Joining the ranks of more than 330 past inductees in the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, are two athletes, two builders, one team and one special award winner. (Photo: LNN on March 29, 2023)

By Sarah Jones

Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame announces six new recipients for 2023

Mar 29, 2023 | 5:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Half a dozen southern Albertans are set to be inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame (LSHOF).

On March 29, 2023, the LSHOF announced that six trailblazing inductees will be honoured at a spring ceremony for their significant contribution in sport.

Chair of the LSHOF Paul Kingsmith explained that it’s not easy to whittle down the winners after receiving dozens of nominations.

“What surprises me every single year is the quality of individuals that we get,” said Kingsmith. “Every year, you think, maybe we can’t top that, and then you get another class of people who have done amazing things to represent Lethbridge and to build sport in the city.”

He went on, “We have people who have devoted their life to sport in other ways, out of the spotlight, and have been able to make their mark in other ways that the everyday person might not see, and so this class is great.”

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Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame 2022 inductees on March 29, 2023. (Photo: S Jones | LNN)

Joining the ranks of more than 330 past inductees are two athletes, two builders, one team and one special award winner.

The Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame also selected two Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year, a local male and female athlete.

The class of the 2023 Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame are as followed:

Ashley Patzer – Rugby (Athlete)

Debuting on the international stage in 2007 for both Women’s Rugby Sevens and Fifteens, Patzer has played on the biggest stages in rugby. She also took home a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Lanny Tron – Track and Field, Discus/Shot Put (Athlete)

Lanny Tron set the Canadian Midget shot put record in 1976. His talent allowed him to represent both Team Alberta and the Junior Canadian national team at competitions. He went on to compete for the Harvard University Track Team and was selected as captain for the 1982 season.

1979 Lethbridge Little League – Baseball (Team)

The 1979 Little League team boasts members still synonymous with baseball in Lethbridge today, and the team continued to demonstrate Lethbridge as a baseball hotbed. This team won the Canadian Senior Little League Baseball title and represented Canada at the Senior Little League World Series.

Mitch Ball – Baseball (Builders)

Mitch Ball had a passion for baseball and his passion was exemplified on the diamond umpiring. His talent led him to umpiring games at multiple levels including the Little League World Series and 2015 Pan Am Games. His dedication to teaching and mentoring many young umpires left a lasting impression on the baseball community.

Brian Donaldson – Wrestling (Builders)

Brian Donaldson was the founder of the Lethbridge Amateur Wrestling Association (LAWA) and devoted his life to bringing wrestling to the city. Donaldson coached many provincial and national champions, including athletes who have gone on to wrestle for Canada on the world stage.

Rufus Goodstriker – Multisport (Special)

Goodstriker only lost one of 34 boxing matches. He went on to train multiple athletes for the Blood Boxing Club. He excelled at rodeo competing at many events throughout Alberta and Montana and owned and trained many winning racehorses.

Kinsmen Sports Persons of the Year

Jinaye Shomachuk – Track and Field, Weight Throw

University of Lethbridge athlete Jinaye Shomachuk dominated the women’s weight throw, taking home the gold medal at the 2023 Canada West Track and Field Championships with an 18.90m throw. She followed up that performance at the 2023 Usports Track and Field National Championships, once again taking home the gold medal in weight throw.

Ridly Greig – Hockey
Born and raised in Lethbridge, Ridly Greig played on Team Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. In 2020 Greig was drafted in the first round by the Ottawa Senators and made his debut with the National Hockey League in January 2023, netting one goal and five assists since.

Blake Tamayose, a member of the 1979 Little League Baseball team indicated that he was honoured to be a part of the announcement at the Cavendish Farm Centre.

Blake Tamayose shares a photo of the 1979 Little League Baseball team winning the Canadian Region Senior League Championship.

“It’s a great honour to be selected to be a part of the [Lethbridge Sports] Hall of Fame,” said Tamayose. “You know I follow the sports scene here in Lethbridge, and so for myself and my team members, it’s pretty exciting. It also gives us an opportunity to re-connect after 44 years.”

He went on, “At the same time, it’s a great dedication to our parents. You know you don’t realize it when you’re young what your parents do, but you know 44 years after the fact, many have passed, so that’s why it brings to light the importance of what our parents had done for this team.”

This year’s theme for the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on May 5, 2023, will be Indigenous Contribution to Sport.

Tickets for the 2023 Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Banquet can be purchased on the ENMAX Centre website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge’s Ridly Greig suits up for Senators Friday after successful NHL debut