While a banner finish is the goal for any athlete, Team Alberta softball pitcher Katherine Thiessen took it one step further and fashioned a banner start at the Canada Summer Games.
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Thiessen, a 2025 graduate of Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, carried the Alberta banner during the Games opening ceremonies last Saturday (Aug. 9) at the Mary Brown Centre in St. John’s, N.L.
She and fellow banner-carrier Ethan Darpoh (soccer) of Edmonton joined flag-bearer Jonnie Newman (canoe-kayak) of Calgary in leading the Alberta contingent during the colourful and musical opening-night show.
Coaches from each participating Alberta sport nominated candidates for the ceremonial roles, before the final three selections were made.
“I was really grateful that my coaches chose to write about me and enter me to be considered, and I’m really grateful that the board selected me,” said Thiessen, 18.
“It’s a super-cool experience that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Just like being in the (athletes’) village, there’s just so many people here, plus all the families and friends, and just the community that’s come to watch. Even tickets for the opening ceremonies were hard to get, because people wanted to be there and wanted to see all the athletes. The number of athletes here is in the thousands.”
Thiessen’s leadership and athletic abilities paved the way for her to carry the banner, parading hundreds of Alberta athletes into the flagship St. John’s arena.
“On the team, I’m kind of a natural leader, and I’m not nervous to step into big roles or anything like that,” she said. “And then, I think partly too because I have played at the national level, on Team Canada, and also going to an NCAA Division 1 school, just those kinds of things probably stood out to the board.”
Even before the Canada Games, Thiessen has had a standout summer season with the U19 women’s River City Hornets of Edmonton, especially during their national championship at Surrey, B.C.
“I had a really good nationals,” Thiessen said. “I was named all-star pitcher and tournament MVP, so I was very thankful for those awards. I had a great nationals, both pitching and hitting-wise.
“I think our club finished seventh in the nation. We lost our first playoff game, so that kind of sucked. But we had a really good season overall. We were 29-7 on the year. I think we were a little disappointed with how our nationals went. But the thing is, most of this team can return, so we’re excited to be an older group next year.”
The hard-throwing Thiessen will again be in the thick of the action, just as she is this week at the Canada Games.
“The whole season, I pitched quite a few innings. I mean, we had a great (pitching) staff overall, so it’s not like I had to overthrow my arm or anything. But whenever I wasn’t pitching, I was just hitting (as a designated hitter).”
Those nationals, and the Canada Games tournament, set up Thiessen well for her inaugural NCAA season with the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions. The Lloydminster Comprehensive High School graduate flies to Louisiana immediately after the Games. Her father is driving stateside from Alberta with her belongings for college, while her mother has been in St. John’s this week to catch all the action.
“For sure, I think it’s the perfect leadup to school,” Thiessen said. “Going from the nationals, which is always competitive, the best teams, to the Summer Games, which is the best-of-the-best tournament in Canada. So, just to play this high-level competition leading into my fall season at college is going to be a great step up to the challenge that my college ball will be.”
DOUGAN ALSO ON SOFTBALL TEAM
Thiessen and fellow Lloydminster native Karter Dougan have stepped up this week as part of Team Alberta. Both played integral roles as the Albertans posted a 3-1 record in preliminary play and advanced to the playoff round.
Most notably, Thiessen threw a one-hitter Sunday (Aug. 10) as Alberta defeated Saskatchewan 1-0. Thiessen and Dougan, with two hits in that game, batted one-two in the order.
Before becoming Alberta teammates, Thiessen and Dougan played together with the Lloydminster Liners every other year, because the 17-year-old Dougan is a year younger.
“She’s a great ball player,” Thiessen said. “She totally deserves to be on Team Alberta. I’m excited to be back playing with her.
“She plays outfield and second base, and she has a really good stick.”
Dougan was part of the Liners U17 A team that placed fourth at their nationals this month in Warman, Sask. She’s headed to Saskatoon this fall to combine her Grade 12 studies with softball training in the Bridge City.
With four past or present Lloyd Comp students in the Saskatchewan rugby 7s mix, that’s one of the sports Thiessen and company were hoping to watch during schedule breaks at the Games.
“I know everyone wants to get out and try to watch all the sports,” she said. “But I played (high school) volleyball with Daryl (Levitsky), and she’s on the Sask rugby team, so I think it would be fun to go and watch her.”
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