Justin Kirkland

{{short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1996)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Justin Kirkland | image = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|8|2|mf=y}} | birth_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 193 | position = Centre | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = Calgary Flames | prospect_league = AHL | prospect_team = Calgary Wranglers | former_teams = Anaheim Ducks<br>Arizona Coyotes | ntl_team = | draft = 62nd overall | draft_year = 2014 | draft_team = Nashville Predators | career_start = 2016 }} '''Justin Kirkland''' (born August 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kirkland was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but grew up in Camrose, Alberta. Kirkland has gained the nickname "Costco", alluding to their ''Kirkland Signature'' products.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-forward-justin-kirkland-and-costco-about-to-make-it-official |title=Flames forward Justin Kirkland and Costco … about to make it official? |last=Gilbertson |first=Wes |work=Calgary Herald |date=November 25, 2024 |access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

==Playing career== After playing two years of bantam triple-A level hockey for the Camrose Kodiaks U15 AAA team of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, Kirkland was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the fifth round, 103rd overall, of the 2011 Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kirkland, Justin {{!}} 2016 NHL Draft Prospects |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=94386 |access-date=October 1, 2020 |publisher=National Hockey League}}</ref> After playing from 2011 to 2013 in Saskatchewan at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Justin Kirkland – Elite Prospects |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/63133/justin-kirkland |access-date=October 1, 2020 |website=Elite Prospects}}</ref> Kirkland cracked the Rockets' roster full-time in the 2013–14 season and finished eighth in team scoring with 48 points in 68 games.

Impressed by his WHL rookie season, the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Kirkland in the third round of the 2014 NHL entry draft, 62nd overall. Kirkland scored 51 points in 50 games in the 2014–15 WHL season and helped the Rockets capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/sports/news/Rockets/Former_Kelowna_Rocket_Justin_Kirkland_makes_NHL_debut/ |title=Former Kelowna Rocket Justin Kirkland makes NHL debut |work=Kelowna Now |date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> The Rockets went to the Memorial Cup final that year with Kirkland scoring twice against the Quebec Remparts in the lead up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/memorial-cup-rockets-pound-remparts-to-advance-to-final-1.3093968 |title=Memorial Cup: Rockets pound Remparts to advance to final |work=CBC Sports |agency=The Canadian Press |date=May 29, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> However, they were defeated by the Oshawa Generals in the final, 2–1, in overtime.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2028045/kelowna-rockets-and-oshawa-generals-tied-after-one-in-memorial-cup-final/#:~:text=Anthony%20Cirelli%20scored%20his%20second,to%20win%20the%20Memorial%20Cup.&text=The%20Rockets'%20Leon%20Draisaitl%2C%20who,award%20in%20a%20losing%20effort. |title=Oshawa Generals defeat Kelowna Rockets in overtime to win Memorial Cup |work=Global News |last=McElroy |first=Justin |date=May 31, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> Following another successful year in 2015–16 in which he had 67 points in 69 games, Kirkland signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on May 16, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/predators-sign-left-wing-justin-kirkland-entry-level-deal/ |title=Predators sign left wing Justin Kirkland to entry-level deal |agency=Associated Press |work=Sportsnet |date=May 16, 2016 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref>

Kirkland spent four games with the Predators' then-ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones,<ref name="anaheim">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-sign-de-leo-gawdin-kirkland-strand-and-white-to-contracts/c-334983360 |title=Ducks sign De Leo, Gawdin, Kirkland, Strand and White to contracts |publisher=Anaheim Ducks |via=NHL.com | date = July 14, 2022 | access-date = July 14, 2022}}</ref> in 2016–17; however, he largely played in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Milwaukee Admirals. He spent the following two seasons exclusively with the Admirals with his best single-season output — nine goals and 30 points — coming in 2018–19, his final year in the Predators' organization. A restricted free agent in the 2019 offseason, Kirkland was not issued a qualifying offer by the Predators and became an unrestricted free agent eligible to sign with any NHL team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/justin-kirkland-will-become-ufa/ |title=Justin Kirkland: Will become UFA |work=CBS Sports |date=June 25, 2019 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref>

