2014, undertaking Clara’s Big Ride, she completed a 110-day national bicycle tour through every province and territory in Canada. As part of the ride, she covered more than 11,000 kilometres, visited 105 communities and attended more than 235 events raising awareness for mental health. She is also the author of the bestselling, acclaimed memoir, Open Heart, Open Mind.

Over the course of her distinguished career, Hughes has won countless awards. She received the International Olympic Committee’s Sport and Community Trophy; she was honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame; she was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame; and she is a member of the Order of Manitoba and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Hughes presently sits on the International Board of Directors for Right To Play, a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. She is also an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The estimated attendance for the 2016 Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast is 400 guests, with tickets available at: uleth.ca/tickets. There are also many opportunities for individual and corporate support. Those who would like to be a valued sponsor can contact Robb Engen at 403-332-5253 or by emailing giving.pronghorns@uleth.ca.

Trinh assumes head coaching role, drops interim tag

trevor.kenney — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:41:12 +0000

Fred Trinh has had the interim tag removed from his title and will lead the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer program moving forward. Longtime former head coach Ilsa Wong will remain with the program and move into an assistant coach's role.

“I am very pleased that both Fred and Ilsa have renewed their commitment to our program,” says Sport and Recreation Executive Director Ken McInnes. “Their leadership, and the removal of the interim coach title for Fred, will bring much needed stability to the program. Fred and Ilsa’s hard work and passion for the sport is clear and they have been instrumental in the development of women's soccer here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

Last season under Trinh’s guidance as the interim head coach, the Horns went 2-9-3 and made their first playoff appearance since 2007. The club lost a one-game playoff to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan.

“It is with great joy that I am named head coach moving forward,” says Trinh. “Not only do I get to work with a great group of players and coaches (Gui Costa, Layne Hamilton, Jesse Dyck, Jared Evans and Chris Tuck) but we also get to welcome Ilsa Wong back as assistant coach after a year away from the sidelines.”

“In my opinion the real winners are the student-athletes as they gain the wisdom and experience of two excellent coaches,” adds McInnes. “I am looking forward to watching the coaching staff and athletes build on their quarter-final playoff appearance of last year.”

Trinh, a long standing member of the southern Alberta soccer community, holds a CSA National B license and in addition to his longtime role with the Pronghorns, he has been the head coach for the Sunny South District Soccer Association and led the Coaldale Thunder U10 team.

Trinh has also served as Learning Facilitator for the Alberta Soccer Association. Learning Facilitators (LF) play a key role in the LTPD Coaching Pathway. The LF takes on the responsibility for training and developing coaches who are looking to enhance their own individual experience and qualifications through formal training and certification programs.

Prior to last season, Wong decided to take a step back from the program after 15 seasons as head coach. The Horns made two playoff appearances during her 15 seasons at the helm of the program, with the last being in 2007 when the club lost in the Canada West quarter-final. Wong was also named the Canada West coach of the year that season.

“Ilsa will be a welcomed addition to our day-to-day coaching staff as she brings a great deal of experience," says Trinh.

The Horns will open training camp for the 2016 season in early August and the 2016 season will commence in early September. The finalized 2016 Canada West schedule will be announced in June.

Open Mike - 2015 was a year of change

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 16:58:55 +0000

The holiday season offers us the opportunity to take pause and reflect on the past year, one that can be classified as a year of great change, both in our province and in our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

At the forefront are the sweeping changes to government and the election of a new governing party and a host of new ministers with which we are now engaging. The transition is still in its early stages and we remain very optimistic for the future of post-secondary education under this new leadership structure.

Thank you for your service in 2015 and I wish you all the best throughout the holiday season and into an exciting new year.

On campus, we have also seen a great deal of change. Dr. Claudia Malacrida, recently appointed as Associate Vice-President (Research), has joined the Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS), working closely with Vice-President (Research) Dr. Erasmus Okine. I’d like to thank personally the efforts of Dr. Matthew Letts in his role as Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) under both Dr. Leslie Brown and Dr. Okine as substantial change and transition took place in ORIS. The work he put in was invaluable and points to a great future as a senior administrator.

I’d also like to acknowledge the significant contributions of our outgoing Board of Governors Chair Gordon E. Jong and his wife Elizabeth Martin Jong (BFA ’81). Gordon has been a part of the U of L family since graduating with Bachelor of Science (1980) and Bachelor of Management (1982) degrees and has served as a member of our board since 2006. His commitment to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is remarkable and I know he will continue to champion the U of L going forward.

I would like to thank Richard Masson, who will be stepping into the role of Acting Board Chair during this time of transition, as well as Patrick Forrest, who will serve as Acting Vice-Chair.

We’ve realized some important milestones over the past year, from achieving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s greatest increase in enrollment numbers, to realizing a new benchmark in student retention rates. The U of L once again was ranked third nationally in the annual Maclean’s rankings and garnered a top-five ranking from Research Infosource.

Pronghorn Athletics also underwent significant change over the past year and I’m excited for the future of our athletic programs under our new Director of Sport & Recreation Services, Ken McInnes.

It has been a very positive start to the 2015-16 season with the women’s soccer program qualifying for playoffs, the women’s rugby team earning a berth in the national championship tournament and both our men’s and women’s hockey teams getting off to hot starts in Canada West play. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball program is on top of the Pioneer Division at the holiday break and looks poised for a big season.

In speaking both with coaches and athletes, it’s quite evident that they are feeling much better about their place at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and I believe that stability and enthusiasm has translated into great results.

I have always believed that having a vibrant athletics program is an essential aspect of an engaged campus, much in the same way our Faculty of Fine Arts adds to the campus experience. Both athletics and the arts contribute so much to the campus experience, and likewise to the southern Alberta community.

I thank everyone for the roles they played in helping the U of L achieve these accolades. From great teaching to important research and terrific service to our students and the southern Alberta community, everyone on campus has played a part in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s successes.

As I look ahead to 2016, I’m optimistic even more good news is on the horizon. We are looking forward to further development of the Destination Project and with our 50th Anniversary just a year away, plans continue to take shape for that significant milestone in our university’s history. Please engage with the anniversary committee should you have any ideas on how the U of L should mark the occasion.

Thank you for your service in 2015 and I wish you all the best throughout the holiday season and into an exciting new year.

UNews - Ken McInnes

Three-time Olympic medalist Meaghan Mikkelson headlines 8th annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast

Related Topics

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ Cup teams, seedings are set, Pronghorns open against Canada West champion Golden Bears

Related Topics

Cavendish Farms title sponsor for 2019 U SPORTS ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship

Related Content

U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship comes to Lethbridge

Related Topics

Broadcaster and former NHL goaltender Kelly Hrudey to headline 7th Annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast

Related Topics

U Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship comes to Lethbridge

Related Topics

Pronghorns set new mark for Academic All-Canadians

Related Topics

U of L named as host for 2017 CIS Women's Rugby Championship

Related Topics

Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes to headline Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast

Related Topics

Trinh assumes head coaching role, drops interim tag

Related Topics

Open Mike - 2015 was a year of change

Related Topics

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup teams, seedings are set, Pronghorns open against Canada West champion Golden Bears

Cavendish Farms title sponsor for 2019 U SPORTS ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Men’s Hockey National Championship