Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Griffins

EDMONTON – Some last-minute recruiting led Griffins head coach Adam Loga to Sam Vieira – a talented, versatile forward who made an impression playing for him on Edmonton Scottish in Alberta's League 1 circuit this summer.

"A friend of mine – Osmo Bimba – who runs a school academy in the city (JD Bracco), gave me a call about him," said Loga. "Sam came back to visit him in the city and Osmo said 'Do you have room in League 1?' I said 'yup.'

"Getting to know him, I was like 'wanna go to school?' So, we got him late, as well. He's such a good kid and we couldn't be happier to have him."

Vieira made an immediate impact for Scottish and has the skill-set to do the same for the Griffins as they get set to kick off the 2023 Canada West campaign on Aug. 25 vs. Lethbridge (2:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium).

"He's got good size and is just so smooth," said Loga of the 6-foot-1 Edmontonian, who played for Internazionale in his youth. "Just in his biomechanics, you don't even think he's running hard, but he's deceivingly quick and fast. He runs so smooth. 

"Good size to him, good on the ball and decent experience for the young lad coming from the Highlanders Academy. He's a great kid."