PROFILE
TYLER
KIRKUP
THE HOMETOWN HERO
B Y S C O T T TAY L O R
Photos by Laurie Anderson
and the Kirkup Family
4 6 | G AME O N | D EC EM BER 2017
For Tyler Kirkup, hockey
is fun. It’s fun to go to the
rink, it’s fun to hang with his
teammates and it’s even more
fun to put on the Virden Oil
Capitals uniform and play the
game in front of family and
friends.
When it comes to the
Oil Capitals, Kirkup is the
Hometown Hero. It’s true, All-
Star level defenseman Tristen
Cross and rookie forward
Tanner Andrew are both from
Virden, and while Cross is an
outstanding player, Kirkup is
part of a Virden hockey family.
His sister Karissa, is in her
final year with the University
of Manitoba Bisons and his
parents arrived in Virden
seven years ago to establish
the town’s first Tim Horton’s.
“Yeah, my sister played a
couple years at Maine and one
year at UMD and now she’s
at the U of M,” he said with
a smile. ”My dad was a goalie
for the Cougars when he was
younger, but my dad didn’t
want me to become a goalie. I
thank him for that.”
Obviously, his dad made the
right call. It also appears that
moving back to Virden was a
great idea, too. Tyler wouldn’t
trade his opportunity to play
for the hometown junior team
for anything.
“It’s been a great experience,
playing in Virden,” said Kirkup,
who is in third full season with
the Caps. “I’ve been able to
play in front of my friends and
family at home. I love playing
home games.
“Virden is a small town, but
I love the guys on the team and
we’re always doing something
as a team. I love being around
the rink and I love spending
time with my teammates, so
it’s a lot of fun.”
Kirkup isn’t in the Top 10 in