University of Manitoba Adds Four

(L-R) Julia Bird, Jessie Haner, Ashley Keller, Emily Shippam

When the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team kicks-off their season a few new recruits won’t have to look hard to find a familiar face.

St. Mary’s Academy Female U18 Prep teammates Julia Bird, Jessie Haner, Ashley Keller, and Emily Shippam have all committed to the Bisons for the 2021/22 season.

Bird, who is from Winnipeg, MB, joined St. Mary’s during the 2020/21 COVID shortened season. The forward played three games and finished with two points.

Haner spent four seasons with St. Mary’s, playing 67 games. The Oakbank, MB forward finished her CSSHL career with 13 goals and 11 assists.

A veteran of 52 CSSHL games, Keller spent three seasons with St. Mary’s, recording 19 goals 20 assists. Keller is a forward from Winnipeg, MB.

The lone goalie of the group, Shippam is the third Winnipeg, MB student-athlete from St. Mary’s to join the Bisons. In 13 games the last 2 seasons, Shippam has a .895 save percentage and a 2.55 goals against average.

The Bisons play out of the Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg, MB and compete in U Sports.