Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – From one champion to another, the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team has added another player with a winning pedigree to the lineup.

Shyla Kirwer of the back-to-back national championship winning St. Albert Slash is joining her teammate Jayme Doyle as part of the Griffins' 2018 recruiting class, head coach Lindsay McAlpine announced Tuesday.

"We are very excited to add Shyla to our 2018-19 roster," said McAlpine. "She already plays the game in the way I expect from our current athletes with consistent work ethic, pace and emotion.  

"Shyla also brings leadership and a winning pedigree to our program, finishing her Midget career with two Esso Cup championships. Welcome to the Griffs, Shyla!"

The Sherwood Park product had eight goals and 18 points in 30 games for the Slash this past Alberta Female Hockey League season. The centre recorded four goals and 19 points the season prior for the Slash.

"Shyla is a consistently hard worker, and plays a 200-foot game," said Slash head coach Dan Auchenberg. "She is an athlete that every coach wants on their team, doing all the little things to make a team better.

"Shyla was a huge reason for the St. Albert Slash winning back to back national championships. Her leadership and commitment to winning will be a great asset to the Griffins program."

Most of the Griffins' roster returns as they enter the 2018-19 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season in search of a three-peat. But adding another player who knows the sacrifice it takes to win is huge.

"I am a big believer that success breeds success," said McAlpine. "To add players to our team with championship pedigrees, it continues to raise the bar within our current program."