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Makenna Morrison never thought she'd be a trend-setter.
 
When she decided to play college soccer 32 hours away from her Calgary, Alberta home at Miami University, Makenna was just trying to find the best fit for her. After all, the midfielder was navigating a unique recruitment process, set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"I'd never even been to the state of Ohio; I had no idea what I was getting myself into!," Makenna smiled. "Never met a single person on the team. I did a Zoom call, but never met the coaches in person. They never even saw me play."

 
Although she had initially planned to go to a Power Five school much closer to home (and may or may not have thought at first that Miami University was in Florida!), the more Makenna learned about what the RedHawks had to offer, the more intrigued she was.
 
"I thought this seemed like a really great opportunity in the Midwest, which has always had a soft place in my heart because my dad went to school in Michigan," Makenna said. "It turns out it was probably the best choice I could have made."
 
That's how she ended up joining the Red and White, signing her letter of intent alongside older brother Brayden, who was headed to play college hockey at Wisconsin.
 
She had no way of knowing then that three years later, both Brayden and younger sister Kailyn would end up following in her footsteps to Oxford.
 
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"My dad went to school in Michigan…"
 
The seven words above might be the slightest understatement of a certain college athlete's historic career. Brendan Morrison, father of Brayden, Makenna and Kailyn, not only 'went to school in Michigan', but re-wrote the record books with the Michigan Wolverines' hockey program. Brendan was named NCAA Tournament MVP on Michigan's national championship team in 1996 and followed that up by winning the Hobey Baker Award in 1997, leading the nation in points. He still ranks number one all-time on U-M's scoring list with 284 career points.
 

 

Brendan went on to play 14 years in the NHL, producing 200 goals and more than 400 assists from 1997 to 2012.
 
"When I was still playing professionally, I would bring my kids to the rink at times," Brendan recalled. "They used to get together with other kids on the team and get out on the carpet in the dressing room, get their mini sticks out, and start playing with a tape ball. That's a good memory for sure."

When dad's an NHL player and mom played college volleyball, it goes without saying the next generation of Morrisons inherited the athletic bloodlines and competitive drive that their future coaches would covet.
 
They also collected quite a few zip codes over the years due to Brendan's career. "In four years, my kids were in four different schools: From Vancouver to Anaheim to Virginia to Calgary," he explained.
 
That adaptability helped Brayden, Makenna and Kailyn get used to making friends quickly each time they settled into a new place. Or, in Brayden's case this year, another new place.
 
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After skating a total of 19 games for Wisconsin, Brayden returned to juniors last winter, finishing the 2022-23 season with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints before choosing his next college hockey destination this spring.
 
(And how about this for chronological trivia? Although Brayden is the oldest Morrison sibling, he actually became the third to decide to attend Miami! But more on Kailyn later…)

 
"Brayden was just looking for a fresh start," Miami Hockey head coach Chris Bergeron said. "We're looking forward to seeing what he can do with this opportunity. I think his best hockey's ahead of him, and we're excited to see where he can take it."
 
"I fell in love with [Miami]," Brayden said after officially becoming a RedHawk. "When I came to campus, I met with all the coaches. We sat down and I just loved how passionate Berge was about the program here and how excited he was for the upcoming season.
 
"He really lit a fire underneath me and made me want to come here."
 
Before that happened, there was one more hurdle that needed cleared: A chat with his sister. "Initially we were both doing our own thing: He was in Wisconsin, I was here…separate paths," laughed Makenna.
 

"We sat down for a heart-to-heart conversation about what this was going to look like," she continued. "If we're going to go to school together, we need to get some things straight! I know you're older than me, but technically I'm older than you at school. So just figuring out how this will all work.
 
The end result?
 
"He said, 'I think I'm going to go here,' and I was like, 'Let's do it – I think it would be awesome.'
 
"I really want to see him succeed, as it didn't necessarily work out in Wisconsin, and I know that can be a hard experience to have. College can be so fun when you're with such a great group of people; [I'm trying to make] sure he's enjoying it as much as I have."
 
"I think there's an immediate comfort level because of his sister," Bergeron said. "But the other piece is: Brayden is willing. If you come into a new situation and you have your guard up, it's not going to be easy. It's going to take time to acclimate.
 
