Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame

As a hockey player who always hit the ice with a chip on his shoulder and with hands that could stickhandle in a phone booth, Kris Versteeg represented the best of what being from Lethbridge is all about.

When his NHL career took off, the north-side Lethbridge product never forgot his roots, taking two Stanley Cup championships back to his hometown. Developing his hockey skills in Lethbridge, Versteeg scored over 100 goals in his second Atom AA season. The stick in which he scored his 100th goal remains in his Lethbridge basement today. In his second year of bantam Kris played for the Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks, leading his team in scoring with 62 points in 36 games.

In 2002-2003, Versteeg walked on to a Bryan Maxwell-led Lethbridge Hurricanes club and made the Western Hockey League team as a 16-year-old undrafted player. In Versteeg’s NHL draft-eligible 2003-2004 season, he led the Hurricanes in scoring and played in the Canadian Hockey League’s top prospects game in the Canada vs Russia Series. He also represented Canada in the U18 Championships in Belarus.

Versteeg was selected by the Boston Bruins in the 5th round and 134th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and made his professional debut in 2005-2006, playing in the final 13 games of the season with Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate Providence Bruins. During the 2006-2007 season while leading the AHL in rookie scoring, the Bruins traded Versteeg to the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 3, 2007.

Versteeg made his NHL debut November 7, 2007 against the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome. On January 3, 2008, against the Pheonix Coyotes, Versteeg scored his first NHL goal. In his first full NHL season in 2008-2009, Versteeg tallied 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points, scoring the first ever goal at Wrigley Field during the 2009 Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings. That year, he was also nominated for NHL Rookie of the Year and made the NHL All Rookie First Team.

In 2009-2010, Versteeg scored 20 goals and 48 points and added another 14 points in 22 playoff games, helping the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup title, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. That summer Versteeg brought the Stanley Cup back to Lethbridge to celebrate with everyone in the city. After stints with the Maple Leafs, Flyers, and Florida Panthers, Versteeg returned to Chicago in 2013-2014. That season, he scored a goal at Soldier Field, the 100th of his career, becoming the first and only person to score a goal at all three legendary Chicago sports venues. The 2014-2015 season saw Versteeg win his second Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks, which he once again brought back to Lethbridge.

In total, Versteeg laced up in 643 games, posting 149 goals and 358 points, while playing 93 playoff games, scoring 48 playoff points. After his NHL career, Versteeg had stops in Russia, Sweden and back in AHL Rockford before winning the 2019 Spengler Cup with Team Canada.

In April 2020, Versteeg transitioned into business and media. He co-founded Klevr.ai, a sports technology app, and hosts the VersSet Skills Camp in Taber. He has also worked as a hockey analyst, contributing to Sportsnet and other media outlets.

From rodeo roots to success at the highest levels of hockey, Wacey Saapaata Rabbit’s journey reflects resilience, leadership and a lifelong commitment to excellence. Wacey Coleman Saapaata Rabbit was named after World Champion bull rider Wacey Cathey and legendary saddle bronc rider Mel Coleman. While his rodeo career was brief, it was not without distinction with his lone competitive victory coming during Lethbridge Whoop-Up Days in mutton busting.

Saapaata Rabbit began playing minor hockey in his home community with the Kainai Minor Hockey Little Braves and played three seasons with Lethbridge Minor Hockey. Saapaata Rabbit was drafted by the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League in 2001. In his rookie season in 2002-2003, he emerged as one of the league’s top scorers, earning him a place on Team Alberta at the 2003 Canada Winter Games. There, he was chosen by his peers as the team’s flag bearer. Team Alberta went on to win the gold medal. At the Winter Games, Saapaata Rabbit was invited to the Team Canada U18 camp in Calgary and was named to the roster to compete at the U18 World Cup tournament.

In four seasons with the Blades, Saapaata Rabbit was named Rookie of the Year and twice earned the Top Defensive Forward award. He was also recognized with the WHL’s Humanitarian Award in honour of Doug Wickenheiser. Saapaata Rabbit concluded his junior career with the Vancouver Giants, contributing to the team’s Memorial Cup Championship season in 2007.

