Canada West Hall of Fame announces Class of 2025-26

Jan. 12, 2026 - The Canada West Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2025-26, recognizing eight inductees across four categories.

This year's class features four additions in the Athlete category, including a pair of all-time basketball greats in Veronica Den Oudsten (Calgary - Women's Basketball) and Patrick Jebbison (Brandon - Men's Basketball). They are joined by a pair of relatively recent alumni in Iuliia Pakhomenko (Thompson Rivers - Women's Volleyball) and Canadian Olympian Regan Yee (Trinity Western - Cross Country/Track and Field).

The Builder category recognizes two of the conference's most influential leaders in Dr. Bob Steadward (Alberta) and Dr. Roger Jackson (Calgary).

Legendary men's volleyball coach Garth Pischke (Manitoba) joins the Coach category after a distinguished 38-year career at the helm of the Bisons. The 1987-89 Brandon Bobcats Men's Basketball dynasty rounds out the class in the Team category.

Individual spotlights for all eight inductees will be released on the Canada West website and social media channels over the next month.

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 2025-26: Athlete Category

Veronica Den Oudsten (VanderSchee)

Calgary Dinos Women's Basketball | 1985-90

Veronica Den Oudsten (VanderSchee) is considered one of the all-time greats in University of Calgary women’s basketball history, leading the Dinos to three conference championships and the 1989 national title.

VanderSchee captured the Nan Copp Award as CIS Player of the Year in both 1988 and 1990 and was also named the Dinos Female Athlete of the Year in each season. A dominant offensive threat, she helped lead Calgary to a remarkable 69-game unbeaten streak against CIS and NCAA competition, a North American record at the time.

The highlight of that run came with the 1989 national championship, capped by a 92–55 victory over UPEI in the title game. VanderSchee was named championship MVP and remains sixth on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,335 points in just 70 career games.

Patrick Jebbison

Brandon Bobcats Men's Basketball | 1984-89

Leaving a legacy defined by excellence, consistency, and championship success, Patrick Jebbison is one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Brandon University history.

Recruited from Martin Grove Collegiate by legendary coach Jerry Hemmings, Jebbison starred for the Bobcats from 1984 to 1989, quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. He earned all-rookie and all-star recognition in his early seasons and played a pivotal role in Brandon University’s rise to national prominence.

Jebbison was central to the Bobcats’ historic run of three national championships, helping BU capture its first-ever national title in 1986-87 before repeating in 1988 and 1989. A two time GPAC Player of the Year, two time national player of the year, and multiple time first-team all-Canadian, he delivered iconic performances on the sport’s biggest stage, including a decisive defensive play in his final game to secure BU’s third straight national championship.

Iuliia Pakhomenko

Thompson Rivers Women's Volleyball | 2014-17

One of the most decorated student-athletes in Thompson Rivers University history, Iuliia Pakhomenko was a transformative talent for the WolfPack women’s volleyball team from 2014-17.

A dominant force on the left side, Pakhomenko earned U SPORTS All-Canadian honours in each of her three seasons with the WolfPack, highlighted by being named U SPORTS Player of the Year in 2015-16. At the conference level, Pakhomenko was a three-time Canada West First Team All-Star, the 2015-16 Canada West Player of the Year, and is also the only member of the WolfPack to ever be named the Canada West Female Athlete of the Year.

Joining a team that hadn't won a match in two seasons, Pakhomenko led the WolfPack to back-to-back sixth-place conference finishes and a pair of postseason berths. With her name littered throughout the Canada West record books, some of Pakhomenko’s many impressive achievements include: first in CW career history with 4.60 kills-per-set, second in CW single season history with 425 kills, second in CW single season history with 496.5 points, third in CW career history with .502 aces-per-set, while also holding seven of the top ten highest kill matches in CW history.

A true game-changer when it comes to the history of TRU Athletics, the native of Donetsk, Ukraine will forever be remembered as one of the most outstanding student-athletes to represent the WolfPack.

Regan Yee

Trinity Western Cross Country & Track and Field | 2013-18

Regan Yee enjoyed one of the most decorated athletic careers in Trinity Western history from 2013 to 2018, excelling in both cross country and track and field. A six-time Canada West team champion, Yee earned Canada West track and field rookie of the year honours in 2013-14 after a stellar debut campaign, and was named the conference's cross country athlete of the year in 2017-18. Across her career, she collected 10 Canada West individual medals and all-star selections, including seven first-team honours, while playing a central role in TWU’s sustained success at the conference level.

