Canada West Hall of Fame announces Class of 2024-25

Sept. 12, 2024 - The Canada West Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2024-25, bestowing the conference's highest honour on eight inductees across four categories.

This year's class features four additions in the "Athlete" category, including a pair of two-sport stars in Gaylene Barry (Calgary - Women's Field Hockey & Volleyball) and Jacqueline Lavalee (Saskatchewan - Women's Soccer & Basketball). Two basketball standouts were also named, including Terri-Lee Johannesson (Manitoba - Women's Basketball) and Jacob Doerksen (Victoria/Trinity Western - Men's Basketball).

The class welcomes a pair of inductees in the "Builder" category, including Ron & Jane Graham (Saskatchewan) and Ken Olynyk (Thompson Rivers).

Billy Moores (Alberta - Men's Hockey) has been inducted in the "Coach" category, while the 1980-91 Calgary Dinos Men's Swimming dynasty joins the "Team" category.

In addition to today's announcement, inductees will be celebrated with individual profiles and videos released throughout the 2024-25 season.

The Canada West Hall of Fame was established in 2019 to commemorate 100 years of university sporting excellence across Western Canada. All previous inductees can be viewed on the Canada West Hall of Fame website.

CW HOF Class of 2024-25: Athlete Category

Gaylene Barry (Donald) | Calgary - Field Hockey & Women's Volleyball

Gaylene Barry (Donald) thrived as a unique two-sport student-athlete, starring in both field hockey and volleyball for the University of Calgary from 1968-72. She established herself as one of the most decorated athletes in school history, being named University of Calgary Female Athlete of the Year in both 1970 and 1972.

Barry has the unique distinction of playing on three conference championship teams in two different sports over a span of three years. In addition, she led two conference championship teams in two different sports in the same calendar year.

Following her varsity career, Barry would go on to play for the National Women’s Field Hockey team from 1972 through 1977, including competing for Canada at the 1975 World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jacqueline Lavallee | Saskatchewan - Women's Soccer & Basketball

For Lavallee, one sport was not enough. She became a two-sport star during her time at the University of Saskatchewan, excelling in both soccer and basketball.

On the soccer pitch, Lavallee was named a Canada West all-star midfielder twice (1999 and 2001) and All-Canadian in 1999. Lavallee added to her trophy case in basketball where she was a three-time Canada West all-star point guard (1997, 2000 and 2002) and an All-Canadian in the 2001-2002 season.

As a senior, she had a remarkable final season on the basketball court as she finished second in Canada West scoring and ranked third nationally. For her efforts, Lavallee received the Tom Longboat award in 2000, recognizing outstanding aboriginal ability. She was also awarded the National Sylvia Sweeney award in 2002 and named a CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian.

In addition to a great career with the Huskies, Lavallee had the opportunity to play internationally for Canada in three tournaments and twice at the World University Games in 1999 and 2001. She also was a member of Canadian National Basketball team from 2002-04.

Terri-Lee Johannesson | Manitoba - Women's Basketball

Guard T.L. (Terri-Lee) Johannesson made an immediate impact for the Bisons women’s basketball team upon her arrival to the varsity sports scene, culminating in back-to-back national championships in 1996 and 1997.

In 1991, Johannesson was named the GPAC Rookie of the Year, the first of countless conference and national accomplishments in her career. She was a three-time CIAU All-Canadian in 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1997-98 and ​ the National Championship Tournament MVP in 1995-96 (scored 30 points) and 1996-97 where she helped the Bisons become one of just nine teams to repeat as national champs in U SPORTS history.

A consistent scoring threat, Johannesson won the GPAC scoring title in her graduating year in 1996-97, setting a program record with 26.2 points per game. She was named the CIAU Female Athlete of the Year that season, becoming the first Bison, and one of just two to ever win the prestigious award.

Johannesson was also Manitoba’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1996 and 1997. She’s one of just seven individuals to accomplish the honour of winning the award twice in the 61-year history of the award.

Jacob Doerksen | Victoria & Trinity Western - Men's Basketball

Starring for both the Victoria Vikes (2005-07) and the Trinity Western Spartans (2008-11), Doerksen was one of the most dominant men's basketball players of his generation. He accomplished the rare feat of being named a five-time Canada West All-Star, including receiving four first team nods.

