Inuvik’s Kyra McDonald signs pro hockey contract with Swiss team
Published 12:50 pm Friday, February 20, 2026
From Inuvik to western Switzerland, that’s where Kyra McDonald’s lifelong dream to play professional hockey is taking her.
As of Jan. 22, McDonald signed to join the Fribourg-Gotteron Ladies Pro Hockey team, as part of the Swiss Women’s Ice Hockey League (SWHL).
“It’s been a big dream of mine to play professional hockey, and I wasn’t sure if it was going to come true or not, so the fact that it’s reality is pretty mind-blowing,” said McDonald, a winger.
She grew up playing every available sport in Inuvik, and she describes her family as a group of multi-sport athletes.
But, ultimately, hockey has always been her favourite sport.
McDonald has been attending Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., where she plays for the Spartans varsity team and majoring in human kinetics-kinesiology. She describes the choice to move away from her hometown as a “hard decision.”
Now that she’s been signed professionally, she says it’s easy to think she should have left sooner, “but it’s such a hard thing to move away from everything you knew growing up,” she said. “I definitely carry a lot of pride coming from Inuvik.”
About her time playing for the Spartans, McDonald acknowledged some highs and lows.
“When I first joined the team, it was a brand new program. It was our first year competing at the U-Sports level,” she recalled.
After McDonald’s second season, the team hired a new coach, one who McDonald says “completely transformed the program.”
With the team’s renewed confidence and revamped training routine, the Spartans began making major progress. They were ranked in the top 10 of university sports nationally earlier this season.
“It’s cool to be here to set a lot of program records, and make history,” she said.
McDonald credits her stature and speed as assets to her game. Standing 5’11”, she is often one of the most imposing players on the ice.
Despite the advantage her size might provide, she had to learn to take a more cautious approach.
“I wouldn’t call myself an enforcer, because I don’t really like to draw penalties. I’m definitely more focused on the game,” she said.
McDonald’s coach at Trinity Western, Peter Hay, remarked on the improvement he’s seen in her over her five years with the Spartans, and how proud all of her coaches are.
“As a competitive, strong, physical player, Kyra plays very disciplined, doesn’t take penalties, and has become a key player for us who is highly respected,” said Hay.
With regard to the upcoming Canada West playoffs, the team has already run into a few hurdles, learning that they would have to travel by bus to Calgary for an away game, rather than fly in.
McDonald hopes to see her team stay dialed in, and is excited for the match-up against Calgary.
She says she’s still processing her signing with the Swiss Pro Hockey team after her agent helped get her noticed by European hockey scouts, but she remains focused on the task at hand.
“I’m excited about it, and I’m excited to see what comes from playing overseas.”