Lakehead University Varsity Athletics Continues Strong Partnership with Northern First Nations Communities

Prior to hosting the Algoma Thunderbirds in the Thunderdome this Saturday, November 5, Coach Jon Kreiner and his varsity women’s basketball team will be hosting a basketball clinic for the Pelican Falls First Nations High School from Sioux Lookout Friday afternoon.

“Our Lakehead University women’s Basketball team is happy to be involved in supporting our First Nations community in putting on a basketball clinic for the Pelican Falls First Nations High School. Shannon Lawrance (Pelican Falls Athletic Director) has been very active in providing great athletic opportunities for her school and we hope they have a great experience this weekend in Thunder Bay learning from our team and watching our game against Algoma University.” – Coach Kreiner

Approximately 20 students will be participating in learning fundamental basketball skills and casually shooting around with the Thunderwolves. Following the clinic, the students will then watch the women’s team practice and prepare for their OUA season home opener.

“This trip to Thunder Bay is an incentive trip for our athletes and helpers that participated in the fall Northwestern Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association sports season. These athletes were able to compete all season and maintain above average grade levels in their classes and have been excellent representatives of our school” –Shawn Hordy, Pelican Falls First Nations High School Coach

The Lakehead athletics department already has strong ties to Northern First Nations throughout the province. The ReachUp! Program, a partnership with Wasaya Airways, flies Lakehead varsity athletes to various communities throughout the North, numerous times each year to provide mentorship through sports to youth. Adam Kates, Coordinator of Programs and Initiatives, comments on how meaningful it is for Lakehead Athletics to have developed these relationships and how nice it will be to have these students attend our home games:

“Lakehead Athletics is proud to host our friends from Pelican Falls and are happy they will be joining us as our men’s and women’s teams officially open their regular season in the Thunderdome. Coach Kreiner and his girls have always been great ambassadors for our university and aside from being an exciting group on the court; they continually place a lot of value on being great role models in our community.”

The trip to Thunder Bay will also include visits to numerous sites around the city along side supporting the Thunderwolves in the Thunderdome on Saturday night.

“One of the main highlights of the trip is being able to participate in a basketball clinic hosted by the Lakehead women’s basketball coach. These incentive trips offer a great opportunity for our students to get coaching and advice from other experienced coaches and help motivate them to stay in sports and school”, commented Shawn. “All in all it should be a very fun weekend for our students.”

The Basketball clinic with the students from Pelican Falls will take place Friday, November 4, from 2:30-3:15pm.