Local women's hockey standout Kiana Wilkinson, 23, has turned pro, signing a contract to join the Kunlun Red Star professional women's hockey team in Shenzhen, Guangdon, China.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic the team will be based in Russia for at least the first half of the season.
Wilkinson is thrilled with this opportunity.
"It's something that I've only dreamed about," Wilkinson said.
She started her hockey career at 13 years old.
In her ninth year of figure skating, she broke her arm and while she healed she pulled out some of her older brother Kyler's hockey equipment. She quickly switched sports and at 16 years old moved to north Vancouver to play for the Pacific Steelers in the Junior Womens' Hockey League.
Wilkinson ended her successful scholastic career this spring as a member of St. Mary's Huskies, in Halifax. The team is part of Atlantic University Sports and Wilkinson was captain for the last two years and played for five. Unfortunately the team did not qualify to go to the national finals this year but she was honoured with the University Sport second team All-Canadian team award as the national leader for assists for a defence player and second in points.
"I feel super honoured for sure," Wilkinson said about the recognition. "Our team is full of so many talented players so it's always a team effort and getting that award was an honour, especially in my final year."
Early in the new year, Wilkinson said she was in contact with the head coach of the Red Star team, Brian Idalski.
"He seemed very interested in me and then the coronavirus became more that it was so I basically packed up my life and drove home with my mom from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Prince George," Wilkinson said.
She graduated from St. Mary's with a degree in biology and psychology that she had to complete online.
After that, everything was a big question mark, she added.
"I was just trying to figure out a career because I didn't think that continuing to play hockey was going to be an option anymore," Wilkinson said.
As she tried to find a direction to go Wilkinson was contacted by hockey teams in Sweden and Hungary.
"I was just trying to figure out if one of those teams would be a good fit for me but I guess coronavirus was a blessing in disguise because it gave me time to wait things out," Wilkinson said. "Luckily on (Aug. 9) Brian (coach for the Red Star team) reached out to me to say their season was being confirmed and he asked if I was still interested. Everything happened very quickly."
Wilkinson leaves for Russia in September and the season starts in October with 30 games on the schedule.
Wilkinson already knows two women on the team from her days with the Pacific Steelers when she played early in her career in the Lower Mainland. She feels good about them all traveling to their destination together.
To prepare Wilkinson has been training with her brother Kyler, 25, who is into crossfit.
About six days a week the pair weight lift and do cardio for about two hours.
She's anxious to get back on the ice and hopes that will happen before she leaves the country.
The games in the Russian league are televised but with the crazy time change Wilkinson suggests people watch the videos that will be posted on YouTube.
Wilkinson said the whole experience will be one she cherishes for a lifetime.
"I want to thank everyone for all their support, including coaches and team mates and especially my family, my mom (Coralie), my dad (Shane) and my brother Kyler - without them I wouldn't be where I am today and I am very excited about this new opportunity," Wilkinson said.
- with files from Ted Clarke
