UND Athletics announces Hall of Fame Class of 2016

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Brian Faison and UND Letterwinners Association President Liz Olson announced today the UND Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

Jason Blake (Hockey, 1996-99), Chris Gardner (Basketball, 1989-94), Jaime [Pudenz] Holmquist (Basketball, 1996-2000) and Paul Robson (Football, 1960-63) will be inducted as individuals, while Pudenz’s 1997-98 women’s basketball team will be inducted in the team category.

Additionally, longtime prep coach Terry Paukert will receive the Tom Clifford Award, while former WDAZ-TV Sports Director and UND Athletics play-by-play broadcaster Pat Sweeney will be recognized with the Honorary Letterwinner Award.

The 42nd annual Athletics Hall of Fame event will take place with a dinner and induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 14. The Class of 2016 will be recognized the following day during halftime of UND’s Homecoming football game against Southern Utah.

“The UND Letterwinners Board has once again chosen an exceptional group of individuals, as well as a national championship team, as inductees into the Hall of Fame,” said Olson. “Chris Gardner, Jason Blake and Paul Robson all will be honored for their outstanding accomplishments. Jaime (Pudenz) Holmquist and her teammates from the 1997-98 national championship women’s basketball team will also be inducted. Terry Paukert will be recognized for his support of local tennis and hockey, and Pat Sweeney will be honored for his years as a UND play-by-play announcer and longtime WDAZ-TV sports director. Congratulations are in order to each of these individuals for their outstanding accomplishments.”

This year's four inductees bring the total number of individuals in UND's Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame to 247, while the 1997-98 women’s basketball team is the 37th team to be recognized.

UND Hall of Fame Class of 2016:
Jason Blake | Hockey | 1996-99: Played three seasons at UND from 1996-97 through 1998-99 … Amassed 71 goals and 100 assists for 171 points in only 119 career games … Member of UND’s 1997 NCAA championship team and three straight WCHA championship teams … Hobey Baker Award finalist in 1996-97 and 1998-99 … A two-time All-American, earning first-team accolades as a senior and second-team honors as a junior … Named WCHA Player of the Year as a senior and was a first-team All-WCHA pick all three seasons at UND … Went on to enjoy a 13-year NHL career with Los Angeles, the New York Islanders, Toronto and Anaheim … Won the NHL’s Bill Masterton Trophy in 2007-08 for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication … Represented the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics, the 2004 World Cup, and the 1999, 2000 and 2009 World Championships.

Chris Gardner | Basketball | 1989-94: Helped lead UND to the NCAA Division II Tournament in each of his four years, including Elite Eight appearances in 1990 and 1991 … UND went 103-28 (.786) during his four seasons and won a pair of North Central Conference championships … Played in 131 career games, tied for third-most in program history, and remains UND’s all-time leader in career field goal percentage (.609) … Owns three of the top 10 single-season field goal percentages in UND history … Ranks third all-time at UND in career field goals made (736), fourth in career points (1,829) and fifth in career rebounds (797) … Earned NABC All-America honors as a senior … A two-time All-NCC performer.

Jaime (Pudenz) Holmquist | Basketball | 1996-2000: Played on all three of UND’s NCAA DII championship squads (1997, 1998, 1999) … Graduated as UND’s career and single-season leader in both assists and steals … Had 645 career assists and 259 career steals … Also graduated as the fourth-leading scorer in program history with 1,614 points (now ranks ninth) … Earned All-American second team honors in 1998-99 and was an academic All-American in 1999-2000 … NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient in 2000 … A three-time All-NCC selection and two-time all-region performer … Named NCC Freshman of the Year in 1997.

Paul Robson | Football | 1960-63: Lettered as an offensive lineman and linebacker in 1960, 1962 and 1963 for legendary coach Marv “Whitey” Helling … Went on to enjoy a 9-year professional career in the Canadian Football League … Later served as general manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders … Amassed a record of 44-21-1 as GM of the Blue Bombers and won a Grey Cup championship in 1984 … Inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 1991 … Former Chair of the CFL’s Board of Governors … Sons Kevin (1990-93) and Scott (1984-85) also lettered in football at UND.

1997-98 Women’s Basketball Team: The second of three straight NCAA DII women’s basketball national championship teams under legendary coach Gene Roebuck … Team went 31-1 overall and 18-0 in the North Central Conference … Won its five NCAA DII Tournament games by an average of 16 points … Team scored 90-plus points 19 times on the season and 100-plus points eight times … Junior C Jenny Crouse was named WBCA DII Player of the Year and NCC MVP and was joined on multiple All-America teams by senior G Tiffany Pudenz … Crouse, Pudenz and sophomore G Jaime Pudenz were named All-NCC and Daktronics All-North Central Region … Roebuck was named NCC Coach of the Year.

Thomas J. Clifford Award
The Clifford Award, established to honor former UND President Thomas J. Clifford, recognizes the UND alumni who serve as athletics coaches at the high school or collegiate level and have been notably successful in their sport.

Terry Paukert: Has coached youth and prep hockey and tennis in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks since graduating from UND in 1976 … Began his coaching career with the Grand Forks Park District and later enjoyed teaching and coaching stints at Grand Forks Red River High School, Grand Forks Central High School and East Grand Forks Senior High … The 2006 recipient of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Ward C. Burton Junior Development Award ... Named Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year in 1991-92 … Inducted into Grand Forks Central High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

Honorary Letterwinner Award
The Letterwinners Association Honorary Award is given upon official action by the club's Executive Committee to persons who, in the opinion of the committee, have contributed significantly to the furtherance of UND Athletics.

Pat Sweeney: Popular broadcaster worked at WDAZ-TV in Grand Forks from 1982 to 2014 and was named sports director in December 1983 … Called television play-by-play for UND hockey, football and basketball for 28 years for WDAZ-TV (ABC) in Grand Forks and the Fighting Sioux Sports Network … Also served as producer and host of UND football coach’s show and was UND’s football radio voice in 1992 and 2015 … Three-time North Dakota Sportscaster of the Year … Worked in news and sports at KUMV TV in Williston and KQCD TV in Dickinson prior to joining WDAZ … Now works in the UND Division of University & Public Affairs as videographer/community relations coordinator.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, proudly sponsored by the UND Letterwinners Association, will be held on Oct. 14 in the Alerus Center ballroom. For ticket information, please contact UND Athletics at (701) 777-2234.