Horns' Veldman captures national award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:57:51 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduating forward Kim Veldman became only the second member of the Pronghorns women's basketball program to win a CIS major award after she was named the 2015 recipient of the Sylvia Sweeney Award at the CIS National Championship awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

Fifth-year forward Kim Veldman has been recognized by the CIS for leadership, academic achievement and community involvement.

The Sylvia Sweeney Award recognizes excellence in basketball, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and community service. Veldman, a fifth-year forward, has been a leader on and off the floor for the Pronghorns and will go down as one of the best players and student-athletes to ever come through the program.

On the floor, Veldman was the conference's second leading scorer this season, averaging 18.6 points per game. She leaves the Pronghorns as the school's all-time leading rebounder and second leading scorer with 805 boards and 1,391 points over the course of her five campaigns with the team. She was named a Canada West first-team all-star in this, her final season.

While excelling on the court, she also shone in the classroom, earning her Bachelor of Nursing degree in four years, while being named an Academic All-Canadian every year. She will be well on her way to a fifth AAC award while beginning her Master of Nursing program.

"As a humble and even-keel player, Kim has had to work hard to develop her leadership skills," says Pronghorns head coach Erin McAleenan. "Over the last three years of working with her, she has grown immensely not only as a player, but as a person. She has become a confident leader both on and off the floor, and she inspires her teammates on a daily basis. Kim has changed the culture of our program and has had a tremendous impact on the players, coaches and community."

Veldman has been heavily involved in community service as well. She has volunteered as a coach within the Jr Horns basketball program and worked at skills clinics and summer camps; participates in the Reading Buddies program; volunteers one day a week in an elementary classroom and twice a week to lead their co-ed basketball intramural program; volunteered with the Special Olympics where she taught the participants basketball skills and drills; and is active within her church as part of the Trinity Reform Church youth group.

Acadia guard Aprille Deus, Laval wing Raphaëlle Côté and Wilfrid Laurier guard Lee Anna Osei were also nominated for the award.

Veldman joins former Horns head coach Louisa Zerbe, who received the Peter Ennis Award as coach of the year in 1985, as the only other CIS major award winner in program history.

McAleenan looks ahead as new Horns coach

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:40:06 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed Erin McAleenan as the new Pronghorn women's basketball coach recently, the 10th head coach in the program's history.

"We are really excited to have a dynamic young coach whose vision will help move our program forward," says Executive Director of Sport and Recreation Sandy Slavin. "

McAleenan comes to the 'Horns from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas, where she spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach. She also brings a wealth of national and provincial team experience to the program.

She was an assistant coach with the Canadian Developmental National team at the Pan Am Games in 2011 and an apprentice coach with the Canadian Senior National team in summer 2011.

As well, McAleenan has coached in the both the Alberta and Ontario Basketball Associations with numerous teams, including the head coach of the Alberta U17 girls last summer and this coming summer.

"I am thrilled about my appointment as head coach," says McAleenan. "I am looking forward to working in such a strong basketball community and for a university that prides itself of personal connections and community engagement."

"My first priority will be to meet with the current student-athletes and prepare our vision for next season."
Prior to joining the U of A Pandas as an assistant, McAleenan spent five years teaching and coaching high school basketball at Trinity College School, a private school in Port Hope, Ontario.

The Sussex, New Brunswick native also played at the university level, playing for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Acadia from 1999 to 2003.

"I am extremely excited to have been given the opportunity to be a CIS head coach, as I value the role that we have in developing student-athletes both on and off the court," says McAleenan. "I believe that with a strong work ethic, passion and commitment, we can be the program that excels in developing future leaders in the community while being committed to excellence on the court."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Women's Basketball Coaches
Glen Alexander (1972-73)
Jack Lilja (1973-77)
Donna Roman (1977-79)
Louisa Zerbe (1979-86)
Cal O'Brien (1986-87)
Trix Baker (1987-91)
Dori Johnson (Rodzinyak) (1991-2000)
Shannon Finnie (2000-04)
Donna Branch (2004-12)
Erin McAleenan (2012- present)

UNews - Louisa Zerbe

Horns' Veldman captures national award

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