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After staring as a player years ago, Karissa Kirkup is returning to the Westman Wildcats, this time as Head Coach.
"You know, I haven't had a whole lot of time to process it but I can say I'm very excited," Kirkup says with a smile. "It feels like a full circle moment. I played hockey there from grade 9-12 from 2009-13, I know there are a lot of great players from the area and I'm just so excited to get going."
Last season, Kirkup was behind the bench for Brandon but after a change was made there, she decided to try for the Westman job. "There was coaching deadlines and I think that every team that has a need at this time of year puts out that their looking. I had to submit a resume, an interview process and typical hiring process things. Obviously, there were a few steps that had to be figured out with Brandon and I thoroughly enjoyed my time coaching, but the situation has changed. There will not be a U18 AAA Brandon hockey team due to numbers in the 2025-26 season. Personally, I knew I wanted to continue the coaching journey as well as I saw that core group of girls and players, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up."
Having coaching experience coming in, Kirkup says it's going to be a balance between implementing her style while also working with what the core players have already in place. "Every team I've coached so far in my coaching career, it's been the first season for that team. Each year, I approach things a little differently. I'm a teacher by trade, so I'm confident in my ability to differentiate and connect with the players as a coach. I plan on doing that to start to start and see the strength of the team as we go forward, building from there. I've been fortunate to have some really good experiences over the last four years and I can't say enough good things about the people I've had the pleasure of working with. I'm going to take those experiences forward as well as the experiences with Team Manitoba as we head into Nationals this year."
Being the bench boss, Kirkup says there's a lot to be aware of and think about, a challenge she's always enjoyed. "As a head coach, you have to work really well with the staff, you have to get to know the players before you come in and implement systems that you want to. You have to consider the strength of the players that you have on the team and again, it's just so exciting to be preparing for it all right now."
Just being hired and having it all sink in, Kirkup says she hasn't talked to the returning leadership group yet, but she knows their paths will cross soon. "I very much look forward to connecting with them soon. There will be a couple of the returnees at the Top 40 camp that's happening June 6-8 at the arena in Brandon. Naturally, I'll be able to communicate with them there a little bit. Honestly, it's just a little early, announcement came out earlier this week and it's all still sinking in."
Wearing the Wildcats jersey for years, Kirkup admits there's an electricity when she thinks about wearing that logo again, this time standing on the bench as the head coach. "I get chills just thinking about it. I'm very excited and I do love the Hartney ice. It's going to be a great group of people to work with. I've always so much respect for that organization and I've been fortunate that there are some people involved at the board level and in the organization that are still there since I was a player. I've been able to keep in touch with them over the years and it's been great to reconnect with them. It's a full circle moment, those were the days that I learned so much as a person growing up, time management, juggling the student athlete life and that organization has taught me so much on how to conduct myself as a professional today. I'm excited to continue that and provide that opportunity for the girls on the team now."