Saapaata Rabbit was selected in the 5th round at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. While he did not appear in an NHL game, he played a key role in the Bruins organization, contributing at the American Hockey League level with the Providence Bruins. He also played internationally, competing in several European leagues with stints in Norway, Croatia and Italy. He spent another season in the Asia League playing for the Kushiro Paper Clips, a Japan-based team. Saapaata Rabbit returned to the WHL in 2021 when he joined the Blades coaching staff.

As their defensive coach, the team set a new WHL record of allowing the fewest power play goals during the 2022- 23 season. He is currently coaching for the Giants in Vancouver.

Saapaata Rabbit has remained deeply connected to his Siksikaitsitapi roots. Each summer, he returns to attend ceremony, learning from trusted Elders and Spiritual Leaders who continue to guide his personal and professional life. Saapaata Rabbit is frequently invited into First Nation communities as a role model and motivational speaker, where he shares his experiences to inspire youth and community members.

Ross Bekkering is one of southern Alberta’s most accomplished basketball athletes whose career spans elite university competition, international professional play and Olympic participation, all while keeping a continued connection to the Lethbridge sport community.

A native of Taber and of Canadian-Dutch descent, Bekkering – who attended W.R. MyersHigh School – has lived and worked in Lethbridge as a high school teacher at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, while continuing to compete and represent Canada and the Netherlands at the highest levels of international basketball.

Bekkering enjoyed an outstanding university basketball career with the University of Calgary Dinos from 2005 to 2010. On the international stage, Bekkering represented Canada at the Summer Universiade on two occasions, earning a bronze medal at the 2007 Games in Bangkok, Thailand and competing again in 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia.

He later played professional five-on-five basketball for six years in the Netherlands before transitioning to the emerging sport of 3×3 basketball. He reached the pinnacle of his athletic career in 2021 when he competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games as a member of the Netherlands Men’s 3×3 Basketball Team.

In his five seasons with the Dinos, Bekkering was a two-time Canada West all-star, a two time CIS Second Team All-Canadian and was named the University of Calgary’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2008–09.

Standing at six-feet-eight-inches, Bekkering played as a forward and became the Dinos’ all-time leading rebounder with over 681 career rebounds. He averaged 17.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in his time with the Dinos. Transitioning to professional play, Bekkering competed primarily in the Dutch Basketball League from 2010 to 2016, suiting up for teams including ZZ Leiden, Nijmegen Magixx and Donar Groningen, where he achieved career-high averages of 13.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in the 2015–16 regular season.

In his six years playing professionally in the Dutch league, he was a 4 time Dutch League Champion, 2 time NBB cup winner, 2 time Dutch Supercup winner and 5 time All-Star. He was voted to the All-DBL team twice, DBL All-Defense team twice, and became the DBL Statistical Player of the Year in 2015-2016 in his last season overseas while leading the league in rebounding.

He also participated in 14 FIBA Europe Cup games with 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.

His international highlight came in 2021, competing for the Netherlands in the debut Olympic 3×3 basketball event at Tokyo 2020, marking his sole Games appearance. Playing alongside teammates Arvin Slagter, Jessey Voorn, and Dimeo van der Horst, the Netherlands compiled a 4–3 record in the pool stage with wins over the Russian Olympic Committee (18–15), Japan (21–20), China (21–18) and Poland (22–20 in overtime) while suffering narrow defeats to Serbia (15–16), Belgium (17–18 in overtime) and Latvia (18–22). The team advanced to the quarter-finals, but fell 19–21 to the Russian Olympic Committee, finishing fifth overall in the eight-team field.

Bekkering continues to contribute to sport in southern Alberta by mentoring young athletes and speaking at school and community sport events throughout the region. His journey, from southern Alberta gymnasiums to the Olympic stage serves as a powerful example of what is possible through dedication to sport and education.

