Pair of Ukrainian basketball players find home with the Pronghorns in Lethbridge
Plenty of athletes travel far from home in order to play the sport they love.
That’s certainly the case for a pair of basketball players who came to Lethbridge with the hope of playing for the Pronghorns.
But for them, it was less of a choice.
Viktoriia Kovalevska and Vlada Hozalova fled Ukraine to escape the ongoing war there.
But they still wanted to play basketball.
“We just sent our email to our coach, Dave, before we moved here and just asked him, ‘Hey, what do you think? Like, can we join or just practise with you guys?’ And he was like, ‘Yes of course,’” Kovalevska said.
Viktoriia Kovalevska
When the pair reached out to the university’s head women’s basketball coach, Dave Waknuk jumped at the chance to add players of their calibre.
“I just saw a chance to add players who had an international pedigree, had the international background and history that they had, and reached out right away,” Waknuk said.
Both Kovalevska and Hozalova bring a wealth of experience to the Pronghorns.
The duo both played on the Ukrainian U20 national team and played professionally in the Ukrainian Women’s Superleague.
Waknuk has nothing but praise for the pair.
“Their best attribute is their basketball IQ. Both of them played at a high level and you can tell that with the decisions they make on the court,” he said.
“I think to bring in anyone who has experience at the highest level always helps your team.”
Vlada Hozalova
But while she’s trying to stay focused on the year ahead, Kovalevska admits it’s hard not to think about what’s happening in Ukraine.
She still has family there.
“Every day, Russia has bombed our country. And you never know and can't predict where or what city will be the next,” Kovalevska said.
While they’re still concerned for their country and family members, Kovalevska and Hozalova are not just looking forward to playing but also to their time at school.
Kovalevska will study education. Hozalova will study physical education.
As student athletes, they know that school comes first.
“Of course I'm excited. I want firstly to study well, because if I fail my exam I will not be allowed to play,” Kovalevska said.
The Pronghorns will open their season at home on Nov. 4 as they welcome the University of Victoria Vikes to town.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.