NAME: Janis MacDonald (Paskevich)
UNIVERSITY: Calgary
CATEGORY: Student-athlete
SPORT: Women's basketball
HIGHLIGHTS:
Two-time CW Player of the Year
CIAU Player of the Year
CW Champion
National team member
BIOGRAPHY:
Janis MacDonald, formerly Paskevich, is the newest member of the Canada West Hall of Fame. MacDonald was a fierce inside presence for a Calgary Dinos women’s basketball team that captured its first-ever conference championship title.
MacDonald was the type of player that athletes across the country feared and revered, as her skill and grit shone on both ends of the court. She was twice voted the Canada West Player of the Year to go along with a CIAU Player of the Year award, four first-team all-star selections and three All-Canadian honours.
MacDonald left her mark on the Dinos tradition, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer by the time she graduated. Her name holds such esteem at the school that the University of Calgary decided to retire her number 15 in 2002.
Forty years after she hung up that number, MacDonald’s name can still be found in the Canada West record books. She remains in the top 25 in multiple categories, including points scored, field goals made, and field goal percentage. And her astounding 912 career rebounds is the fifth-best mark all-time.
MacDonald was a member of the Canadian national team for four seasons, which included a trip to the 1980 Olympics. She did this all while managing her studies, graduating with her Bachelor of Physical Education in 1981 and a diploma in Education.