CALGARY – Dan Laplante, a retired Calgary-based entrepreneur and long-time supporter of hockey in Southern Alberta, has made a $100,000 commitment to support the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey program.

The donation, which will help take the program through to the 2025-26 season, is the second of such a size by Laplante to Dinos Athletics, following a $100,000 gift to the men's hockey program four years ago. With his latest gift, Laplante becomes the first UCalgary donor to back both men's and women's programs of the same sport.

"It was important to me that I find a way to support both teams. I believe in the value of university sport for both men and women and the critical role athletics plays in the fabric of post-secondary institutions," says Laplante. 

"I hope this gift can inspire others in the community to make similar contributions to both men's and women's sport at this level."

Laplante's decision to donate was aided by the Dinos Athletic Excellence Award Program, which leverages University investment into scholarships for student-athletes through a donation-matching program worth up to $400,000 each year. The program "is an excellent way in these difficult times to make a difference," he says.

Born in Edmonton, Laplante grew up around the game of hockey and his connection to UCalgary was developed through his father, Al Laplante, who played hockey at the University of Alberta under legendary coach, Clare Drake. While skating for the Golden Bears, the elder Laplante was teammates with George Kingston, who went on to coach the Dinos men's hockey team for 16 years between 1968 and 1988. It was through his family's connection to Kingston that Dan was inspired to donate to Dinos Men's Hockey in 2017.

Understanding the challenges coaches face operating a program, Laplante wants his women's hockey gift to offer maximum impact and align with team priorities, which is why he asked head coach Danielle Goyette to help steer where the funds would go.

"Gifts such as these need to go in areas that can make a difference," says Laplante. "By allowing Danielle to dictate the direction of these funds, it sets up the program to identify areas of concern and hopefully puts them in a position to compete for championships."

Goyette will use some of the gift to cover equipment, which can average upwards of $2,000 per skater, with the remainder going towards scholarships.

"We are very appreciative of this donation by Dan and the incentive it will provide our players after a difficult year," says Goyette, who enters her 14th year leading the women's hockey program this fall. "Hockey is one of the most expensive sports to play, and having support allows our student-athletes to focus on what is most important: their academics and athletics."

The Dinos women's hockey team had a renaissance campaign during the 2019-20 season. Written off in the preseason poll and chosen to finish last, the Dinos instead won 18 games — an improvement of 13 victories over their previous season mark — to post their best finish since appearing in back-to-back national finals in 2012 and 2013. The team and the rest of UCalgary's competitive athletic programs hope to return to play next fall.

-UC-