Two former Pronghorns to have their jerseys retired

Pronghorn Athletic Director Neil Langevin said, “part of being a Pronghorn athlete is continuing the legacy of those exceptional student-athletes who established the foundation of our programs.”

“We have, in various ways, honoured some of these foundational athletes and now we are committing to a consistent program whereby we celebrate the contributions to Pronghorn Athletics in a manner befitting their accomplishments.”

SHAWNA (MOLCAK) KOLACZEK

Shawn (Molcak) Kolaczek played for the Pronghorns from 1986 to 1991.

She’s the first female student athlete at the U of L to have her jersey retired.

Former team head coach Trix Baker said, “she was one of the most successful athletes to come out of the University, and it was a great pleasure for me to have coached her at the university, provincial and national program level.”

Kolaczek was the Canada West Player of the Year for the 1988-1989 season.

She was also a four-time Canada West All-Star, a three-time CIAU All-Canadian and the U of L Female Athlete of the Year for four straight years (1987-1991).

Three decades after she suited up for the Pronghorns, she is still the program’s all-time leader in points (1,551) and assists (368). Her career point total remains among the top 15 in Canada West history.

Kolaczek was the Canada West scoring leader for the 1988-1989 season.

She was also named to the 1988 CIAU All-Tournament team as the program made its second-ever appearance ever at the national tournament.

Internationally, Kolaczek represented Canada continuously from 1990 to 2000. She was a part of the 1996 Canadian Olympic team at the Atlanta Olympics.

She won bronze at the 1990 World Student Games and helped Canada in winning gold at the 1995 America’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Kolaczek went on to play elite European professional basketball. That includes seven years in Germany and one in Greece. She was named a First Division All-Star three times.

PERRY MIRKOVICH

The Lethbridge-born Perry Mirkovich joined the U of L men’s basketball team in 1975 after graduating from Winston Churchill High School.

Former head coach Ken Olynyk said he was “one of the most skilled and outstanding university basketball player I had the good fortune to coach.”

He played all five years of his collegiate eligibility with the Pronghorns and was named to the Canada West All-Star team in each of his final three seasons.

Mirkovich won back-to-back Canada West scoring titles in 1978-1979 and 1979-1980.

He wrapped up his university career by being named to the CIAU All-Canadian team in his last season. As well, he was named the U of L Male Athlete of the Year in 1980.

At the end of his career with the Pronghorns, Mirkovich held the school’s all-time scoring record with 1,690 points. That record was in place for nearly 20 years.

He is still the second on the all-time scoring list and third in career rebounds with 757.

Mirkovich had also set the program’s single season record for points in a single game. On November 9, 1979, he scored 43 points against the Victoria Vikes. That record was shared until 2018.

After playing with the ‘Horns, he was named to the 1980 Canadian National team.

Despite Canada boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Mirkovich is officially recognized as a Canadian Olympian.

During the qualification process for the Games, he helped lead Canada to a silver media at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

Later that summer, he was selected in the sixth-round of the NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers. Additionally, he was named the Southern Alberta Male Athlete of the Year.

Former coach Olynyk said, “Perry was a dominant force on the court, drafted by the NBA in 1980, a European pro and most importantly one of the finest people I have come across in my lifetime.”

“Following four decades of friendship, I am extremely pleased the University of Lethbridge is bestowing this deserving honour and recognizing Perry’s accomplishments by retiring his uniform.”

A date has yet to be set for when the two athletes’ jerseys will be retired.

by Justin Goulet

Two former Pronghorns to have their jerseys retired

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