Five in Nine Years: Mackenna Brown Adds to SMUS Athletics Legacy

Just months after graduating from St. Michaels University School, Mackenna Brown ’26 is already making her mark on university field hockey, joining a growing list of SMUS alumni recognized among the best first-year university athletes in Western Canada.

The first-year University of British Columbia (UBC) midfielder has been named the 2026 Canada West Field Hockey Rookie of the Year, becoming the fifth SMUS graduate to earn a Canada West Rookie of the Year award in the past nine years.

Brown joins fellow field hockey standouts Anna Mollenhauer (2017) and Rebecca Stone (2023), who both earned the honour while competing for the University of Victoria Vikes. The recognition also extends to basketball, where SMUS graduates Makena Anderson (2024) and Avery Geddes (2026) received Canada West Rookie of the Year honours with UVic.

Together, the five graduates represent an impressive record of athletic achievement across two sports, with several going on to earn national awards, win U SPORTS championships and represent Canada internationally.

Brown's own university career is off to a remarkable start. In addition to her Rookie of the Year recognition, she was named a Canada West All-Star, one of just two rookies to receive the honour this season. Her contributions helped the Thunderbirds complete an undefeated season and capture their first conference championship since 2017.

With the conference title secured, Brown and the Thunderbirds now turn their attention to the U SPORTS National Championship in Waterloo, Ontario, November 6–7, where they will compete for the country's top university field hockey honour.

A Legacy of Field Hockey Excellence

Brown's recognition continues an impressive tradition of SMUS field hockey graduates excelling at the university level. Since 2017, three SMUS alumni have earned Canada West Field Hockey Rookie of the Year honours, with their achievements extending well beyond their first seasons.

Anna Mollenhauer ‘17 earned the honour in 2017 with the University of Victoria Vikes, beginning one of the most decorated university field hockey careers in Canadian history. She went on to become the first player to win the U SPORTS Player of the Year award three times, in 2018, 2021 and 2022, while helping the Vikes capture four-consecutive national championships. Recognized as a U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian, Mollenhauer is a current member of the Canadian Senior Women's National Team.

Rebecca Stone followed in 2023, earning both Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year honours in her first season with the Vikes. A central midfielder, Stone started every game of her rookie season, helping UVic capture conference and national championship titles. She added another national championship in 2024 and represented Canada at the Junior Pan American Cup in Surrey, BC.

Now Brown joins that distinguished company, adding another chapter to a remarkable record of SMUS graduates earning individual honours, winning national championships and representing Canada internationally.

Rookie Success on the Court

The recognition extends beyond field hockey. Two other SMUS graduates have earned Canada West Rookie of the Year honours in women's basketball in recent years.

Makena Anderson ’23 received the award in 2024 during her first season with the University of Victoria Vikes, making an immediate impact on the court and earning a place on the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team. Avery Geddes ’25 followed in 2026, earning the same conference honour and national All-Rookie Team recognition after a standout debut season with the Vikes.

Both athletes were also key members of successful SMUS athletics programs before graduation, with Geddes contributing to the school's provincial championship-winning basketball team in Grade 12 before starting her university career.

With Brown's latest achievement, five SMUS graduates have earned Canada West Rookie of the Year honours across field hockey and basketball since 2017, an impressive reflection of the athletic talent emerging from SMUS and the success of its graduates at the university level.