Yee’s impact extended nationally, helping Trinity Western teams secure five U SPORTS medals and earning several U SPORTS All-Canadian selections. Her competitive excellence, leadership, and commitment to academics defined her time at TWU and set the foundation for an elite international career. She has gone on to represent Canada at the 2019, 2022, and 2023 World Athletics Championships as well as at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, specializing in the 3000m steeplechase.

CW HOF Class of 2025-26: Builder Category

Dr. Bob Steadward

Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

Dr. Bob Steadward’s impact on the University of Alberta is foundational and far-reaching, particularly in athletics and inclusive sport. A former Golden Bears track and field student-athlete, Steadward went on to shape the U of A’s athletic identity by creating the Green and Gold Athletic Society, serving as Chair of the Department of Athletics, and inaugurating the Sports Wall of Fame dinner. His leadership helped modernize and strengthen the university’s athletics structure, alumni engagement, and recognition of sporting excellence.

Most notably, he founded The Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement on the University of Alberta campus, establishing a globally recognized hub for multi-disability sport, fitness, research, and education. Now a Professor Emeritus, his work positioned the U of A as an international leader in adapted physical activity and inclusive sport. While his influence extended worldwide through roles with the Paralympic and Olympic movements, his lasting legacy is deeply rooted at the University of Alberta, where his vision continues to advance opportunity, excellence, and leadership within Canada West and beyond.

Dr. Roger Jackson

Calgary Dinos

Dr. Roger Jackson’s impact on the University of Calgary is evident across its academic, research, and athletic landscape. Appointed Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education (now Kinesiology) in 1978, he established the faculty’s first master’s and doctoral programs and built a strong research culture that elevated the university’s national profile. His leadership also led to the creation of the Sport Medicine Centre in 1988, which he founded and funded, and later the Roger Jackson Centre for Health and Wellness Research, opened in 2005 in recognition of his lasting contributions.

Jackson was equally influential in shaping athletics at the University of Calgary. He played a key role in expanding the Physical Education Building and was a guiding force behind the construction of the Olympic Oval, aligning major facility development with the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Many of the university’s premier athletic facilities and scholarship philosophies reflect his vision, leaving a legacy that continues to strengthen the University of Calgary’s standing within Canada West.

CW HOF Class of 2025-26: Coach Category

Garth Pischke

Manitoba Bisons Men's Volleyball | 1979-96, 2000-20

Garth Pischke stands as one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in Canadian volleyball history, serving as head coach of the Manitoba Bisons men’s volleyball program for 38 seasons before retiring following the 2019-20 campaign.

Pischke's transition to coaching came naturally after one of the most accomplished playing careers in Canadian volleyball history. As a middle blocker, he led the Winnipeg Wesmen to national championships in 1974 and 1977, before joining the Bisons and leading the Herd to a national title in 1978. He also represented Canada at the Olympics in 1976 and 1984.

Taking over as Bisons bench boss in 1979, the Bisons proceeded to qualify for the U SPORTS National Championships 27 times, including a remarkable stretch of 19 consecutive appearances and 14 straight seasons earning a national medal. His teams captured nine national championships, along with nine silver medals and five bronze medals, establishing Manitoba as one of the most consistent and successful programs in the country.

Beyond wins and championships, Pischke built a program grounded in academic achievement and national-team development. A six-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year, he surpassed 1,300 career victories with the Bisons, while also developing 42 student-athletes that would go on to represent Canada in National Team programs.

CW HOF Class of 2025-26: Team Category

Brandon Bobcats Men's Basketball | 1987-89

The Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball program established itself as a national powerhouse in the late 1980s, capturing a hat-trick of national championships from 1987 to 1989 under legendary head coach Jerry Hemmings.

Brandon’s title run began in 1987 behind five-time first-team All-Canadian John Carson, who earned tournament MVP honours while leading the Bobcats to their first national championship. The program followed with a dominant 1988 season, going undefeated in conference play and completing a 30-game winning streak with a second straight national title.

The Bobcats completed the historic three-peat in 1989, once again capturing the GPAC conference championship and edging Victoria in the national final. The Bobcats deep roster was headlined by two time national player of the year Patrick Jebbison, while national tournament MVP Joey Vickery played a central role in securing Brandon’s third consecutive championship.

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.