On July 1, 2019, Kirkland signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames, reuniting him with Rockets teammate Dillon Dubé. Kirkland was assigned to the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, for the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2019 |title=Flames sign forward Justin Kirkland to one-year contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/flames-sign-forward-justin-kirkland-one-year-contract/ |access-date=October 1, 2020 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref> He had his best offensive season as a professional up to that point, scoring six goals and 28 points in 53 games, and was re-signed by the Flames to another one-year deal on September 28, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flames Re-sign Justin Kirkland |url=https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flames-re-sign-justin-kirkland/c-319215332 |publisher=Calgary Flames |via=NHL.com |date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> He spent the entire 2020–21 season with the Heat. He re-signed with the Flames to another one-year, two-way contract on August 25, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/flames-sign-forward-justin-kirkland-one-year-two-way-deal/ |title=Flames sign forward Justin Kirkland to one-year, two-way deal |work=Sportsnet |date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> He scored 25 goals and 48 points in 66 games with the Heat in his third season, helping lead the team to the AHL Western Conference Finals.<ref name="anaheim"/>

As a free agent from the Flames, Kirkland signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 14, 2022.<ref name="anaheim"/> He began the 2022–23 season with the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, but was recalled on December 20.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegogulls.com/news/detail/anaheim-ducks-recall-justin-kirkland-from-san-diego-december-20-2022 |title=Anaheim Ducks Recall Justin Kirkland from San Diego |publisher=San Diego Gulls |date=December 20, 2022 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> He made his NHL debut that night in a 4–1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401459100 |title=Kings win 3rd straight game, beat rival Ducks 4-1 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> He played in seven games with the Ducks. On January 9, while on the way to the Ducks game against in the Boston Bruins in Anaheim, Kirkland was involved in a serious car crash. He was hospitalized overnight and released the next morning.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2023/01/10/ducks-justin-kirkland-released-from-hospital-one-day-after-car-accident/ |title=Ducks' Justin Kirkland released from hospital one day after car accident |work=The Orange County Register |last=Dillman |first=Lisa |date=January 10, 2023 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve by the Ducks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/ducks-justin-kirkland-lands-on-ir-list/ |title=Ducks' Justin Kirkland: Lands on IR list |work=CBS Sports |date=January 10, 2023 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> Once healthy, he was placed on waivers<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-joey-anderson-among-three-placed-on-waivers-1.1922390 |title=Maple Leafs' Anderson among three players placed on waivers |work=TSN |date=February 22, 2023 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> and after going unclaimed, was returned to the Gulls on February 23.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegogulls.com/news/detail/anaheim-ducks-loan-justin-kirkland-to-san-diego-gulls-february-23-2023 |title=Anaheim Ducks Loan Justin Kirkland to San Diego Gulls |publisher=San Diego Gulls |date=February 23, 2023 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> He finished the season with nine goals and 18 points in 32 games with San Diego.<ref name="arizona">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/coyotes-justin-kirkland-signs-with-arizona/ |title=Coyotes' Justin Kirkland: Signs with Arizona |work=CBS Sports |date=July 15, 2023 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref>

Kirkland signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 15, 2023.<ref name="arizona"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-sign-kirkland-one-year-contract/c-345350970 | title = Coyotes Sign Justin Kirkland to One-Year Contract | publisher = Arizona Coyotes | date=July 15, 2023 | access-date = July 15, 2023}}</ref> Kirkland was placed on waivers on October 2 and after going unclaimed, assigned to Arizona's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, to begin the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/coyotes-justin-kirkland-placed-on-waivers/ |title=Coyotes' Justin Kirkland: Placed on waivers |work=CBS Sports |date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> Kirkland was recalled and sent down to Tucson in December 2023 before being recalled again on January 6, 2024 and making his debut for the Coyotes on January 7 against the Winnipeg Jets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-justin-kirkland-defies-adversity-in-nhl-return-2024 |title=Kirkland Defies Adversity to Make NHL Return, 'Dream Come True All Over Again' |publisher=Arizona Coyotes |last=Brown |first=Patrick |via=NHL.com |date=January 8, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref>

