Justin Kirkland Breaks Down Signing With Anaheim Organization And His Time Playing Against San Diego | San Diego Gulls

Aug 15, 2022

By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com

Justin Kirkland knew he wished to signal with the Anaheim group.

The Winnipeg native, recent off a profession yr with the Stockton Warmth, went into free company this summer season trying to signal with the Geese.

“I instructed my agent, from day one, that Anaheim was high of the record,” Kirkland mentioned in a latest telephone interview. “That was earlier than I even knew he had talked to them. We’re completely thrilled to work one thing out with them and head all the way down to SoCal and test it out down there. We’re thrilled about it.”

The 2021-22 season noticed the sixth-year professional publish career-highs in targets (25), assists (23) and factors (48) whereas main the Warmth to a first-place end within the Pacific Division, its highest regular-season end in its American Hockey League historical past. Stockton adopted their stellar common season with a run to the Western Convention Finals, with Kirkland powering the cost. The left wing scored 7-5=12 factors in 13 postseason contests as his crew misplaced to the eventual Calder Cup Champion Chicago Wolves, 4-2, within the best-of-seven sequence.

Kirkland credit his robust season with just a few easy tweaks to his offseason routine.

“It was thrilling to see the laborious work repay,” he mentioned. “It actually began the summer season prior. I moved all the way down to Calgary to spend my summers right here as soon as I signed with the Flames to skate and prepare with their employees, their power coaches and abilities coaches and issues like that. I actually do consider it was the results of the summer season and the work I put in. I felt like I’ve possessed that ability and stuff for some time, it was only a confidence factor. You’re making an attempt to construct your sport yr in and yr out. I felt like final yr, issues actually clicked. They are saying it may be coincidence or not, however I firmly consider that got here from a very laborious summer season’s work. I’m grateful for all the fellows who helped me in that summer season and pushed me to be higher. That’s one thing I’m engaged on once more this summer season and hopefully that interprets into the season developing.”

Coming off the long term left Kirkland with a few month earlier than free company opened. The left wing admitted he felt snug with the method, particularly a powerful season in his again pocket, however felt the stress of the unknown. When it got here to figuring out the Anaheim group on the high of his want record, he mentioned the mix of location and alternative.

“In all probability one of many primary causes is the life-style of Southern California,” he defined. “Whether or not you’re in Anaheim or San Diego, you’re in two of essentially the most lovely cities, I believe, in America. That was very interesting. Each time I traveled to San Diego after I was with Stockton, it was breathtaking. I beloved each journey of it. I believe everybody in professional hockey is aware of Anaheim and San Diego are in all probability the highest duo for cities and locations to reside. That was a giant issue.

“Additionally, I assumed there was alternative in Anaheim for me. I’m a man that’s pushing to attempt to make the following step and have the self-belief that I can. I’m simply searching for a chance. Hopefully that occurs this yr with Anaheim and all of the laborious work pays off. We’re actually excited to get down there and get issues going.”

Kirkland additionally loved his visits to Pechanga Area San Diego and the ambiance Gulls followers created for every sport.

“Getting to come back and play there 4 or 5 instances a yr, that was all the time one that you simply knew was all the time going to be a hard-fought battle,” he mentioned. “You knew the followers have been going to be enjoying part of it. There have been just a few video games a few years in the past after I was injured and sitting within the stands, with the ability to see it from that viewpoint. It’s thrilling, it’s superior. They’ve carried out a improbable job down there of rising the sport in Southern California. They’ve received fairly the next now. It’s fairly thrilling stuff.”

He additionally did his personal analysis, speaking with former Gulls Mike Liambas and Andy Welinski concerning the metropolis and the group. 

“Having the ability to speak to them and choose their brains a bit bit about how issues are run, the town and the group and issues like that, it actually appeared like the proper match for me,” Kirkland mentioned. “Like I mentioned, it was the primary group on my record, and we ended up there. We’re over the moon excited.”

With a one-year, two-way contract secured for the upcoming season, the left wing is again in Calgary, skating with a professional group run by present Seattle Kraken affiliate coach Dave Lowry. He’s additionally taken a while to benefit from the offseason, avoiding the annual Calgary Stampede however visiting Banff and Lake Louise along with his spouse and her household. The couple have a canine, and Kirkland says they get pleasure from spending time open air. The duo hopes to move to Orange County quickly – Kirkland mentioned his spouse is a big Disney fan, so a visit to the park is on their to-do record – and settle in to prep for coaching camp with the Geese.