U of L Pronghorns alumnus donates $125,000 to women’s hockey program

Jan 24, 2020 | 2:42 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – More full-ride scholarships will be available to prospective students at the University of Lethbridge who play women’s hockey.

Dan Laplante graduated from the university in 1988 with a Bachelor of Management and is a retired entrepreneur and oilfield service company executive.

He has committed a $125,000 gift to offer 14 full-ride scholarships, which is the maximum that is allowed.

“Dan’s generosity and support for the Pronghorns Women’s Hockey Program will enhance the student-athlete experience and now provides the U of L with the ability to compete against other U SPORTS schools when it comes to recruiting the top U-18 female players in Canada and specifically Western Canada,” says Pronghorns Head Coach Doug Paisley.

“The U of L has always been one of the best post-secondary choices in Canada and the City of Lethbridge has so much to offer from a community standpoint. Dan’s backing of the hockey program now gives us the ability to build a perennial playoff contender and ultimately a team that can compete for a U SPORTS national championship.”

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U SPORTS has a cap on the number of scholarship dollars that can be provided to student-athletes so as to carefully manage the use of these funds.

Laplante says he wants to level the ice surface.

“The idea is to help our coaches by giving them a little more ammo. The entire experience at the U of L is wonderful, but until you get there some students may not know that. The key is to get them there.”

He believes university athletics is an excellent training ground, ensuring that athletes emerge into the workforce being driven, committed, and ultimately employable.

This is not the first time Laplante has made a significant contribution towards efforts like this.

In 2018, he donated $132,000 to the Pronghorns men’s hockey team.

by David Opinko