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s basketball team was perfect during the 2016-17 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season. The Kodiaks went an unblemished 21-0 in the ACAC regular season before winning the ACAC provincial championship on home court. They capped off the nothing-but-net season by capturing the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association National Championship in Edmonton with an 81-57 victory over Montreal’s Dawson College Lady Blues.

The championship season was capped off by personal accolades as well. Kodiaks head coach Brad Karren was named the ACAC and CCAA Coach of the Year. Also, Kodiak Sunder West was named an ACAC First Team All-Star, ACAC Tournament MVP, CCAA Tournament MVP and CCAA Tournament First Team All-Star. Teammate Logan Moncks was honoured as an ACAC MVP and CCAA Tournament First Team All-Star while Emma Lowry earned ACAC First Team All-Star, ACAC Tournament All-Star and CCAA Tournament First Team All-Star nods. The Kodiaks’ dominant performance marked them as one of the greatest athletic teams in Lethbridge College history, with Karren leading them to a 73-3 record over three seasons, including the national title. In 2015-2016 the Kodiaks went 21-0 in ACAC regular season play, but would have to settle for a bronze in the ACAC playoffs, failing to qualify for the CCAA.

In 2016-17, the Kodiaks dominated the competition during the ACAC regular season enroute to their 21-0 record, defeating opponents by more than ten points in all but two games. Hosting the ACAC championship at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, the Kodiaks steamrolled past the Lakeland Rustlers in the opening round and overcame their semifinal demons from a year earlier with a convincing 66-50 victory over the SAIT Trojans. In front of a loud, capacity crowd, the Kodiaks posted a memorable 85-54 win over the St. Mary’s Lightning to capture their 13th ACAC championship in program history.

The Kodiaks headed north to NAIT in Edmonton to take on the best teams in Canada at the 2017 CCAA National Championships. Entering as the third seed, Lethbridge rolled past first round opponent British Columbia’s Douglas College 99-44 as West led the way with 26 points. The Kodiaks faced their toughest test of the season in the semifinal against Quebec champion Nomades de Montmorency. After the Kodiaks jumped out to a 19-point lead in the second quarter, the Nomades rallied and eventually tied the game at 70-70, setting up an exhilarating final two minutes. In the end, the Kodiaks hit a pair of clutch jumpers and prevailed 74-70, setting up a national title match with Montreal’s Dawson College.

In the national final against the Lady Blues, the Kodiaks overcame early nerves and rode West’s 23 points to an 81-57 victory, claiming the fourth CCAA women’s basketball championship in program history after previous wins in 1989, 1990 and 2004. The Kodiaks roster was rounded out by Makell Hofer, Jaclyn Heggie, Leah Ekubazgi, Amanda Lee, Shantaya Strebel, Hayley LePard, Bailey Nelson, Jinan Daqqa, Rebecca Lowry, Shayna Mathison, Brianne Hergott, Amy Arbon and Vienna Tamminen.

Whether it’s on the baseball diamond, basketball court, football field, the rugby pitch or clogging on the dance floor, the Ralph family have put their permanent mark on the southern Alberta sports scene. That has landed the Ralph family – Dustin, Brock, Brett, Jade, Kenzie, Jimmy, mother Shelly and father Jim – in the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame.

DUSTIN was a provincial champion in football as a bantam player in 1993 and as a high school player (Tier 1) in 1996. In 1995 Dustin represented the Team Alberta basketball team and in 1997 was the number one-ranked point guard in Alberta as selected by Cage Basketball Canada. In 1997, Dustin played Division I football for the BYU Cougars before transferring to the University of Wyoming to play for the Cowboys from 1999 to 2001, where he made the Mountain West All Conference Academic Team in 2020 & 2021). From 2002-2004, Dustin played for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, where he made the CIS All-Canadian Academic Team in 2004. For 3 consecutive years (2008, 2009 and 2010) Dustin was the Tier 1 Frank Morris High School Football Coach of the Year, guiding the team to three High School Football Tier 1 provincial championships. In 2010, Dustin won the Norm Kimball Football Alberta Coach of the Year Award and in 2011 was inducted into the Alberta Schools Athletic Association Hall of Fame as the Ralph Family.