As a free agent, following his rights briefly transferring from the defunct Coyotes to the Utah Hockey Club, Kirkland opted to return to the Calgary Flames in agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract on July 3, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flames-sign-justin-kirkland | title = Flames sign Justin Kirkland | publisher = Calgary Flames |via=NHL.com | date = July 3, 2024 | access-date = July 3, 2024 }}</ref> Kirkland scored his first NHL goal on Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers in a 4–1 win on October 13, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flames pull away from Oilers in 3rd, remain undefeated |last=Moddejonge |first=Gerry |date=October 14, 2024 |publisher=National Hockey League |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/calgary-flames-edmonton-oilers-game-recap-october-13 |access-date=October 21, 2024}}</ref> On November 29, Kirkland suffered a knee injury during a game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, requiring ACL surgery and ending his 2024–25 season.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Austin|first=Daniel|title=Justin Kirkland's feel-good season sadly cut short by ACL surgery |url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/justin-kirklands-feel-good-season-sadly-cut-short-by-acl-surgery|access-date=February 9, 2025|date=December 4, 2024|work=Calgary Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204202819/https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/justin-kirklands-feel-good-season-sadly-cut-short-by-acl-surgery|archive-date=December 4, 2024}}</ref> In 21 games with Calgary before his injury, Kirkland had two goals and six assists.

==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- |2012–13 |Kelowna Rockets |WHL |6 |2 |0 |2 |2 |6 |0 |1 |1 |0 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2013–14 |Kelowna Rockets |WHL |68 |17 |31 |48 |40 |14 |5 |5 |10 |20 |- |2014–15 |Kelowna Rockets |WHL |50 |21 |30 |51 |25 |9 |3 |2 |5 |0 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2015–16 |Kelowna Rockets |WHL |69 |31 |36 |67 |69 |18 |11 |4 |15 |15 |- |2016–17 |Milwaukee Admirals |AHL |56 |9 |12 |21 |34 |3 |0 |2 |2 |4 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2016–17 |Cincinnati Cyclones |ECHL |4 |1 |1 |2 |2 |— |— |— |— |— |- |2017–18 |Milwaukee Admirals |AHL |67 |7 |11 |18 |19 |— |— |— |— |— |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2018–19 |Milwaukee Admirals |AHL |75 |9 |21 |30 |58 |5 |1 |3 |4 |8 |- |2019–20 |Stockton Heat |AHL |53 |6 |22 |28 |44 |— |— |— |— |— |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2020–21 |Stockton Heat |AHL |16 |2 |5 |7 |16 |— |— |— |— |— |- |2021–22 |Stockton Heat |AHL |66 |25 |23 |48 |75 |13 |7 |5 |12 |14 |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2022–23 |San Diego Gulls |AHL |32 |9 |9 |18 |16 |— |— |— |— |— |- |2022–23 |Anaheim Ducks |NHL |7 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— |— |— |— |— |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2023–24 |Tucson Roadrunners |AHL |43 |8 |22 |30 |25 |2 |1 |0 |1 |2 |- |2023–24 |Arizona Coyotes |NHL |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— |— |— |— |— |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2024–25 |Calgary Flames |NHL |21 |2 |6 |8 |11 |— |— |— |— |— |- |2025–26 |Calgary Flames |NHL |20 |1 |1 |2 |2 |— |— |— |— |— |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" |2025–26 |Calgary Wranglers |AHL |42 |11 |11 |22 |32 |— |— |— |— |— |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" |NHL totals !50 !3 !7 !10 !13 !— !— !— !— !— |}

== Awards and honours == {| class="wikitable" !Award !Year !Ref |- |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" align="center" | colspan="3" |WHL |- |Ed Chynoweth Cup |2015 |<ref name=":0" /> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{icehockeystats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirkland, Justin}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Anaheim Ducks players Category:Arizona Coyotes players Category:Calgary Flames players Category:Calgary Wranglers players Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) players Category:Ice hockey people from Alberta Category:Kelowna Rockets players Category:Milwaukee Admirals players Category:Nashville Predators draft picks Category:Sportspeople from Camrose, Alberta Category:San Diego Gulls (AHL) players Category:Stockton Heat players Category:Tucson Roadrunners players Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen