Winnipeg native Kirkland took long road to the NHL

CALGARY — His teammates call him “Costco” — a clever nod to the warehouse retailer’s signature discount brand that happens to share his last name.

Fittingly, Calgary Flames forward Justin Kirkland hails from Winnipeg, a city that certainly knows the value of a good bargain.

“It wasn’t really a thing until last year. A couple of the guys started saying it, then more and more and it really took off,” Kirkland told the Free Press on Monday morning with a laugh.

“It’s been fun. Mom and Dad think it’s hilarious.”

There’s nothing cheap about the way Kirkland plays, or about his hockey journey, which has been filled with twists and turns, not to mention its fair share of bumps and bruises.

He’s developed a deep appreciation for every opportunity that comes his way. The latest arrived Monday night, when he faced his hometown Jets at the Saddledome for what was just the 34th NHL game of his career.

“You make sure you enjoy every single day,” said the 29-year-old centre, who was drafted by Nashville in the third round, 62nd-overall, back in 2014 but would have to wait eight long years for his NHL debut.

“It took a lot to get here. A lot of ups and downs. Make sure to enjoy every minute. It’s a real pleasure and an honour to be here.”

Consider this: Kirkland would still qualify as a rookie if not for the fact he’s now too old for such a designation. The most NHL games he’s ever played in a season is 21 — the rookie cutoff is 25 — which came last year, when he scored the only two NHL goals and recorded the only eight assists on his résumé.

“It took a lot to get here. A lot of ups and downs. Make sure to enjoy every minute. It’s a real pleasure and an honour to be here.”

The majority of his 10-year pro career has been spent in the minors, logging 408 AHL games and a brief four-game stop in the ECHL, with stints in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Stockton, San Diego, and Tucson.

“Everyone’s got a different path,” said Kirkland, who skated Monday on the fourth line between Adam Klapka and Ryan Lomberg. “But now, you have to appreciate where we are. We’re in the best hockey league in the world.”

Kirkland’s big-league dreams — his life, in fact — nearly ended in January 2023 when an out-of-control truck smashed into his vehicle on a California highway as he drove to the Honda Center in Anaheim for what was to be the eighth NHL game of his career. The collision left him hospitalized with severe injuries, including head trauma and multiple facial fractures.

He spent several months recovering and rehabilitating, unsure what the future might hold.

“It was a scary situation,” said Kirkland. “In the job that we’re doing, it’s always hockey, hockey, hockey. At that point, you really think about what’s important. That’s health, family, things like that. It definitely changed my perspective on a few things, and happy to be on the other side of it.”

Kirkland joined the Arizona Coyotes organization the following year, then signed with Calgary in the summer of 2024. He made the Flames out of camp this fall and is determined to make it difficult for management to ever consider sending him back to the minors.

“I owe a lot to my wife and my family and everybody who’s continued to support me and push me … I’m very fortunate that way.”

“I owe a lot to my wife and my family and everybody who’s continued to support me and push me,” he said. “I’m very fortunate that way.”

It’s been a rough start for the Flames, who were 1-5-0 prior to facing the Jets on Monday night. The organization is brimming with promising young players working their way into the lineup, along with proud veterans such as Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman helping to lead the way.

There’s also a growing buzz in the city over the new arena that will replace the Saddledome in the fall of 2027. Construction is already well underway adjacent to the existing rink.

“It’s always fun to come to work here, with some really good people,” said Kirkland. “It’s obviously not the start that we wanted, but that’s not going to have us deviate from our plan and the way that we have to play. And, also, how we have to stick together. I think hard times like this can really bring a group closer.”

That’s where someone like Kirkland — long praised by coaches for his relentless work ethic — can help the cause. In addition to his reliable defensive play, he’s shown scoring touch at the AHL level, posting career highs of 25 goals and 23 assists in 66 games during the 2021–22 season.

Kirkland has left footprints all over Western Canada. Born in Winnipeg and raised there until age four, his family then moved to Canmore, Alta. He starred in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League before heading to Saskatchewan to join the famed Notre Dame Hounds program for two seasons.

Next came British Columbia, where he played for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, winning a league championship in 2014–15 and falling just short of a national title with a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the Oshawa Generals in the Memorial Cup Final.

Kirkland’s ties to Manitoba remain strong, with plenty of aunts, uncles, and cousins still calling the province home. They’ve seen him play NHL pre-season games against the Jets at Canada Life Centre and a handful of AHL contests against the Moose — but never an NHL regular-season game.

That could change this Friday when Calgary makes its lone visit to Winnipeg this season.

“It’s always fun to go back to Winnipeg and catch up with all of them,” said Kirkland.

As for what jerseys his cheering section might be wearing?

“The Jets are their second-favourite team,” he said with a smile. “It wasn’t too hard to sway them.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg