Nov. 15, 2024 – One of the greatest dual-sport stars in University of Saskatchewan history is set to be celebrated this weekend.

The Saskatchewan Huskies will honour Jacqueline Lavallee’s Canada West Hall of Fame induction this Saturday, Nov. 16 as the Huskies women’s basketball team prepares to host the Alberta Pandas for a 5 p.m. CST tip-off.

Lavallee, who currently serves as an assistant coach with the Huskies, was announced as a Class of 2024-25 inductee into the Canada West Hall of Fame earlier this fall.

Leaving a tremendous legacy that continues to this day, Lavallee was a two-sport star in both soccer and basketball. On the soccer pitch, she was twice named a Canada West All-Star midfielder (1999 and 2001) and was named an All-Canadian in 1999.

She was just as prolific on the basketball court, named a three-time Canada West All-Star point guard (1997, 2000 and 2002) and an All-Canadian in the 2001-02 season.

Known as a cerebral player with a keen understanding of game strategy, Lavallee’s basketball acumen led to multiple opportunities to represent her country on the international stage. She donned the maple leaf at two World University Games, and was also a member of the Canadian national women’s basketball program from 2002-04.

After playing a season of professional basketball in Marburg, Germany, Lavallee decided to come back to Canada to start her career in teaching and coaching. She has served as an assistant coach with the Huskies women’s basketball team for the past 14 seasons, helping the program become one of the most formidable in the nation during that time, including helping guide the program to national championships in 2016 and 2020. ​

Canada West unveiled its entire Hall of Fame Class of 2024-25 earlier in September. Individual inductee spotlights will continue throughout the season.

Fans can view all previous Hall of Fame inductees on the Canada West Hall of Fame website.

Jacqueline Lavallee – Student-Athlete Category

For Jacqueline Lavallee, one sport was not enough. During her youth her natural athletic talents took her to the Saskatchewan Summer Games as a member of the track team in 1992, the Western Canada Summer Games in 1995 with the basketball team, and the 1997 Canada Games in soccer. After leading Holy Cross High School to two provincial soccer titles, Lavallee became a two-sport star with the University of Saskatchewan in soccer and basketball.

On the soccer pitch, Lavallee was named a Canada West All-Star midfielder twice (1999 and 2001) and All-Canadian in 1999. Lavallee added to her trophy case in basketball where she was a three-time Canada West All-Star point guard (1997, 2000 and 2002) and an All-Canadian in the 2001-2002 season.

As a senior, she had a remarkable final season on the basketball court as she finished second in Canada West scoring and ranked third nationally. For her efforts, Lavallee received the Tom Longboat award in 2000, recognizing outstanding aboriginal ability. She was also awarded the National Sylvia Sweeney award in 2002 and named a CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian.

In addition to a great career with the Huskies, Lavallee had the opportunity to play internationally for Canada in three tournaments and twice at the World University Games in 1999 and 2001. She also was a member of Canadian National Basketball team from 2002-2004.

Known as a cerebral player who had a keen understanding of game strategy, moving into coaching was a natural progression for Lavallee. Following graduation, Lavallee joined the Huskie basketball team as an assistant coach. With encouragement from Huskie’s head coach Lisa Thomaidis, Lavallee left the team during the 2003-2004 season to play Division 1 professional basketball in Germany.

While playing in Germany, Lavallee had the unique opportunity to play in the Euro-Cup, which saw her play across Eastern Europe.

After her season abroad, Lavallee returned to her Saskatchewan roots and re-joined the Huskie women’s basketball team as an assistant coach.

As a person who strives for excellence in everything she does, Lavallee has taken her coaching expertise beyond the University of Saskatchewan. In 2010, she took her talents to the international scene once again as she was named the head coach of the Canadian national under-17 “Cadet” women’s basketball team.

Lavallee has also been recognized for her athletic accomplishments with inductions into the Holy Cross High School Wall of Honour, the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame (2008), the University of Saskatchewan Wall of Fame (2011) and the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (2024).

“Jaqueline Lavallee was a once in a generation type of athlete, excelling at high levels in both soccer and basketball. She has made her mark in women’s basketball and continues to be an important part of the Huskie Athletics women’s basketball program as an assistant coach, providing leadership and mentorship to the next generation of student-athletes.” – Shannon Chinn, Chief Athletic Officer, Huskie Athletics

ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME

For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men’s hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life. 

To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019. This year’s induction class will be unveiled throughout the 2023-24 season.