BROCK excelled in football, track and field and baseball, winning Tier 1 provincial football championships in 1996 and 1997. In 1996, he won the high school provincial track and field gold medal in the triple jump and in 1997, won provincial gold in the 100m dash and triple jump. Brock played four years at the University of Wyoming before being drafted by the Ottawa Red Blacks. Brock won a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2003. He played in the CFL for nine years while playing for the Eskimos, Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers. On the ball diamond, Brock was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1998 in the 43rd round and was drafted again by the Orioles in 1999, selected in the 15th round. In his football coaching career, Brock won the Norm Kimball Football Coach of the Year award in 2019 and his team has won three Tier I championships.

BRETT also excelled in football, track and field and baseball. In 1997 and 1998 he was a High School Tier I Provincial football champion and in 1998 and 1999 won the High School Provincial Championship gold medal in the long jump. As a professional in football, he played for the Calgary Stampeders from 2005 to 2009, winning the Grey Cup Championship in 2008 while catching a touchdown pass. Brett played shortstop for Team Canada at the World Championship in 2000 and turned down offers from Bill Bychowski to turn pro with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1999 Brett played with the Lethbridge Elks baseball team, winning the American Legion Montana State Baseball Championship. Brett played as a freshman at Wyoming with

Dustin and Brock before transferring to Boise State. He was a member of the Boise State Broncos that won the Fort Worth Bowl in 2003.

As a dancer, JADE was a member of the United States America Onstage Intermountain Clogging Team in 2001. Jade coached several teams that took first place in Intermountain Clogging Championships.

KENZIE played at the Canadian Rugby Championship in 2007-2008 as a member of Team Alberta. She was also a member of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorn women’s rugby teams, winning Canada West and CIS National Championships in 2008 and 2009. Kenzie earned Canada West All Star recognition in 2009 and her Pronghorn teams were later inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame (2011), the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2015), and the Canada West Hall of Fame (2019)

JIMMY also starred in football, baseball and basketball. In addition to being one of the best point guards in Alberta. He was a member of two 4A Provincial Basketball Champions in 2009 and 2011 scoring 68 points in one game. Jimmy also played wide receiver and QB for the Raymond High School Comets, coached by his brother Dustin while winning three consecutive Tier I Provincial Football Championships 2008-2010. Jimmy played middle infield for the Team Canada Junior Baseball team at the World Championships in 2009. He played football for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 2014 and 2015, becoming a Canada West All-Star and CIS All-Canadian Champion. Jimmy’s CFL career took him to Toronto, where he played for the Argonauts from 2017 to 2019, winning the Grey Cup in 2017. Jimmy was awarded the Football Bantam Coach of the Year in 2025.

As a coach, SHELLY led her teams to provincial cheerleading championships in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

In 1975-76, JIM was an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and Four West champion as a player before placing third at Nationals. In 1976-77, he won a second ACAC Championship. In 1989, Jim was the head coach of the 4A provincial basketball championship team. In 2002, he was the coach of the Prairie Little League baseball champions. Jim spent over 20 years coaching Senior and Junior high Football and Basketball as well as Little League Baseball, and he was part of many Provincial Championship teams.

In sports, Pearl Borgal was a little bit of everything. “She was a swimmer, rodeo star, pioneer sports broadcaster and tireless volunteer for her community.” is how she was described upon her passing in 1993. Sports were an essential part of Pearl Borgal’s life, and she played a wide number of sports.

Born in Swift Current in 1910, Borgal was Alberta’s first Junior Swimming Champion. Borgal actively participated in the saddle club, speed skating, swimming, hockey, basketball and golf. She was a swimmer, rodeo star, pioneer sports broadcaster and tireless volunteer for her community.

Borgal moved to Calgary as a teenager and came to Lethbridge in 1936 as a newlywed. Upon her arrival, she and her husband, Ev Borgal, had an almost immediate effect on the sport of swimming in Lethbridge.

