Laurie Eisler inducted into Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame

Volleyball Canada is honouring four new members of its Hall of Fame this summer. Two coaches will be inducted, along with an athlete and referee. See bios below.

“We are very pleased to be welcoming this year’s Hall of Fame inductees,” said Volleyball Canada’s President and CEO Mark Eckert. “Kent, Doug, Laurie and Pat are outstanding members of the volleyball community and their contributions go beyond their respective categories. We are looking forward to honouring them later this summer in Quebec City during our annual convention.”

The ceremony, which is presented by NOTHERS – the Award Store, will take place at the Hilton, Quebec, on August 30 at 8 pm. Please contact Lucie Leclerc lucie@volleyball.ca to purchase tickets to the ceremony ($20 each).

Kent Greves – Hall of Fame Inductee as an Athlete
Kent Greves was an instrumental part of Team Canada, playing 12 years for his country including in the 1992 Olympic Games. Kent also enjoyed a brilliant professional career in Europe, including five years in France as well as stops in Belgium. Kent played 11 seasons of professional volleyball in Europe including time in Belgium and then in France with the Paris Volley. In the span of just five years, he led the Paris Volley team to an unmatched 10 major titles; a feat that cannot be duplicated by many volleyball players, especially in such a short period. Glenn Hoag, the long-time head coach of the Canadian National Team, described Greves as the best setter that Canada has ever produced.

Doug Reimer – Hall of Fame Inductee as a Coach
Doug Reimer has led teams to the U SPORTS National championship tournament 26 times, winning an unprecedented 10 National Championship titles, six silver medals and three bronze medals. He began his coaching career at his alma mater University of Victoria before moving to Saskatchewan where he coached the Canada Games team to a home court gold medal in 1989. He spent five years as head coach of the University of Winnipeg, where he won his first U Sports National Championship in 1992. Reimer was head coach of Team Canada in the 1996-2000 quadrennial, finishing second to the USA in the NORCECA Olympic qualifier.

Reimer was instrumental in creating the Thunder Volleyball club for 11-18 year old girls and has provided leadership to coaches and athletes since 2000. At UBC, he has led his team to six straight U SPORTS Championship titles from 2008-2013 and again in 2017, 2019 and 2023. He was named U SPORTS Volleyball Coach of the Year five times.

Laurie Eisler – Hall of Fame Inductee as a Coach
Following a stellar playing career at the University of Saskatchewan, Laurie Eisler (pictured above) took over as head coach of the University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team prior to the 1991/92 season. In U SPORTS women’s volleyball history, you’d be hard-pressed to find a coach with a more successful resume than Laurie Eisler. As the University of Alberta Pandas’ head coach, Eisler has been at the helm for 31 seasons, leading the team to six National Championships, including five straight from 1995 to 1999. This past season, she reached the 800-win mark for her career, becoming just the second women’s volleyball coach to reach that impressive milestone. Laurie has been a leader and role model for women in coaching for over 30 years. In addition to her U SPORTS career, she also served as head coach at the FISU Games on several occasions and has played an active role with the National Team program.

Pat Thorne – Hall of Fame Inductee as a Referee
It was in April 1976, approximately 47 years ago that Pat Thorne first stepped onto a volleyball court with a whistle in hand to referee her first match – a boys’ high school match. Since then, her journey as a referee has been remarkable and her contributions to the sport have been immeasurable.

Pat Thorne has been a trailblazer for women in the Canadian volleyball community and particularly in refereeing. For six years, she served as the chairperson for Volleyball Canada Referee Committee. It was in this role that she provided a strong voice for women in refereeing while demonstrating her exceptional leadership and organizational skills. Pat has also been involved with volleyball in a variety of other roles including serving on the Volleyball Canada Board for six years in addition to as serving as both President and Vice President of Volleyball New Brunswick.

-Photo of Laurie Eisler (courtesy of U of A)

Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
Mobile: 613.794.7676