Raygan Kirk

Raygan Kirk grew up in Ste. Anne, Manitoba — a small town she credits, at least in part, with keeping her grounded. She came to goaltending sideways: she spent her early years playing defense before her younger brother's equipment and a shortage of goalies on a local women's team pulled her to the crease. By grade seven or eight, she had made the position her own.

Before she was a professional, and before Ohio State, Kirk was a 17-year-old from Manitoba who traveled to Obihiro, Japan as part of Canada's under-18 squad at the 2019 World Championship — the only player on that roster from her province. She started all four games, allowed a single goal, and came home with a gold medal and tournament MVP honours. Years later, she would describe that roster on InGoal Radio as a touchstone: players like Julie Gosling were teammates, and opponents like those on the U.S. side have since become PWHL colleagues.

Her path to college hockey required persistence. Playing for Eastman Selects at the Triple-A level rather than a prep school, Kirk researched schools by academic program and roster need, crossed candidates off a list, and sent cold emails to coaches from tournaments. She had no Division I offer until Robert Morris head coach Logan Biddle saw her at the Stoney Creek Tournament — a game Kirk says she had never anticipated would put her on anyone's radar. Two seasons with the RMU Colonials followed: she made the CHA All-Rookie team after starting 24 games and winning 15 in her freshman year, then posted a .939 save percentage across 15 games in her sophomore year, going 8-7. When Robert Morris abruptly shut down its women's hockey program, Kirk transferred to Ohio State.

Her three seasons with the Buckeyes began modestly by playing time — four games in her junior year, 11 in her senior year with eight wins — before her fifth year of eligibility became something different altogether. In that final college season, Kirk posted a .945 save percentage over 24 games, set a new Ohio State team record with 22 wins, and carried the Buckeyes to the national championship. The title game against Wisconsin ended 1-0. She shut out the Badgers and was named tournament MVP and to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. Reflecting on it in conversation with InGoal Radio, Kirk said it was "the funniest game I've ever played," adding that she tried to treat it like any other: "I just tried to focus on my strengths and just having fun with it regardless of the outcome." ^[1]

Kirk is now a goaltender for the Toronto Sceptres of the PWHL, wearing number 1. On episode 285 of InGoal Radio, she spoke with host Kevin Woodley about her first PWHL start, the mental preparation framework she developed at Ohio State, and the goalie coaching relationships — including with Gord Woodley inside the Hockey Canada system — that shaped her technical development over the years ^[1]. She described building her pre-game routine around three pillars: focusing on what she can control, keeping her game simple, and finding a competitive edge. "I might not come off that way, like off the ice and stuff," she said of that last element, "but that's almost how I need to play." ^[1]

Kirk also attended her first Hockey Canada senior camp in the summer before her PWHL debut. Her national-program experience stretches back to the 2019 U18 World Championship and continued through Canada's under-22 and development programs in the years between.

InGoal Magazine has covered Raygan Kirk in one podcast appearance.