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The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame induction dinner, which happens only every second year, is coming up this fall on Saturday, September 26, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. The event will see two players, Uzoma Asagwara and Chad Posthumus, four builders, Earl Barish, Ted Fardoe, Bryan Kornberger and Anne Schimnowski-Boyko, along with championship teams from the Brandon University Bobcats and the Glenboro School Panthers, inducted. Tickets are now available and can be ordered and paid for at the link below.



Doors open at 5:30 with a cash bar, dinner is at 7:00 sharp, and the induction ceremonies will start at 8:00. Don't miss out on honouring our newest inductees. The event has become a gathering of our extended basketball community and a celebration of the game we all love. Get your tickets today.

Tickets are $100.00 each, and a table of eight (8) can be reserved for $750.00. You can reserve and pay for tickets by completing the ticket request form.

Accepted payment methods include eTransfer to mbhof@basketballmanitoba.ca, credit card, or mailed cheque. The MBHOF prefers the eTransfer option because 100% of funds reach the Hall, whereas a credit card incurs 3-5% in processing fees. A cheque payable to "MBHOF" is also an option; it can be mailed to Basketball Manitoba at 145 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 2Z6. Payment options will be provided once you complete the reservation form above.  

No tickets will be sold at the door on September 26. All seating for the dinner is assigned, meaning you can sit with the people of your choice. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with a cash bar; dinner is at 7:00 pm, and induction ceremonies will begin at about 8:00 pm.  The event will also be video-recorded so those unable to attend the in-person dinner can view the induction portion of the evening.  

Our Hall of Fame dinners have become a special gathering place for our extended basketball community. We hope many will choose to attend this fall to celebrate the game we all love and to honour our newest inductees.


WATCH VIDEO OF OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum announced its Class of 2026 inductees during a media conference held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre.

The announcement recognized an accomplished group of players, builders, and teams whose contributions helped shape the history and growth of basketball in Manitoba at the high school, university, provincial, national, and professional levels.

All individual inductees, along with representatives of the inducted teams, were recognized during the event, held in front of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum at the Duckworth Centre.

The Class of 2026 included three players, three builders, and two team inductees. Together, they represented generations of excellence in Manitoba basketball and reflected the depth of achievement that continues to define the sport in the province.

The official induction ceremony is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.



PLAYERS



Uzoma Asagwara

Uzoma Asagwara was announced as a player inductee following an outstanding basketball career that included success at the high school, university, and national team levels.

A graduate of Collège St. Norbert Collegiate, Asagwara starred with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen from 2002 to 2007 and established themself as one of the top players in the country during their university career. They were a two-time CIS/U SPORTS All-Canadian and a two-time Canada West First Team All-Star in 2006 and 2007.

In 2007, Asagwara led the nation in scoring at 28.5 points per game and was previously named the University of Winnipeg Female Athlete of the Year in 2006. They also represented Canada twice at the national team level, including at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio.

Uzoma’s induction recognizes an elite playing career marked by national honours, high-level production, and important representation of Manitoba basketball on the international stage.



Anne Schimnowski-Boyko

Anne Schimnowski-Boyko was announced as a player inductee in recognition of a decorated university career and her place among the province’s top female players of her era.

A graduate of Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, Schimnowski-Boyko played with the University of Manitoba Bisons from 1989 to 1994. During that time, she earned national and conference honours, including selection to the CIAU/CIS All-Rookie Team and to the GPAC All-Star Team in 1990 and 1994.

Her strongest season came in 1994 when she averaged 21.7 points per game and earned CIAU/CIS All-Canadian honours. She also represented Manitoba twice as a member of the Manitoba provincial teams.

Anne’s induction recognizes sustained excellence at the university level and a career that stood out in Manitoba basketball history.



Chad Posthumus

Chad Posthumus was announced posthumously as a player inductee in recognition of a remarkable basketball journey that took him from Manitoba high school courts to university basketball, professional leagues worldwide, and the Canadian National Team.

A graduate of River East Collegiate, Posthumus was named an All-Manitoban in 2009 and represented Manitoba on provincial teams for five years. He continued his career at UBC, Howard College, and Morehead State University in Kentucky, where he went on to lead the NCAA in rebounding.

He later played professionally in Argentina, Japan, and China, while also representing Canada internationally. In recent years, he returned home to continue his professional career with the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the CEBL.

Sadly, Chad passed away on November 20, 2024. 

Chad’s induction recognizes both his outstanding accomplishments on the court and the lasting impact he made on basketball in Manitoba and across Canada.


BUILDERS



Earl Barish

Earl Barish was announced as a builder inductee for his major role in professional basketball in Manitoba and for his long-standing commitment to growing the game in Winnipeg.

