Kirk turns down World Juniors
British forward staying with Petes because they’re having ‘championship season’
Liam Kirk has decided to not play for Great Britain at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Division IIA Championships, in order to remain with the Peterborough Petes.
Kirk, 19, was named the top forward at the 2019 Division IIA Championships in Estonia. He led the tournament in scoring with five goals, nine assists and 14 points in five games, while helping Great Britain win a bronze medal. He also played for Britain’s national men’s team at the IIHF World Hockey Championships in the spring.
Kirk said he informed British officials of his decision in September. The tournament is scheduled for Jan. 6-12 in Lithuania.
“This is a big year for me,” said Kirk, a 2018 seventh-round draft pick of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. “This is potentially my last year of junior and I want to showcase my skills and get a contract with Arizona. That’s my end goal.
“I love playing for my country and my national team and seeing the guys on these trips. But, I’m not trying to say I’m bigheaded or anything, I know what I can do at that level. Obviously, I’d like to go back and win another medal. But I want to play hockey which is going to benefit me the most.”
Kirk ranks second on the Petes — and 19th in the OHL — in scoring, with 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points in 27 games.
Kirk thinks the Petes are deep enough they could do fine without him, but he wants to help them do well.
“We’re going to have a championship season. That’s what we all believe in. We want to get as many wins as we can under our belt, and learn game-by-game, and develop as a team. If everyone is together that will help.”
Kirk is the first player born and raised in England’s hockey system to be drafted to the NHL. He is a popular figure in his home country and doesn’t think there’ll be any backlash.
“I think people back home will understand it’s my career,” he said.
He believes the British officials and his U20 teammates understand where he’s coming from.
“They understand it’s a big year for me here in the OHL, and every game over here is going to be important to whether I sign or not,” he said.
Kirk has come a long way in just one year.
“I definitely had struggles at the start being away from my family. I envisioned being a good success at the start of the season. And when it wasn’t, it put me back a lot and knocked my confidence,” he said. “There were times I was looking at going home. But I spoke to people around the team and away from the team, and they told me if you stick through it, next year is going to be even better.
“Toward the end of the year I enjoyed myself and I had some success on the ice. Getting back this year I was excited to be back with the boys again. We have such an amazing team and group of guys. I can feel it’s something special, so it was a good decision I decided to stay.”
After that, Peterborough became like home for him, he said.
“You know the players, you know the town, you know the people you live with. It becomes second nature and almost like you belong.
“I was very fortunate I had really good billets (Keith and Tracy Cottam). I have to credit them. They had a big part in me getting through last year. It’s nice to come back to a house you are familiar with and feel like part of the family.”
The Petes will begin a stretch of three games in three nights, on Thursday, when they host Ryan Merkley and the London Knights at 7:05 p.m. It is Merkley’s first trip back to Peterborough since being traded from the Petes.
Peterborough also visits the Kingston Frontenacs Friday night before hosting Kingston on Saturday.