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

February 25, 2026 - The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2026 induction class which includes athletes Ross Bekkering (Basketball), Wacey Rabbit (Hockey), Kris Versteeg (Hockey), team award to the 2016-2017 Women's Kodiak Basketball National Championship team (Basketball), builder Dr. Alan Poytress (Triathlon), special award Ralph Family (Multi-sport) and historical inductee Pearl Violet Borgal (Multi-sport).

The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame has also selected the two Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year. The Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year acknowledges individuals for outstanding performance or participation in sports while representing or from Lethbridge.

The 2026 female recipient is Shannon Clarke (MMA) and the male recipient Coby Iwaasa (Racquetball).

The induction ceremony will take place on May 8 at Excite Lethbridge (Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre) in the Lakeview Salon. Tickets for the ceremony are $75 for adults and $40 for children under 12. Tickets will be available soon for purchase at the Lethbridge Sports Hall of fame website.

2026 Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame inductees:

Athlete - Ross Bekkering

Ross Bekkering’s basketball career has taken him across the globe. The athlete of Canadian-Dutch descent who hails from Taber had a storied five-year run with the University of Calgary Dinos of the Canada West. Afterwards, he took his game internationally, playing in the Dutch Basketball League from 2010 to 2016 before representing the Netherlands Men’s 3x3 Basketball Team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Athlete - Wacey Rabbit

From the hockey rink to the rodeo grounds, Wacey Saapaata Rabbit has personified dedication and leadership. His hockey career started in his home community with the Kainai Minor Hockey Little Braves and ultimately took him through the Western Hockey League and around the world. Also enjoying a brief rodeo stint in mutton busting, Saapaata Rabbit has remained deeply connected to his Siksikaitsitapi roots.

Athlete - Kris Versteeg

A north-side Lethbridge product, Kris Versteeg honed his hockey talents in Lethbridge, ultimately leading to an 11-year career in the National Hockey League.
In that time, he brought home two Stanley Cups as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks to celebrate with his hometown supporters. His career also took him overseas as a representative of Team Canada, winning the 2019 Spengler
Cup at Eisstadion Davos in Davos, Switzerland.

Team Award - 2016-2017 Women's Kodiak Basketball National Championship team

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks womens’ basketball team was simply unbeatable in the 2016-17 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season. The Kodiaks went a perfect 21-0 in ACAC regular season play, ultimately capturing the provincial title athome with an 85-54 win over the St. Mary’s Lightning. The Kodiaks capped off the perfect season with their fourth national title, defeating Montreal’s Dawson College Lady Blues 81-57 in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association final in Edmonton.

Builder - Dr. Alan Poytress

Since starting the Fort Macleod Triathlon over two decades ago, Dr. Alan Poytress remains the driving force behind the annual event. Beginning in 2003, the Fort Macleod Triathlon continues to encourage fun and fitness to participants of all ages.
Triathlon has also taken Poytress around the world, competing at events in Canada, the US and in New Zealand.

Special Award - Ralph Family

The Ralph family - Dustin, Brock, Brett, Jade, Kenzie, Jimmy, mother Shelly and father Jim – have excelled in all sports they’ve played in. Whether it was baseball, basketball, football, rugby or dancing, the family from Raymond have made their
sporting mark on southern Alberta. What’s more, the Ralph family has done so in a player, coaching, and sport administrator capacity.

Historical Award - Pearl Violet Borgal

Sports were an essential part of Pearl Borgal’s life, and she played many of them. Born in Swift Current in 1910, Borgal was Alberta's first Junior Swimming Champion. She also participated in the saddle club, speed skating, swimming, hockey, basketball and golf and was a rodeo star, pioneer sports broadcaster and tireless volunteer for her community. Borgal was honoured by the Sarcee Band with the name of Morning Star. In recognition of many of her achievements, Pearl was named to the Lethbridge Community College Hall of Fame and the City of Lethbridge named a street in her honour, in addition to presenting a Scroll of Outstanding Service.

2026 Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year

Shannon Clark – Mixed Martial Artist

Mixed martial artist Shannon Clark went 2-0 on the Legacy Fighting Alliance circuit in 2025 while earning the title of LFA Women’s Flyweight Champion.

Clark beat American Cheyanne Bowers for the LFA Flyweight Championship for 125lbs on January 25 in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

The MMA athlete nicknamed “MMA Barbie” defeated Brazil’s Beatriz Consuli in LFA 221 November 7, in Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil to retain her LFA title and improve her professional record to 7-1-0.

Coby Iwaasa – Racquetball

The medal count continued both domestically and internationally for Coby Iwaasa in 2025. The Lethbridge racquetball player scored double gold at the 2025 Racquetball
Canada National Championships in Burlington, Ontario in May in men’s singles and doubles. Iwaasa then headed to China, where he won the bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu.

The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame has inducted more than 350 members since its formation in 1985 as part of the City of Lethbridge’s Centennial celebrations. The mandate of the hall is to identify and honour not only contemporary individuals, but also those who have excelled in sport at some time since the founding of Lethbridge.