Barish was the founder, president, and majority owner of the Winnipeg Cyclone, the professional team that played in Winnipeg from 1995 to 2001 as a member of the International Basketball Association and later the Continental Basketball Association. He also served as President of the IBA and as league liaison to the NBA from 1995 to 1999.

Beyond his executive leadership in professional basketball, Barish supported broader basketball development in the community, including programs that enabled many local young players to attend Cyclone games at no charge.

Earl’s induction recognizes vision, leadership, and a significant contribution to the profile and accessibility of basketball in Manitoba.



Ted Fardoe

Ted Fardoe was announced as a builder inductee for his decades of service as an administrator, coach, and grassroots leader in Winnipeg basketball.

Fardoe served on the executive board of the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association for 14 years, including 11 as President. During that time, he helped lead the implementation of Respect in Sport, Fair Play, and coaching development initiatives.

He also played a major role in basketball facility development by managing the construction of six outdoor basketball courts, one in each district of Winnipeg. In addition, he was one of the founders of the Junior Bisons club and coached in the WMBA as well as at Oak Park and John Taylor Collegiate.

Ted’s induction recognized a legacy built on leadership, access, development, and long-term service to the game.



Bryan Kornberger

Bryan Kornberger was announced as a builder inductee in recognition of one of the most accomplished coaching careers in Manitoba high school basketball history.

Best known for his 40 years as head coach of the Varsity Girls team at Glenlawn Collegiate, Kornberger led the Lions to 19 provincial Final Four appearances, 12 provincial championship game appearances, and eight MHSAA AAAA provincial championships.

He also coached Team Manitoba provincial teams 10 times, winning two medals, including a gold medal in 1991. Over the years, many of his athletes advanced to successful university and national team careers, and he contributed to coach development through clinics and mentorship.

Bryan’s induction recognizes not only an exceptional record of success but also a lasting influence on athletes, programs, and coaches across Manitoba.


TEAMS








Glenboro School Panthers Varsity Girls

The Glenboro School Panthers Varsity Girls were announced as team inductees for a championship era that established the program as one of the most successful small-school girls basketball teams in Manitoba history.

The Panthers captured MHSAA Provincial A Girls Championships in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009, completing a remarkable stretch of sustained excellence.

Their induction recognizes a team era defined by consistency, championship success, and a lasting place in Manitoba high school basketball history.






Brandon University Bobcats Men

The Brandon University Bobcats Men were announced as team inductees in recognition of an outstanding run of national success during the early 1980s.

The Bobcats earned medals at the CIAU/CIS national championship tournament in four seasons, winning silver in 1980 and 1984 and bronze in 1982 and 1983.

Their induction recognizes one of the strongest stretches in program history and honours a team legacy built on national-level excellence and a major contribution to the reputation of Manitoba university basketball.

The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum continues its mission to recognize deserving players, teams, and builders for their outstanding achievements in basketball while preserving and showcasing the rich history of the game in Manitoba.

The Class of 2026 will be formally inducted on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.  Dinner tickets will go on sale later this spring.  


Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2026/04/manitoba-basketball-hall-of-fame-and.html


With the utmost regret and sadness, the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Basketball Manitoba share the news of the passing of Yvette Milner on August 24, 2026.

Yvette grew up in the St. Vital area in Winnipeg. She attended Hastings Junior High and then Dakota Collegiate. She was a star high school basketball player, which earned her recognition and university scholarships. Her 1976 and 1977 Dakota Lancers Varsity Girls, MHSAA Provincial Champions, were both inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

She went on to star with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen women’s team in the late 1970s.  She also attended Dalhousie University where she earned her degree in social work and played on their women’s basketball team. Yvette also played on Canada’s Junior National Women’s team, where she represented her country with pride.

She returned to Winnipeg and started a career in the public sector and shortly thereafter moved into the private sector. She was passionate about workplace accessibility and safety, and much of her work reflected that.

In addition, Yvette was an active and valued member of our Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum committee.

Our most sincere condolences go out to her husband, Wayne Cadogan, children Kianna and Avery, and her entire extended family.

A service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 11th at Thomson In The Park Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Rest in Peace, Yvette.



Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2026/08/in-memory-of-yvette-milner.html

 


The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum was very happy to welcome Tracy LaPointe recently on her visit to Winnipeg from her home in Ontario. Tracy’s mother, Pat Roberts, was one of the true pioneers in women’s basketball in Manitoba. She played for the CUAC (Canadian Ukrainian Athletic Club) Blues and the Winnipeg Dominos in the 1940s and 1950s. As a part of her time in Winnipeg, Tracy donated some outstanding pictures, a scrapbook, CUAC Yearbooks, and crests, all from her mother’s career. 