He was named the CW and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year after a dynamic debut season for the Vikes in 2005-06, helping Victoria claim the conference title and a silver medal at CIS nationals. He took his game to another level after joining Trinity Western for the 2007-08 season, being named CW and U SPORTS Player of the Year in 2008-09. He led the Spartans to their first CIS Final 8 appearance in his senior season in 2010-11, helping TWU all the way to the national championship final.

CW HOF Class of 2024-25: Builder Category

Ken Olynyk | Thompson Rivers

The man at the helm for over 15 years, there can be no doubt that Ken Olynyk left a tremendous impact on Thompson Rivers University, the WolfPack and the greater Kamloops community. With a long-lasting legacy that includes guiding the department through some of the most important years in its history, Olynyk laid the foundation for what the WolfPack are today and what they will be for years to come.

Joining the UCC Sun Demons in 2003, Olynyk oversaw not just the transition of the department from CCAA to CIS (U SPORTS) competition, but also led the way when the Sun Demons became the WolfPack in 2005-06. During his tenure Olynyk led the department to nine U SPORTS team national championship appearances, including three silver medal and a pair bronze medal performances. Over his time with the WolfPack over 400 student-athletes earned either PACWEST Academic Excellence or U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours. In the community Olynyk pushed the WolfPack to become leaders in both Kamloops and beyond with the athletic department raising countless dollars to support numerous initiatives.

Ron & Jane Graham | Saskatchewan

With deep rooted connections to the University of Saskatchewan, Ron and Jane Graham have had a profound impact on Huskie Athletics and the lives of countless U of S students and student-athletes.

Ron and Jane have been long time supporters of the university, making contributions to both the College of Education and the College of Engineering. As well, they have donated to the U of S scholarship funds for both students at large and Huskie basketball and football athletes.

In 2006, Jane and Ron financed a new clubhouse for the Huskies football team at Griffiths Stadium that featured lockers, meeting and office rooms, laundry facilities and ticket windows. In 2010, they donated to expand on the clubhouse to provide more meeting rooms and a workout facility for the football team. The centre is named the Graham Huskie Clubhouse to also acknowledge Ron's father, Peter, who played Huskies basketball and football in the 1930s.

CW HOF Class of 2024-25: Coach Category

Billy Moores | Alberta - Men's Hockey

While Bill was known as an outstanding athlete, it is as a builder of sport that he left his greatest legacy, leaving a legacy as one of the University of Alberta's great coaches.

From 1976 to 1994, Moores was an outstanding member of the coaching staff of the Golden Bears men's hockey team. He was first named head coach during the 1979-80 season when Clare Drake was seconded to serve as the head coach of the Canadian Olympic team. Moores assumed head coaching duties again in 1983-84 and later replaced Coach Drake as the team's head coach in 1989, serving in that capacity until 1994. In his seven seasons as the Golden Bears' head coach, the team's overall win-loss-tie record was 220-80-23 (.717), including a 129-44-20 (.720) record in Canada West conference play.

Peers of Moores have always held him in high esteem. He was named the Canada West Men's Hockey Coach of the Year on four occasions - 1984, 1990, 1991, 1993 - and as the CIAU Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1991. During his years as the head coach of the Bears, Bill led them to five CIAU national championship tournaments and to University Cup victories in 1980 and 1992. His teams won five Canada West titles and never finished lower than second place - a remarkable record.

CW HOF Class of 2024-25: Team Category

Calgary Dinos Men's Swimming | 1980-91

The Dinos were the most dominant force in university swimming between 1980-91, capturing a remarkable 11 straight conference titles. The team was also a powerhouse on the national stage, capturing nine national titles over that stretch.

The team featured seven olympians, including Rob Chernoff (1984), Tom Ponting (1984, 1988, 1992), Mike Meldrum (1988), Gary Vandermeulen (1988), Steven Vandermeulen (1988), Jon Cleveland (1988, 1992), and Mark Tewksbury (1988, 1992). The Canadian bronze medal winning 4x100m medley relay team at the 1992 Olympics featured three members of the Dinos men’s swim team, including Cleveland, Ponting, and Tewksbury. Tewksbury would also capture a gold medal at the 1992 games in the 100m backstroke.

Tewksbury was inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2019, and would later be joined by the team's head coach Derek Snelling, who was inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2022.

ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME

For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men's hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life. 

To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019. This year's induction class will be unveiled throughout the 2023-24 season.