Liam Kirk

October 2023- Soon before NHL camps opened, the Coyotes placed Kirk on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutual contract termination. It was reported that Kirk had signed with HC VERVA Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga upon being put on waivers by Arizona. Kirk was a fun story and did show flashs of skill but never really took off in the AHL the past few years. Keith Duggan

June 2023- Kirk had a solid year playing for Jukurit in the Liiga, putting up seven goals and 19 points in 25 games. He also once again got to suit up for Great Britain in the World Championship, except this time in Division 1 A after being relegated from the Elite Division during 2022. He finished second in points with 10 in five games. Kirk seems to have the skill to play competitively in North America, it just seems strength and skating are holding him back. He will be back to play for Tucson in 2023-24 in the last year of his ELC. This might be his last shot to make a mark in North America. Keith Duggan

January 2023- Finding himself a healthy scratch to start the year off in Tucson, appearing in just one game, Kirk was sent down to the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL to get some playing time. Coming off ACL injury last year, Kirk was starting to find his game again with 11 points in 15 games for Atlanta. Still, it was surprising to see Kirk recalled back to Tucson when soon after it was announced that he will collect his belongings and would be loaded to Jukurit of the Finnish League. The Coyotes will retain his rights and he will almost certainly be back with Tucson next year. Kirk will be closer to home while development wise, playing in a stronger league, against better competition. Keith Duggan

October 2022- Recovered from his ACL injury from last year, Kirk is back on the ice. Not surprising after missing pretty much all of last season, Kirk was an early cut from Coyotes training camp and will report to Tucson. Keith Duggan

November 2021- After a promising start to Kirk’s pro career in North America, three points in eight games with Tucson, he suffered an injury, ending his year. Kirk suffered an ACL injury on November 6th against Henderson Silver Knights, prompting surgery which has ruled him out for the rest of 2021-22 campaign. This also includes next May’s World Championship with Great Britain, where Kirk was outstanding last year and really banked on having his skill in the lineup. He will soon begin rehabilitation with the hope of returning for next autumn. Keith Duggan

June 2021- At the start of 2020-21, Kirk was looking forward to having a big overage season for Peterborough and possible earning a ELC contract with the Coyotes. Instead he ingested a steady diet of altered plans with the OHL campaign in limbo before being cancelled in April. He racked up five goals and 10 points in 12 games for Hanhals before his loan ended in December. Kirk was supposed to fly back to Ontario in December, and then again in January (he actually had a flight booked), but the OHL kept postponing. Back at home in England, he made plans to suit up for his hometown team Sheffield. The 2020-21 EIHL season was originally scheduled to begin in September but was suspended due to COVID restrictions. There were plans for a shortened campaign to begin in January, but that was scrapped in February. In March, the league announced that four teams (Coventry, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield) would compete in an Elite Series between April and May, concluding with a best-of-three playoff series which Nottingham won with a two-game sweep of Sheffield. Kirk had 10 goals and 20 points in 14 games in the EIHL, good for sixth in scoring for the series. He really opened people and the Coyotes eyes at the 2021 World Championship though. A heavy underdog for the tournament, Kirk’s play stood out for Britain. He led his team in goals (seven), points (nine) and tied for the tournament lead in goals with Canada’s Andrew Mangiapane; no small feat when you are a marked man on a club with few scoring options. Kirk had two goals in Britain’s landmark 4-3 win against Belarus, the nations second win at a top-tier World Championship or Olympics since 1962, and it’s first in regulation. After showing little interest in signing the young Brit, that changed after the World Championship, with the Coyotes signing Kirk to his entry-level contract. His dream of playing in the NHL just got a big step closer. Keith Duggan

November 2020- Like many prospects, with the 2020-21 hockey on hold in North America, Kirk took his talents overseas to continue working on his game. With hockey also on hold in his home country of Britain, Kirk instead signed with Hanhals IF in the HockeyEttan, a third tier of hockey in Sweden. So far, so good, in his first game with his new team Kirk had a goal and two assists. Through five games he’s averaging a point-per-game. Keith Duggan

September 2020- Kirk continues to impress in his second year over in North America. After a solid training camp with the Coyotes, he headed to the OHL once again for a second season with Peterborough. Named an alternate captain( a rare honor for an import player in only his second year in North America), Kirk finished over a point-per-game with 21 goals and 50 points in 47 games. His point totals would have most likely been higher too had he not missed time in the middle of the campaign with an injury. He played most of last year on the Petes top line and stuck out due to his skill and blazing speed. At times though when he was asked to carry his own line and not complement a player like Nick Robertson, Kirk could struggle. It will be interesting to see where he plays 2020-21. Will the Coyotes sign him and he’ll play in the AHL or will Kirk return to the OHL for an overage season? Keith Duggan

June 2019- With Kirk’s first year in North America it was little unexpected what kind of impact he would have playing against tougher competition. Would he rack up the points like he did in England or would Kirk struggle against more skilled and faster opponents? Putting up 26 goals and 47 points playing in the OHL, it would be fair to classify his season as a success. No one really had any idea what kind of impact he would have. The Coyotes knew Kirk was a project when they drafted him and he still remains a long shot but he’s shown flashes at times that their might be a quality prospect there. When his season was over for Peterborough, Kirk joined Great Britain’s National Team for the World Championships, the team’s youngest player in it’s first appearance at the top level in many years. He was scoreless in the tournament but gained more valuable experience playing against greater opposition. Keith Duggan

January 2019- Kirk started somewhat slow in his first year playing in North America but has turned things up in recent weeks to register 14 goals and 25 points in 39 games for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. The Englishman has been missing from the lineup recently though, as he flew out to Estonia to represent Team Great Britain in the World Junior Championships (Division 2A). He was named captain of the team and had a second straight dominate tournament, helping the Brits earn a bronze medal. Kirk was named Forward of the Tournament, after he put up five goals and 14 points in just five games, finishing as the leading scorer. He now returns to the Petes lineup, where hopefully Kirk can continue his strong offensive play. Keith Duggan

September 2018- Not surprisingly Kirk was an early cut from Coyotes training camp, but the skilled Brit has shown no trouble so far adjusting to the North America game playing in the OHL. He has a goal and assist in two games so far playing for the Peterborough Petes. Don’t be surprised to see Kirk rack up some big offensive numbers this season. Keith Duggan

June 2018- The Coyotes created a small global buzz and drafted the first born and trained player from England, Liam Kirk in the seventh round (189th overall). He has a long road before possibly making the NHL but Kirk possesses impressive natural skills and was worth the chance in the seventh round. Keith Duggan

March 2018 – Liam Kirk is an intriguing prospect. He recently turned 18 and has been playing professional for the Sheffield Steelers in the EIHL in Great Britain since he was 16. The Elite Ice Hockey League is a tough league, known for still employing enforcers, with many games featuring lots of physicality. The league is often compared in quality of play to the ECHL. The slight Liam Kirk has been holding his own. He has very soft hands and is an efficient and agile skater. Kirk also has a quick and accurate release on his shot. Liam is another young prospect coming from a Commonwealth market who is showing potential. He doesn’t have the same crash-and-bang playing style as Australian Nathan Walker, but has potential of being a utility scoring forward with his good skating and soft touch on the puck. His production so far this season at the top level is modest with 14 points in 44 games, but with his skills it can be expected that his offensive production will increase with ice time in coming seasons. Liam Kirk is a scoring forward playing in one of the toughest leagues at 18 years old and being effective. Scouts are taking notice. Sid Osmond