2018 Kinsmen Sportspersons of the Year Announcement

The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2018 KINSMEN SPORTSPERSONS OF THE YEAR as we celebrate our 34th year of recognizing sporting excellence in the Lethbridge region. The 2019 Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Ceremony will take place Friday, May 3 at the Canadian Western Bank Lounge at the ENMAX Center, where we will honor our induction nominees that were announced in February and the following Sportspersons of the Year.

2018 Kinsmen Sportsperson of the Year (Female) – SANDRA LATRACE (track & field)

Sandra Latrace returned to competition with the University of Lethbridge Track & Field Team in 2018 after having missed the previous indoor season due to injury. The time off did not hamper the Brooks, Alberta product in the least as she recaptured her dominant form in the long jump and began to emerge as a national threat in the 60-metre dash. Latrace opened the Canada West indoor track season with long jump gold medals in each of the Golden Bears Open and Bison Classic meets, while also adding a 60-metre dash gold medal at the University of Manitoba meet. At the Canada West Championship, she again leapt to gold in the long jump and secured her first conference medal in the 60-metre sprint, earning bronze.

Latrace capped off her return season by continuing her career undefeated record in the long jump, claiming gold at the U SPORTS Championship meet with a season-best leap of 5.98 metres, a full 13 centimetres beyond the second-place finisher and was named the Pronghorn Female Athlete of the Year for her efforts. Off the track, the second-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (art studio) student was named an Academic All-Canadian for maintaining at least an 80 per cent average in the classroom.

2018 Kinsmen Sportsperson of the Year (Male) ROB KLINKHAMMER (Hockey)

Lethbridge-born, local minor hockey product Rob Klinkhammer has enjoyed a successful hockey career so far, but the 2018 hockey season was a very special one. As a member of the Canadian Men’s 2018 Olympic Hockey Team that competed in PyeongChang, South Korea last February, he brought home a bronze medal to Lethbridge. After a quarterfinal shutout win over Finland, the Canadian squad dropped a heartbreaking semifinal match to Germany. They then rebounded with a 6-4 triumph over the Czech Republic in the bronze medal match. Klinkhammer had 2 points and was solid defensively for Canada during the Olympic tournament. Being able to share the Olympic experience with family and friends only added to the memories.

After completing a WHL junior career that included parts of three seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2007, Rob has played in the AHL, the KHL and NHL. After his last NHL season in Edmonton in 2016, Rob made the move to the KHL in Russia and currently plays for Kazan Ak-Bars. He still calls Lethbridge home in the offseason.

The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame will recognize these Kinsmen Sportspersons of the Year, along with the following inductees at the May 3rd banquet at the Canadian Western Bank Lounge at the ENMAX Center.

TEAMS

Team Foster - 2008 Senior Ladies World Curling Championship Team

Lethbridge Little League All-Stars – 1981 Canadian Champions (13-year-old division)

ATHLETES

Trevor McAlpine (Judo)

Dawn Berry-Furtado (Golf)

BUILDERS

Ard Biesheuvel (Volleyball)

Bernhard Pohl (Mixed Martial Arts)

SPECIAL AWARD

Carol Thibert (Multi Sport)

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY MARCH 15 at the ENMAX Center Ticket Office or phone (403)329-7328

$50 each or a table of 8 for $350