The items have become an important addition to our archival collection and soon will be available on Musetoba, our online database, through the public portal. The Hall of Fame and Museum welcomes donations of all basketball-related materials and is a very appropriate place for these items to be preserved and displayed.



Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2026/07/new-basketball-memorabilia-donations.html

With great sadness, the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Basketball Manitoba share the news of the passing of Grant “Scooter” Alfonso. 

Scooter was a fixture in Junior and Senior Men’s basketball throughout the 1950s,1960s and into the 1970s. He was, as they say, tough as nails and, at about 5’7”, continually took on much bigger opposition. During his time, he was considered one the most skilled players to play the point-guard position. A perennial all-star, he was not only a great playmaker but also a prolific scorer. He was a member of the Canadian Junior Men's Championship W.L.I. (Winnipeg Light Infantry) Team in 1953 and the Canadian Senior Men's National Championship St. Andrews Super Saints Team in 1972. He was named Rookie-of-the-Year in the Senior League with King's Best in 1954 and was an All-Star with the Kodiaks, Carlings, and IPAC. He won a silver medal at the first Canadian Winter Games in 1967 and was a 3-time tournament All-Star at the Canadian National Senior Tournaments.  He was inducted into our Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985.  

Grant was a successful businessman in Winnipeg for many years before moving to Kelowna, British Columbia, where he operated a cherry orchard and, not surprisingly, did much of the heavy work himself. He died in Kelowna this past week at age 93. Our sincere sympathies go out to his family, friends and teammates. To say Scooter was one of a kind would be a major understatement, he will be remembered, and he will be missed by many.

Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2026/06/in-memory-of-grant-scooter-alfonso.html

 

This was another eventful and successful year for our Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum (MBHOFM). Manitoba is still the only province in Canada that has a permanent site for a basketball hall of fame and museum. The following were the highlights:

1.       Our heritage inventory collection continued to grow. More people are realizing that the old uniforms, programs, clippings, etc. that have been stored in a box somewhere in our homes need a permanent home in our museum – all donations are welcome. This past year, we received significant donations of artifacts from the Bulloch family, the family of the late Dave Smith, Wes Dolhun on behalf of his late brother, Sam, and Lorne Wilson who was a member of the inducted Isaac Newton and Sisler teams of the late 1950s. 

2.       We have continued the process of entering our heritage collection into a database, Musetoba, purchased through our membership in the Association of Manitoba Museums (AMM). We now have over 1200 items entered. This allows public access to our collection, via the Public Portal. We now have three “sites”: our physical site at the University of Winnipeg, our Hall of Fame website with Basketball Manitoba, and the Public Portal site with AMM.

3.       We added a new custom-built cabinet allowing for more display and storage space. This larger cabinet necessitated the removal of one monitor.

4.       The old Chromebits for our monitors were replaced with new OptiSigns hardware which is more stable and allows for the content to be modified remotely.   

5.       Our Chair, Ross Wedlake, was presented with the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion at a ceremony on May 8 at Government House. 

6.       We are now members of C.A.S.H. – the Canadian Association for Sport Heritage which serves as a resource for its member organizations, both as a networking tool and as a repository of information for the various challenges and issues faced by sport heritage organizations. They aim to support members in collectively celebrating, preserving, and promoting Canada's great sport heritage.

7.       We remain classified as a Level 2 Museum through the Community Museum Grants Program.

8.       We continue to receive an annual grant based on our endowment fund through the Winnipeg Foundationwhere we raised funds to ensure our long-term sustainability.

9.       We continued to change the displays in our display cases on a regular basis to highlight different themes or members of the Hall of Fame.

10.    In the past year, January 1- December 31, 2025, we had 12,853 visitors to our University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre site.

11.    Our financial situation remains very solid. We are committed to investing our revenues directly into our Hall of Fame and Museum site and the basketball community in general. This past year, we supported the new Vic Pruden Bursary Fund, the Basketball Manitoba podcasts, the new University of Manitoba Herd Hoops Club, the University of Winnipeg Athletic Scholarship Fund, and the Brandon University Bobcats Golf Tournament. 

12.    Our MBHOFM is open every day during the year from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. except for statutory holidays. 

13.    Our committee members were: Ross Wedlake (Chair), Vic Pruden (Past Chair), Ted Stoesz (Vice Chair), Wes Crymble, Morris Glimcher, Jerry Hemmings, Ken Opalko, Susan Johnson, Coleen Dufresne, Kyla Shore, Tyler Crayston, and Adam Wedlake (Recording Secretary - Ex-Officio).

