Lethbridge College Kodiaks to be inducted into ACAC Hall of Fame

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) announced that two Lethbridge College Kodiaks representatives, Bertil Johansson and the 1988-90 women’s basketball team, will be inducted into the ACAC Hall of Fame on May 10. The induction is considered a testament to the enduring legacy of the organization in promoting sports and academic excellence in Alberta's post-secondary educational institutions.

Johansson, who served as the Kodiaks cross-country and indoor track head coach from 1987 until 2018, will be honoured as a coach inductee. He led the Kodiaks women’s team to its first ACAC championship in the fall of 1988 and went on to coach student-athletes to 54 gold medals in the ACAC and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) in 32 seasons. In addition, he led his teams to more than 100 conference and national honours. These achievements mark him as the most decorated coach in Kodiaks Athletics and ACAC history. 

Johansson's exceptional career extends beyond the ACAC, as he was inducted into Kodiaks Hall of Fame in February 2024, as well as the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. “Johansson's lasting legacy, marked by coaching excellence and numerous championships, will continue to inspire generations of student athletes and coaches, making him an unforgettable figure in the history of Kodiaks Athletics and the ACAC Hall of Fame,” says Todd Caughlin, Kodiaks Athletics director.

The Kodiaks 1988-90 women’s basketball team will also be honoured as a team inductee in this year’s ceremony. The first national championship in basketball came for what was then Lethbridge Community College in the 1988-89 season, thanks to depth and dominance on the court. Led by the towering presence of 6-foot-7 Laurie Hockridge, an All-Canadian and ACAC scoring leader, and ACAC All-Star guard Carrie Kuntz, the Kodiaks delivered an outstanding performance with a 14-0 league record and an impressive 35-1 overall record. Under the guidance of coach John Jasiukiewicz, who earned CCAA Coach of the Year honours that season, the Kodiaks secured their victory by beating the Quebec squad 62-45 in the national final.

The team's success continued in the 1989-90 season, showcasing a roster that included Barb Babott, Carrie Kuntz, Shelley Kormos, Laura Bethlehem, Lori Mathews, Carmen Knutson, Loretta Hazelaar, Amber Powelson, Trish Murphy, Laurie Hockridge, Sandra Royer, Cindi Gibb, Candice Kliebrink, Tina Bjornsrud, Jaylene Baker, Shanna Howells, Melanie Malchuk, Jenny Neufeld, and coach John Jasiukiewicz, along with assistant coach Kari Tollestrup. Not only did the team achieve back-to-back CCAA national championships, but they also garnered individual accolades, including Hockridge as CCAA National Player of the Year and Hockridge, Bethlehem and Kuntz being named All-Canadians.

“The team's exceptional achievements have left an enduring legacy, acknowledged by inductions into both the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame and the Kodiaks Hall of Fame, and now, their well-deserved place in the prestigious ACAC Hall of Fame,” says Caughlin.

They will be ceremony will take place on May 10 at the Holiday Inn And Suites Red Deer South. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/7300406320075358/?ref=newsfeed