Competitive swimming started in Lethbridge in the late-1930s when Ev and Pearl organized two swim clubs, the Penguins for the girls and the Tarpons for the boys. Because of a lack of facilities in Lethbridge, the clubs had to use facilities in Raymond and Waterton. In 1939, the two groups were united into one team, the Tarquins.

The Second World War brought a break to competitive swimming in Lethbridge, during which Borgal served as an officer in the Canadian Auxiliary Territorial Services and was president of the Officers’ Wives Club at Lethbridge.

Following the War, she helped start the Lethbridge Figure Skating Club in 1948 and worked with the club until 1951.

In 1952, Pearl returned to Calgary. There, she had a daily sports program on CKXL radio. It is reported that her sports program was the first in Canada hosted by a woman.

In 1955, for Alberta 50th anniversary, she organized and served as Parade Marshall for the Jubilee women’s parade. Borgal returned to Lethbridge in the early 1970s, where she was part of the successful campaign to bring the Calgary Wranglers to Lethbridge where they became the Hurricanes.

She also managed publicity for the Lethbridge Exhibition for several years and was also on the Lethbridge planning commission, advocated for a senior citizens’ home to be constructed and was a member of the Home and School Association.

Borgal was also president of the Ladies’ Organization for Civic Improvement, vice president of the Lethbridge Community Council and helped to spearhead the building of the Civic Centre. Borgal was also president of the Officers’ Wives Club at Lethbridge during World War II and president of the Canadian Girls Rodeo Association.

Borgal was the founder of the Young At Heart Seniors Group. She was also a member of the Southern Alberta PC Women’s Association, Lethbridge and District Horticultural Society, Lethbridge Heritage Seniors Club and the Lest We Forget Committee.

In 1983, she established the Keep-In-Touch Society to connect elderly people through a telephone network. Borgal was also honoured by the Sarcee Band which gave her the name of Morning Star, while the City of Lethbridge named a street in her honour.

In recognition of her achievements, Pearl was named to the Lethbridge Community College Hall of Fame and given a Scroll of Outstanding Service from the City of Lethbridge.

LETHBRIDGE SPORTS
HALL OF FAME

A CELEBRATION OF SPORTS

WHO WE ARE

BANQUET INFORMATION

OUR 2026 INDUCTEES

Kris Versteeg

Kris Versteeg

Wacey Saapaata Rabbit

Wacey Saapaata Rabbit

Ross Bekkering

Ross Bekkering

2016-2017 Lethbridge Kodiaks Women's Basketball

2016-2017 Lethbridge Kodiaks Women's Basketball

Dr. Alan Poytress

Dr. Alan Poytress

Ralph Family

Ralph Family

Pearl Violet Borgal

Pearl Violet Borgal

FEMALE KINSMEN SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

MALE KINSMEN SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Shannon Clark

Shannon Clark

Coby Iwaasa

Coby Iwaasa

SEE ALL OUR INDUCTEES &
SPORT PERSONS OF THE YEAR

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NEWS

Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame announces 2026 Inductees & Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year

Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame announces 2025 Inductees & Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year

Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame Accepting Nominations

OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS

A CELEBRATION OF SPORTS

WHO WE ARE

BANQUET INFORMATION

OUR 2026 INDUCTEES

Kris Versteeg

Kris Versteeg

Wacey Saapaata Rabbit

Wacey Saapaata Rabbit

Ross Bekkering

Ross Bekkering

2016-2017 Lethbridge Kodiaks Women's Basketball

2016-2017 Lethbridge Kodiaks Women's Basketball

Dr. Alan Poytress

Dr. Alan Poytress

Ralph Family

Ralph Family

Pearl Violet Borgal

Pearl Violet Borgal

FEMALE KINSMEN SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

MALE KINSMEN SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Shannon Clark

Shannon Clark

Coby Iwaasa

Coby Iwaasa

SEE ALL OUR INDUCTEES & SPORT PERSONS OF THE YEAR

Nominations

NOMINATE A DESERVING CANDIDATE

NEWS

Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame announces 2026 Inductees & Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year