• Pandas Hockey forward (2001-2006)
• Third in Canada West history with 182 career points, and second with 110 assists
• Fifth all-time in CW history, and third in Pandas history with 72 goals
• Five-time Canada West Champion (2002-2006)
• Four-time CIS Champion (2002-04, 2006)
• 2006 Canada West Player of the Year
• Pandas Team MVP (2006)
• 2006 Bakewell Trophy Winner
• 2002 Canada West Rookie of the Year
• Three-time Canada West All-Star
• Five-time Academic All-Canadian

Since their inception into Canada West in the fall 1997, the University of Alberta Pandas Hockey program has been one of the most accomplished university sports programs in Canada, thanks in large part to the incredibly talented student-athletes who have laced up their skates for the Evergreen & Gold. 

Once such individual, Kristen Hagg, ‘05 BSc, ‘12 JD, who helped guide the Pandas to five conference titles and four CIS National Championships during her five-year career, has rightfully earned her spot on the UofA’s Sports Wall of Fame.

Similar to most stats and accolades you look at from the Pandas Hockey team in the early 2000’s, Hagg’s career numbers and achievements are astonishing, and almost unbelievable. 

From 2001-2006, Hagg and the Pandas won 156 of their 165 conference and postseason games. In fact, Hagg didn’t lose a conference or playoff game in any of her first three seasons, with the Pandas 110-game undefeated streak ending in the 2005 CIS National Final.

A common theme with the 2021 Sports Wall of Fame inductees is their immediate impact as rookies with their respective teams. Hagg was no different. A product of Strathcona High School in Edmonton, Hagg was sensational in her first season, finishing third on the team with 28 points in 16 conference games, before adding another four in the conference playoffs, en route to capturing the Canada West Rookie of the Year Award.

Hagg and the Pandas, including linemate and 2017 SWOF Inductee Danielle Bourgeois, terrorized their opponents for the first three seasons she was a Panda. Simply put, they dominated their competition. The Pandas won three-consecutive conference and national titles from 2002-2004. 

Arguably their most remarkable season as a team was in 2003/04, when the Pandas went a perfect 20-0-0, outscoring their conference opponents 126-11. 

The lone team blemish for Hagg and came in 2005, when the Pandas lost in the 2005 CIS Final to the Laurier Golden Hawks. 

A three-time Canada West All-Star herself, Hagg was often overshadowed by Bourgeois, who was accumulating Canada West and CIS MVP awards during the early 2000’s. However, Hagg showed off her true brilliance in 2005-06, quelling the notion of her playing second fiddle, following Bourgeois’ graduation from the program.

As their primary scorer and team captain, the Edmonton product was truly outstanding as a fifth-year senior. Hagg led Canada West with 33 points in 20 games, being named the 2006 CW Player of the Year and a CIS All-Canadian, leading the Pandas to their 8th conference title, and 5th national title.

She was also named the 2006 Bakewell Trophy Winner as the University of Alberta’s Female Athlete of the Year. Her 182 career points are also the third most in CW history, with her 110 assists ranking second all-time.  

Not only was Hagg tremendous on the ice, she was also a leader for her team and community, and excelled in the classroom. She was a five-time Academic All-Canadian in the Faculty of Physical Education & Recreation, also earning the 2006 Kathlene Yetman Trophy as the top Academic All-Canadian.

Pandas head coach Howie Draper classified Hagg as “An exceptional model of the student-athlete commitment to excellence. In many ways, she demonstrated a maturity that superseded her young age. She was the picture of poise and control in stressful times and for these reasons, her teammates held her in high regard. The level of hockey intelligence that she brought to our team was matched with a dogged determination and work ethic that contributed to helping define the ‘Pandas’ way of playing the game for years to come.” 

Her academic excellence continued, as Hagg also earned her law degree from the UofA in 2012, before being called to the Alberta Bar in 2013. 

Her on-ice excellence and winning ways didn’t end when her Pandas career finished, as she also played professionally in Austria and Canada. Most notably, Hagg spent two seasons playing for the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, winning the 2016 Clarkson Cup Championship. She spent time as the General Manager of the Inferno after her playing career ended as well, guiding the Inferno to a 2019 Championship season. 

Hagg also spent six years as an associate with Bryan & Company Calgary LLP/HMC Lawyers LLP, before being named a partner with HMC Lawyers LLP in 2020. 

She has also spent time volunteering as legal counsel with the athletes on the Canadian National Women’s Hockey team, as well as serving on the board of directors with the Grindstone Award Foundation, an organization that raises money to provide grants to female hockey players whose families cannot afford to pay registration fees. 

Kristen Hagg is the second Pandas Hockey alumnae to be inducted into the Sports Wall of Fame.