Addition of top Saskatchewan forward Krushelniski helps restock Griffins' attacking core
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Nearly half of the 41 goals the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team scored in a 2021 season that ended with a historic U SPORTS national championship were recorded by graduating seniors.
Meagan Lemoine, Raeghan McCarthy, Salma Kamel, Samantha Gouveia and Kaylin Hermanutz combined to score 15 times in the Canada West regular season and five more times in the playoffs and U SPORTS championship.
That's a lot of production heading out the door as the Griffins prepare for their title defence in 2022.
However, they're set up to not miss a beat with a solid returning nucleus of attacking players and a promising recruiting class that includes star Saskatoon striker Jaycee Krushelniski, announced by head coach Dean Cordeiro on Thursday.
In fact, the 5-foot-6 Saskatchewan REX product reminds Cordeiro of Lemoine, who recently wrapped up her fifth season with the Griffins as a Canada West first team all-star.
"Jaycee is similar to Meagan Lemoine in a number of ways," said Cordeiro. "She has speed, power and can score goals. She'll make an immediate impact upon her arrival."
Jaycee Krushelniski will bring a strong goal-scoring ability to the Griffins in the 2022 Canada West season.
Krushelniski has already made quite an impact in Saskatchewan as a member of the REX (regional excellence) program for the past six years. The tenacious, physical forward helped Team Saskatchewan win a bronze medal at the 2019 Canada Summer Games and was named Saskatchewan Soccer's 2020 Youth Player of the Year.
With speed to burn, the Bishop James Mahoney high school product is also a track champ, winning the Saskatoon city title in both the 100- and 200-metre dashes.
"She's a game-changer," said Cordeiro. "Every time the ball's at her feet, she makes things happen. She's a handful for defenders to deal with.
"She possesses those attributes we look for in our front three players and will be a nice complement to what we already have. We're excited about adding Jaycee to the mix."
Krushelniski, the youngest-ever player recruited to Saskatchewan REX, joins two current Griffins from that program – Renee DeCorby and Brenna Paquin.
Adding to the familiarity of moving to Edmonton for university, her brother Tyson Krushelniski is a promising linebacker for the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team.
"It will be cool for the family," said Cordeiro. "Different sports, different schools, but both kids will be in Edmonton."
