ERIE, Pa. – Head coach Michael Sisti of the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team said today that three players have signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the program for the 2014-15 campaign.

Joining the Lakers next season will be forwards Brooke Hartwick (Thorndale, Ontario) and Kirsten Miller (Oakville, Ontario), and defenseman Callie Paddock (Wawa, Ontario).

"Louis (Goulet) and Delaney (Collins) do a fantastic job every year with bringing in recruits to play for us," said Sisti about his early crop of recruits for next season. "We are excited to be bringing in these three girls to play here and they should help us continue the successful tradition of winning we have developed over the 15 years of the program here at Mercyhurst."

The Lakers only lose three players to graduation after this season – Christine Bestland, Christie Cicero, and Kaleigh Chippy – but those players have been cornerstones of the program and have helped Mercyhurst advance to the NCAA Tournament for an NCAA record nine consecutive seasons.

Bestland and Cicero have combined for 113 goals and 162 assists for 275 points in their careers, with Bestland just five points shy of becoming the fifth player in program history to record 200 career points. Meanwhile, Chippy has contributed 20 points in her two seasons on the hill.

Hartwick and Miller will be expected to replace some of the scoring that will be lost after this season while Paddock will provide added depth on the Laker blueline.

Brooke Hartwick

Forward / 5-7 / Shoots: Left / Thorndale, Ontario / Bluewater Jr. Hawks

Hartwick played 38 games for the Bluewater Jr. Hawks out of Strathroy, Ontario and scored 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points in 2012-13. She was invited to Team Canada's U18 Strength and Conditioning Camp in 2013 and also to Team Canada's U18 Selection Camp in 2013.

She also made the U18 Team Ontario Red roster that won the gold medal in Calgary in 2013. Hartwick scored the opening goal of the Gold Medal game.

Hartwick went to Europe with a Selects Team in 2009-2010 and earned the Top Female Athlete award in 2010.

Personal: Hartwick was born on March 11, 1996 and is the daughter of Keith and Natalie Hartwick. She has three siblings – Melissa, Adam, and Collin.

"I'm excited, not only to be attending a great school, but to also be joining a great hockey program," said Hartwick. "I'm anxious to start my next step in life at Mercyhurst University and to meet all the girls on the team and build tremendous friendships."

Kirsten Miller

Forward / 5-9 / Shoots: Left / Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Jr. Hornets

Miller played for the Oakville Jr. Hornets and led the Provincial Women's Hockey League in scoring during her time there. She competed in the 2010 Ontario Winter Games and was a member of Team Ontario in 2011.

She earned a national championship in 2012 with Team Ontario's U18 team in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Miller also played for the silver medal winning Team Ontario U18 team in 2013, taking second in Calgary, Alberta.

Miller was also invited to Team Canada's U18 Selection Camp in 2013.

Personal: Miller was born on February 18, 1996 and is the daughter of Sherri and Andrew. She is the middle child of two sisters – Sarah and Gillian.

"I'm excited to be joining Mercyhurst next season," said Miller. "I love the atmosphere there and the hockey program is incredible!"

Callie Paddock

Defense / 5-11 / Shoots: Left / Wawa, Ontario / St. Mary's Academy Prep Flames

Paddock was a member of the Hearst Ice Cats Provincial Champions in Girls Bantam C and was the Most Valuable Player of the Boys' Bantam Wawa Travelers team in 2010-11. She also earned the Most Dedicated Award from the Wawa Minor Hockey Association that same season.

Most recently, Paddock was a member of the St. Mary's Academy team that won the Pembina Valley AAA Female Midget Hawks Thanksgiving Classic Championship.

Personal: Paddock was born on June 10, 1996 and is the daughter of Renee and Gord. She now lives with her mother and her stepfather, Peter. She has five siblings – Tanner, Brittany, Cameron, Cooper, and Parker.

"I can't wait to start next season playing for the Mercyhurst Lakers," said Paddock. "I'm excited to begin the next chapters of my life at Mercyhurst. I couldn't be happier with my decision."