"He came in 'guard down', eyes and ears open, just wanting to be a part of it, and that's helped…I do think having family here and then being willing to engage right away has made his transition fairly seamless to this point."
 
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Next year, Brayden will have not one, but two sisters on campus. That brings us back to Kailyn, the third Morrison sibling. She officially signed her letter of intent with Miami Soccer this week and will team up with Makenna on the field for the RedHawks next fall.
 
Although her hometown is also listed as Calgary, Kailyn has already gotten somewhat accustomed to the Midwest after playing high school soccer last year in Michigan and competing for the Michigan Hawks club team. (And unlike Makenna, she will have seen Miami's campus in person before arriving for day one of preseason!)
 
"I think it was actually harder to convince Kailyn to come here than Makenna," said Miami coach Courtney Sirmans. "With sisters, you sometimes want your own experience in college. But thankfully, that family gets along so well. They absolutely do love each other…they all really do find comfort that they have a family here, outside of their athletic family.
 
"And I think the parents feel very comfortable – knowing Makenna's experience here, they felt very safe that Kailyn would have an enjoyable experience as well!"

 
"I've always looked up to my older sister," Kailyn added. "Being able to see her leadership and great work ethic is something I've always strived toward, so it's definitely getting me excited to be able to play with her and have her not only as a sister but a teammate, on and off the field."
 
As an outside back/winger, younger sister should have plenty of opportunities to send passes up ahead for big sis to finish next fall. "Hopefully if I get a chance to play when she's on, I'll be able to cross a ball in and have her score," Kailyn said.
 
"They're two totally different players, but to keep that pedigree of high standards for athletics and making winning a high priority, we're super happy to keep the Morrison family here at Miami," said Sirmans.
 
"Makenna is extremely technical, very intelligent and sees the field really well. She loves setting up teammates, and does a really good job putting herself in positions where she can score goals. Kailyn's what you would hope for in a defender: Very physical, very good in the air, has pace and can strike a ball over distance.
 
"The two of them together complement each other really well."
 
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It remains to be seen whether Brayden, Makenna and Kailyn will set up a friendly scoring competition in 2024 to see which Morrison puts up the most points. "She's got a couple goals this year," Brayden said during Makenna's four-game win streak to end the 2023 campaign. "I might have to catch up."
 
(Even if the trio might be hard-pressed cumulatively to match dad's 102 college goals and 182 assists! "I don't think I really comprehended when I was younger, but it's so cool now reflecting on the career that he had," Makenna said. "Now, being a collegiate athlete myself and seeing how hard it is…I can't even imagine doing what he's done, so it's just a lot of admiration. He's someone I really look up to.")
 
Regardless, for a family that grew up competing in everything, they'll certainly be keeping track somehow.
 
"It's a funny thing," laughed Brendan. "During COVID, we would try to play board games every night, and it almost always ended up in a fight or two. So at times, maybe crossing the lines of competitiveness a little!
 
"But I think it's better to have that and dial it back than try to push them [to want to compete]."
 
Good-natured teasing aside, it's clear from talking to the different members of the Morrison clan that they are truly each other's biggest fans. And obviously, Brendan and his wife Erin are looking forward to being able to visit Oxford more often to watch their three oldest children all wear the Red and White and represent Miami together.
 

"That's the plan," Brendan said. "I want to be there as much as possible!"
 
"It will be super cool for us three and the rest of the family being really close so they can come see us all at once," Brayden remarked.
 
Of course, even on weeks that mom and dad can't be around, the siblings will have each other. Already, Brayden can be found in the stands at Bobby Kramig Field watching Miami Soccer, while Makenna is a fixture at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena to root on Miami Hockey.
 
"I think it's going to be super exciting: We're all going to be able to support each other, and it's going to be a great experience," Kailyn said. "It's been cool growing up with siblings that all play sports, being able to see each other continue to get better in college will be a great opportunity.
 
"There are obviously nerves that come with playing at a collegiate level, but I'm excited to play for that school and be a part of the team.
 
"It's going to be an honor."
 
Find more Front Row Features at: MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures
 
Brayden Morrison and Miami Hockey look to stay unbeaten at home this weekend as Colorado College comes to town; tickets for the RedHawks' Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 games are available now!