Justin Kirkland Bio
Justin Kirkland (born August 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 195 pounds, Kirkland has built his career on a physical, hard-working style that has carried him through multiple leagues, including the Western Hockey League (WHL), the American Hockey League (AHL), and the NHL. Kirkland was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but grew up in Camrose, Alberta. Within his locker rooms he has picked up the nickname “Costco,” a playful reference to the Kirkland Signature brand.
Early Life and Background
Justin Kirkland was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on August 2, 1996, before his family later settled in Camrose, Alberta, where he spent most of his childhood. Growing up in Camrose gave him early access to organized competitive hockey in a region with a strong tradition of developing young players. He began his competitive path at the bantam level, playing two seasons of bantam triple-A hockey for the Camrose Kodiaks U15 AAA program in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
His play with the Kodiaks quickly established him as a prospect to watch. Following his second season of bantam triple-A hockey, Kirkland was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the fifth round, 103rd overall, of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. To continue his development, he moved to Saskatchewan, where he played from 2011 to 2013 with the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, a program known for combining high-level hockey with academic structure.
Path to Professional Hockey
After completing his time at the College of Notre Dame, Kirkland joined the Kelowna Rockets full-time for the 2013–14 WHL season. In his rookie campaign he finished eighth in team scoring with 48 points in 68 games, a performance that announced him as one of the Rockets’ emerging forwards. His production caught the attention of NHL scouts, and in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft the Nashville Predators selected him in the third round, 62nd overall.
Kirkland returned to Kelowna for the 2014–15 WHL season and elevated his game, posting 51 points in 50 games while helping the Rockets capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions. He continued his upward trajectory in 2015–16 with 67 points in 69 games. On May 16, 2016, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, formally beginning his professional career.
Justin Kirkland Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Kirkland opened his professional career in 2016–17 split between the Nashville Predators organization and its affiliates. He appeared in four games with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones but spent most of his time in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals. Over the following two seasons he remained with the Admirals, gradually expanding his offensive role. His most productive AHL season came in 2018–19, his final year under Nashville, when he recorded nine goals and 30 points.
That summer, Kirkland became a restricted free agent and was not issued a qualifying offer by the Predators, making him an unrestricted free agent. The end of his time in Nashville closed a development chapter that had taken him from junior standout to established AHL forward.
Calgary Flames and Stockton Heat (2019–2022)
On July 1, 2019, Kirkland signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames, where he was reunited with former Rockets teammate Dillon Dubé. He was assigned to the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, for the 2019–20 season and posted six goals and 28 points in 53 games, his strongest professional output to that point. The Flames re-signed him to a one-year deal on September 28, 2020, and he spent the entire pandemic-shortened 2020–21 campaign with the Heat.
On August 25, 2021, Kirkland signed another one-year, two-way contract with Calgary and delivered his most prolific AHL season. In 2021–22 he scored 25 goals and 48 points in 66 games, helping lead Stockton to the AHL Western Conference Finals. His steady two-way play and leadership made him a consistent presence in the Flames’ system.
Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes (2022–2024)
As a free agent from the Flames, Kirkland signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 14, 2022. He opened 2022–23 with the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, before being recalled on December 20. That same night he made his NHL debut in a 4–1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He played seven games for Anaheim before a serious car crash on January 9, 2023, on his way to a game against the Boston Bruins sent him to the hospital. He was placed on injured reserve, then on waivers, and was returned to San Diego on February 23, finishing the year with nine goals and 18 points in 32 AHL games.
On July 15, 2023, Kirkland signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes. He cleared waivers on October 2 and began the season with the Tucson Roadrunners before a series of recalls and reassignments. He made his Coyotes debut on January 7, 2024, against the Winnipeg Jets, adding another NHL franchise to his resume.
Return to Calgary Flames (2024–Present)
Following his time in Arizona, where his rights briefly transferred to the Utah Hockey Club after the Coyotes relocated, Kirkland opted to return to Calgary, signing a one-year, two-way contract on July 3, 2024. On October 13, 2024, he scored his first NHL goal, beating Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers in a 4–1 Flames win. The milestone came after years of grinding through the AHL and brief NHL stints, underscoring how far he had come since junior hockey.
His 2024–25 campaign was cut short on November 29, 2024, when he suffered a knee injury during a game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets that required ACL surgery. In 21 games with Calgary before the injury, Kirkland recorded two goals and six assists, cementing his value as a depth forward with first-NHL-goal credentials.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is best described as a power forward in hockey terms, Kirkland’s game mirrors the term used in other sports: he drives play through physicality, forechecking, and a willingness to play in tough areas of the ice. At 6 feet 3 inches and roughly 195 pounds, he brings size, board work, and a north-south skating style, with the versatility to play centre or wing. His career has shown steady growth in offensive production at the AHL level and responsible two-way play whenever called up to the NHL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kirkland’s career is marked by several signature moments: helping the Kelowna Rockets capture the 2015 Ed Chynoweth Cup and reach the Memorial Cup Final, scoring his first NHL goal against the Edmonton Oilers in October 2024, and showing resilience after surviving a serious car crash during his Ducks tenure. Each chapter has added to his reputation as a player who continues to push toward a full-time NHL role.
Justin Kirkland Career Wins
Kirkland’s verified career highlights include a WHL championship with the Kelowna Rockets in 2015 and an AHL Western Conference Finals appearance with the Stockton Heat in 2022. While he has not yet established a lengthy list of NHL wins, his first NHL goal against Edmonton in 2024 stands as a defining individual milestone.
WHL Highlights
During his time with the Kelowna Rockets, Kirkland contributed to a WHL title in 2014–15 and reached the Memorial Cup Final that same season, where the Rockets fell 2–1 in overtime to the Oshawa Generals. His consistent scoring, including 51 points in 2014–15 and 67 points in 2015–16, made him one of the Rockets’ most reliable forwards.
Other Wins and Performances
At the AHL level, Kirkland’s strongest individual performance came in 2021–22 with the Stockton Heat, when he scored 25 goals and 48 points in 66 games. That same year he helped lead Stockton to the Western Conference Finals, one of the deepest playoff runs of his professional career.
Justin Kirkland Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Justin Kirkland was raised primarily in Camrose, Alberta, after being born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Public information about his parents and siblings is limited, and there is no widely documented family history of professional hockey.
Personal Life
Kirkland has kept his personal life largely private. No public information is available regarding a spouse or children. His teammates have given him the enduring nickname “Costco,” a light-hearted nod to the Kirkland Signature brand that has followed him across multiple organizations.
2025 Season Outlook
Justin Kirkland is expected to spend much of 2025 recovering from the ACL surgery he underwent after his November 29, 2024 knee injury. Before the injury he had begun to establish himself as a depth contributor for the Calgary Flames, highlighted by his first NHL goal against the Edmonton Oilers on October 13, 2024. His two goals and six assists in 21 games showed he could produce limited but meaningful offense in a bottom-six role.
For the Flames, Kirkland’s return from injury will be a storyline to monitor, especially given his two-way contract status and the familiarity he has built within the organization. He has already played under the Stockton Heat and Flames banners, which should help his reintegration once healthy. His mix of size, penalty-killing reliability, and recent scoring touch makes him a candidate to push for regular NHL ice time.
If Kirkland returns to full health, the 2025 calendar offers him a chance to expand on the momentum of his first NHL goal and prove that his late-2024 stint was the beginning of a sustained NHL role rather than another brief recall. His track record of overcoming setbacks, including the 2023 car crash, suggests he will approach this recovery with the same determination that has defined his career.