Two years after a car accident nearly robbed him of his hockey career, Justin Kirkland is the Calgary Flames’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which goes to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

The nominee is voted on by members of the Calgary chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

“It's amazing, from two years ago, where I was at, to now,” Kirkland said last week. “I always believed in myself, but I didn't know that I'd ever, ever get to this point.”

Not long ago, Kirkland didn’t know if he’d live a normal life again, let alone be an NHL regular.

Then with the Anaheim Ducks organization, he had just gotten called up in Jan. 2023 and was driving on a California freeway to suit up for his eighth NHL game.

He didn’t make it to the rink.

Kirkland got into a serious car accident that left him with head trauma and facial fractures. He was unsure he’d ever get a chance to live out his NHL dream again.

Kirkland spent........

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