NEWS: Stefanie McKeough named full-time assistant coach of Gee-Gees women’s hockey

The Gee-Gees women's hockey program is proud to announce that Stefanie McKeough will be joining the team's coaching staff as a full-time assistant coach.

McKeough, a bilingual native of Carlsbad Springs in rural Ottawa, will return home, bringing a wealth of high-level experience both as a coach and a player to the Gee-Gees program.

"I am super excited to have the opportunity to be coaching in my hometown and privileged to be joining a world-class institution like the University of Ottawa," said McKeough. "I am looking forward to learning the Gee-Gee philosophy alongside these talented student-athletes and I am excited to see where this group can go together."

McKeough most recently served as head coach of Göteborg Hockey Club in Sweden's Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL). During her time with Göteborg as both an assistant and the head coach, she had the opportunity to guide professional players in one of the most competitive hockey leagues in the world from 2018 until her departure in October.

Furthermore, McKeough has experience leading defensive player development with the Federación Espanola de Deportes de Hielo, Spain's national women's ice hockey team.

"By welcoming Stefanie into our program we are adding one of the best teachers of the game of hockey," said Gee-Gees head coach Chelsea Grills. "She brings a great deal of knowledge and experience, including on the international level, and is known to be a fierce competitor. I'm looking forward to working with her and know that she will have an immediate positive impact on our student-athletes and program."

As a player, McKeough, represented Canada on the 2008-09 National Women's U18 Team that won a silver medal at the 2009 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship. In 2011, she won gold with Canada in the MLP Nations Cup. McKeough also suited up on the Canadian blueline for other tournaments and series and was present at national team selection camps throughout her playing career.

McKeough had a decorated collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the Badgers from 2009-14. McKeough was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-12, and was named to the All-WCHA Second Team in 2011-12, the Third Team and All-Rookie Team in 2009-10. Off the ice, she was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team from 2009-13 and to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in 2013-14.

McKeough also brings championship experience to her new role with the Garnet and Grey, having won the 2011 NCAA National Championship with the Badgers.

"We are very excited to welcome a coach of Stefanie's caliber to our women's hockey program and to our Gee-Gees family," said Sue Hylland, Director of Varsity Athletics. "She is an outstanding fit to compliment Coach Grills and I am looking forward to the continued growth of this exciting young program with our two young and accomplished female coaches."

McKeough will immediately begin her activities with the team.