14.    Here are the links for much of the above :

·         Basketball Manitoba – www.basketballmanitoba.ca

·         Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum – www.mbhof.com

·         AMM Musetoba –www.museumsmanitoba.com

·         Public Portal – https://www.musetoba.ca/Detail/entities/134

  

As we move forward, the following are planned:

  1. Our 20th induction dinner is scheduled for September 26, 2026
  2. The continued development of a new governance model.
  3. The further organization of our heritage collection and the further development of the Musetoba system.
  4. Two new drawer units to replace older ones. 
  5. New storage spaces. 

 

In conclusion, we need to mention the tremendous and continuing support we get from the University of Winnipeg, Basketball Manitoba and our members and friends. Our Hall of Fame and Museum would not exist without this support and the support of our extended basketball community.


Respectfully submitted by

Ross Wedlake, Chair, MBHFOM



Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2026/06/manitoba-basketball-hall-of-fame-2025.html

The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum has announced that the individuals and teams to be recognized as part of its 2026 Induction Class will be officially revealed on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

The announcement event will take place at 11:30 am at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre, located at 400 Spence Street, in the second-floor area in front of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum. Drinks and refreshments will be available for guests in attendance.

Date:        Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time:        11:30 am 
Location: University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre
                    400 Spence Street
                    2nd floor area in front of the MBHOF Museum
                    Drinks and refreshments will be available.  

The formal induction ceremony is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg, where the Class of 2026 will be celebrated for its outstanding contributions and achievements in the sport of basketball in Manitoba.

More information is available from Ross Wedlake at (204) 668-9494 or rosswedlake@gmail.com.

About the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum

The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to recognizing deserving players, teams, and builders for their outstanding achievements in the sport of basketball, while also preserving and showcasing the rich history of the game in Manitoba. More information is available at http://www.mbhof.com.




The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame & Museum has updated its digital collection on its website featuring all the Winnipeg Sun / Winnipeg Free Press Top 10 high school boys and girls basketball player articles published since 1990.  The annual feature showcases the top 10 boys and girls players in high school basketball as determined by a panel of coaches at the time.  The publication has been a long tradition as part of the Manitoba March Madness and is now put together in one collection.  The lists feature some current and soon to be Hall of Famers and those who went on to bigger things with basketball later in their playing careers.

You can see the full collection of archival material on the Hall of Fame website at...


https://www.mbhof.com/p/winnipeg-sun-top-10-archives.html


This collection will be updated annually each spring as the new Top 10's are released.


The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum and Basketball Manitoba congratulates Ross Wedlake who has been formally recognized with the 2025 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion! The award, presented by The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M., Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, honours individuals who have rendered prolonged, meritorious service in the preservation and promotion of Manitoba’s history and heritage. The award was presented in partnership with the Manitoba Historical Society during a ceremony held at Government House on May 8, 2025.

Often referred to as “Manitoba’s Basketball Historian,” Wedlake has spent a lifetime immersed in the sport—as a player, coach, official, and administrator. He competed at every level in Canada, played internationally for Team Canada in 1972, and was a member of the St. Andrews Super Saints, winning three national senior men’s championships.

His most enduring legacy, however, is the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum (MBHOFM), located at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre. Under his leadership since 2006 and formal designation of the site as a museum in 2012, Ross transformed what began as a Hall of Fame into a full-fledged museum that showcases over 100 years of basketball history in Manitoba. It is the only museum of its kind in Canada with a dedicated physical space and digital collection available through the Musetoba public portal.

Wedlake led the development of the museum’s collections management policy, accessioning system, display infrastructure, and online presence. He has secured significant grants, led a $100,000 endowment fundraising campaign through the Winnipeg Foundation, and actively oversees the digitization and expansion of the collection.

Ross ensures inclusivity across Manitoba’s basketball story—featuring high school, university, provincial, professional, Indigenous, and wheelchair basketball histories. He also led a special research initiative and curated a display highlighting Indigenous contributions to basketball, aligning with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations.

He continues to organize biennial induction dinners, acts as Master of Ceremonies, curates rotating exhibits, and frequently consults with institutions and media as the go-to expert on basketball history in Manitoba. His impact has been recognized with numerous honours, including induction into both the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum stands as a testament to his tireless volunteerism, passion for history, and commitment to preserving the legacy of the sport he loves.

Pictured with Ross (back row, left to right) at the award presentation was his brother Bill, wife Brenda, daughter Heather, MBHOFM Committee Members Vic Pruden and Ted Stoesz and nephew Adam.

To learn more about the museum and access its growing online archives, visit www.mbhof.com.






Source: https://www.mbhof.com/2025/05/ross-wedlake-honoured-with-lieutenant.html