Podcast: Inductees Kleibrink & Moir speak to rdnewsNOW at Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction

The Okotoks, Alberta-raised Kleibrink, who won bronze at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy, said she was in awe of being inducted.

“When we lost the Olympic trials the first time, we lost to the great Sandra Schmirler, and obviously, she was meant to win and go on and do great things (gold at Nagano ’98), but at the time, losing that game was really hard,” Kleibrink said, asked about the biggest challenges in her career.

“Honestly, I thought about maybe not coming back to the game, but I’m sure glad I did. You really have to take your lumps, and earn those wins in the future. Losses are just another tool in your toolbag, and something to give you more experience to win the next time. That’s my advice to young curlers.”

Prior to her lone Olympic appearance in 2004, Kleibrink became the first woman to skip a team to winning a Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.

For Moir, he’s been present for history many times, including the men’s gold-medal hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and the night the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum in 1989.

Tim Hunter even insisted he take a swig out of the Cup in the Flames’ locker room.

“[As a statistician], you don’t want to make mistakes,” said Moir, comparing the pressure on those behind the scenes to that which is on the athletes.

David Moir with some of his memorabilia at the 2026 Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony; Moir is this year’s recipient of the Bell Memorial Award. (Image Credit: rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

More was largely responsible for all the numbers and messaging one would see on their television screen, and noted he and a co-worker once narrowly avoided an embarrassing misspelling of ‘Gretzky.’

“I always tell people that three hours of doing a hockey game for TV is like an eight-hour job all crammed in. The intermission comes, you relax a bit, and then you go, go, go, always focused,” he explained.

“You can’t miss a penalty, a deflection on a goal…”

…nor a litany of other things, he mentioned.

Moir is still at it, planning to go another five to six years, but is a broadcast veteran of 37 Grey Cup telecasts, 21 Stanley Cup Finals, eight Olympic Games, and numerous other high-profile events since the mid-1980s.

He also set on-the-field records with the Calgary Colts junior football team from 1979-1983, and was named the Prairie Junior Football Conference’s Top Receiver in 1981.

Also among the Class of 2026:

Allen Berg (Motorsport Achievement) — The only Albertan to compete in Formula One, Berg later founded a racing school that has trained more than 20,000 drivers worldwide.
Bernard “Bernie” Haley (Hockey Builder) — An internationally respected official, Haley represented Canada at the Olympics and World Championships while mentoring future officials.
Dr. Bob Bratton (Volleyball Pioneer) — A driving force behind volleyball’s growth in Alberta, he helped build programs, develop leaders, and expand participation across the province.
Dale Schulha (Multisport Builder) — A national champion athlete turned influential administrator, Schulha helped shape university sport and major sporting events for over 50 years.
Dennis Allen (Multisport Builder) — Through the Alberta Games, Allen created opportunities for thousands of young athletes and strengthened sport across communities.
Donna Rudakas (Basketball Builder) — Built a dominant University of Calgary program, highlighted by a perfect national championship season and a 69-game win streak.
Jen Kish (Rugby Athlete) — Olympic bronze medalist and Team Canada captain, Kish continues to inspire through her advocacy and leadership.
Jim Steacy (Athletics Athlete) — A two-time Olympian and national champion, Steacy helped elevate Canadian hammer throw on the world stage.
Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski (Rowing Athlete) — An Olympic gold and silver medalist whose resilience defined a remarkable athletic journey.
Raymond “Bud” Steen (Football Builder) — A veteran CFL official with more than 500 games, Steen helped advance officiating standards nationwide.
Calgary Canucks (1995 Hockey Team) — The Junior A team captured a historic national title with a memorable overtime victory, cementing their place in Alberta hockey history.

Also handed out at the Hall of Fame ceremony were the 2025 Alberta Sport Recognition Awards, which are administered by Alberta’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport.

Recipients:

Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Chase Shaw, Calgary – Diving
Junior Female Athlete of the Year – Lia Cho, Calgary – Figure Skating
Junior Team of the Year – Central Alberta U17 Kings, Red Deer – Volleyball
Alberta Male Athlete of the Year – Brendan Mackay, Calgary – Freestyle Skiing
Alberta Female Athlete of the Year – Abigail Strate, Calgary, Ski Jumping
Alberta Team of the Year – Kailey Allan and Beattie Podulsky, Calgary – Female Doubles Luge Team, 2026 Olympics
Coach Recognition Award – Scott Davis, Calgary – Figure Skating
Coach Recognition Award – Owen Dawkins, Edmonton – Wrestling
Coach Recognition Award – Heather Fidyk, Calgary – Karate
Coach Recognition Award – Beth Richardson, Calgary – Badminton
Technical Official Recognition Award – Kris Hartley, Calgary, Multisport
Technical Official Recognition Award – Marsha Fehr, Calgary – Orienteering
Sport Volunteer Recognition Award – Wilma Shim KC, Calgary, Special Olympics
Sport Volunteer Recognition Award – Len Samletzki, St. Albert – Hockey

Additionally, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame offered an update this week on the status of its efforts to expand and upgrade its Red Deer-based facility, and the programming and outreach it currently offers.

Executive Director Tracey Kinsella said in a statement that Kelly Blackshaw, an inductee of the Hall and co-founder of KidSport Alberta, will be leading the campaign to ‘modernize and revitalize the hall.’

“This enhancement project will create immersive exhibits, expanded educational opportunities, improved gathering spaces, and greater accessibility for all visitors. These enhancements will strengthen our ability to serve schools, families, tourists, alumni, and community groups while ensuring Alberta’s rich sport history is preserved and shared in engaging and meaningful ways,” said Kinsella.

“A key component of the project is the expansion of our outreach and educational programming beyond our walls and into communities across the province. Through interactive experiences, travelling exhibits, and strengthened partnerships, we will continue to inspire future generations by showcasing the power of sport to connect, educate, and transform lives.”

Planning for the campaign is underway, and the Hall hopes to launch it officially this fall.

More information about the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is at albertasportshall.ca.

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For more from the year’s Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, listen to the latest episode of The Everything Red Deer Podcast.

by Josh Hall

Podcast: Inductees Kleibrink & Moir speak to rdnewsNOW at Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction

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