Liam Kirk scores first AHL goal in Tucson Roadrunners win over rivals Texas Stars

The former Sheffield Steelers and Sheffield Steeldogs forward - handed a three-year entry level contract by NHL’s Arizona Coyotes earlier this summer – gave his side the lead with just 23 seconds of the first period remaining when the puck broke free in front of the Texas goal and he was quickest to react to poke the puck home. (WATCH Kirk score his goal in the You Tube highlights below)

The Roadrunners went on to win the game 4-0 with Ben McCartney grabbing a hat-trick to seal a second win from three games for Kirk’s team.

“It was a good performance, starting from our goalie up to our forwards and defense, everyone played a solid game,” said hat-trick hero McCartney afterwards. “I think our 200-foot game was good, and so was our discipline when it came to the structure of the game. If we keep playing that way good things will happen.”

The two sides meet again on Sunday night at Tucson Convention Centre.

Last month, 21-yar-old Kirk, from Maltby, had impressed in Arizona’s development camp – much like the one he attended after first being drafted byt them back in 2018 – to the point where he was included in their pre-season training camp. Along with a number of other hopefuls, however, he was sent down to the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, Tucson, where he has now made three appearances and is working hard in the hope of getting the call-up that will see him achieve his NHL dream.