Keep your head down, work hard and show you are worthy of a long look at the upcoming main NHL training camp.
That would be sound advice for any seventh-round selection, who has only just signed an NHL entry-level contract and an overseas player still learning to make their way around North American ice.
Liam Kirk is no ordinary player, however.
He has had to find unorthodox ways to get to this point in his career.
A veteran of three rookie camps now, Kirk is showing that he can be a role model and be a leader in the room. That includes showing the ropes to 2021 highly touted draft picks Dylan Guenther and Josh Doan, both more vaunted than the British forward.
“Liam, I’ve gotten to talk to him in the locker room and just chat about all the different things that we do while we are here, and he’s been awesome about taking me under his wing kind of and letting me know what’s going on,” said Josh Doan, a Coyotes’ second-round pick earlier this year.
Quote attributed to Jose Romero @RomeroJoseM
Kirk has always been mature above his tender years.
The left-winger twice captained GB at the U18 level and once for the U20.
In his sophomore year with Peterborough Petes, Kirk was entrusted with wearing an ‘A’, an honour not often bestowed upon an import player.
He has remained grounded thanks to his parents, a supportive family and a long-time girlfriend who supports the NHL journey Liam is on.
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who dislikes Liam Kirk such is his character.
He has a tremendous work ethic, a willingness to learn, develop and improve no matter what it takes. Kirk isn’t on some kind of personal crusade, however.
He fully understands that hockey is a team sport as he showed during his time with the Peterborough Petes and recently with Great Britain at the 2021 World Championships.
Kirk stole the show for GB but was extremely modest, crediting his success to them.
He often noted that without them, he would not have been able to score the goals that brought him worldwide attention.
This was noticeable in an interview with Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf
“I used to be a person who set goals and timelines, but I got too caught up focusing on those. So, for me, my focus is the same as it was when I went to the (World Championship Tournament), and that is to just go have fun, work hard and play the right way. You can only control the controllables, that’s just what I focus on.”
When asked what was the difference about this rookie camp, Kirk responded “I feel like I’ve definitely grown a lot as a player, and as a person. I’ve definitely matured on the ice. I want to come and be a leader at these camps. When you’re first drafted or invited, your first (camp) can be quite daunting. So, I just want to show these guys (how to) learn and take in all of the knowledge. I know the coaches, and I’m a bit more familiar with the surroundings. So, I am a little bit more at ease. Other than that, I’m just out here working and trying to get better.”
The development camp finished with a black v white scrimmage in which Kirk’s Team White won 3-2.
The GB forward scored a penalty shot and was robbed on several occasions from adding to his lone goal.
The upcoming rookie tournament provides Kirk with another opportunity to impress on the ice before players are due to be reassigned with the main camp imminent on the horizon.
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