Laurie Hockridge, who led the Lethbridge Kodiaks to back-to-back CCAA National Championship titles in Women’s Basketball, was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in the Athlete Category.
In three seasons at Lethbridge College, Hockridge was the dominant force that led the Kodiaks to three ACAC titles and three consecutive CCAA National Championship final appearances.
Lethbridge advanced to the gold medal game at CCAA Nationals for the first time in 1988, only to settle for a silver medal at the hands of the John Abbott Islanders.
“We had unfinished business going into the next season,” said Hockridge. “Only Boomer (Carrie Kuntz) and I were returning players, the rest of the team consisted of rookies and transfer players.”
The 1988-89 squad was very talented however and gelled right from the start. They returned to the National Championship final – for a rematch with the Islanders.
Hockridge and the Kodiaks avenged their defeat to John Abbott, however, by downing the Islanders 62-45 in the 1989 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship final.
“It was an unreal feeling, seeing my team run at me in celebration,” she said. ‘It was a year in the making and we accomplished our goal, winning the National Championships.”
The Kodiaks then repeated as National Champions in 1990. Hockridge was named Most Valuable Player at CCAA Nationals in both 1989 and 1990. She was also named a CCAA All-Canadian in 1989.
Hockridge led the ACAC in scoring in 1988-89 and 1989-90 and her remarkable shooting percentage of 64.5 from her final season with the Kodiaks is an ACAC record that still stands today. At an imposing 6-foot-7, she also dominated the boards.
“Kodiaks Athletics has had a long tradition of success at the CCAA and ACAC levels in both the classroom and on the court and Laurie was a shining example in all aspects of these historical successes,” said Todd Caughlin, Manager of Athletics at Lethbridge College.
Hockridge, one of the most dominant post players in ACAC history, was inducted into the ACAC Hall of Fame in 2014.
“The opportunities to play against amazing players is what makes the ACAC and CCAA incredible,” said Hockridge. “Having an amazing coach Johnny J and the talented ladies that I called my teammates made it all worth it, I couldn’t have done what I did without them.”
After three fantastic seasons at Lethbridge, Hockridge earned a scholarship to Florida Technological Institute.
“Being recruited to play at Florida Tech was all thanks to the opportunities that the CCAA gave me,” she said.
