Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – The MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team has added another strong recruit to their blueline corps.

Head coach Lindsay McAlpine announced Wednesday that Red Deer Midget AAA Chiefs defenceman Sydney Hughson will join the program next season.

The Foremost, Alta. product is set to join Red Deer Midget AAA Chiefs teammate Vanessa Verbitsky as part of a growing Griffins' 2019-20 recruiting class.

"I was able to watch Sydney play during her time with NAX last season, and then again this year with Red Deer," said McAlpine referencing Hughson's time with the Northern Alberta X-Treme.

"She's a defenceman that has quietly put up a lot of points. She's the leading scorer on Red Deer as a defenceman and someone we're going to look to again to contribute to our offensive production."

Hughson had five goals and 12 points in 30 games for the Chiefs in 2018-19. She also proved to be solid defensively.

"She's a strong girl," said McAlpine. "I think her first pass is great out of the zone. She plays a hard net-front game and the contributions we'll be looking to her for are in her hockey IQ and offensive ability."

The Griffins are coming off their third-straight Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championship last month.