Matt Kirk
Encyclopedia
Matt Kirk is a Canadian football
defensive tackle for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the Ottawa Renegades
in the 2004 CFL Draft
. He played CIS Football
at Queen's
.
Kirk has also played for the BC Lions
.
, Ontario
and was an active and talented athlete, playing hockey
, rugby
, and track and field
. His hockey career included being drafted in the 11th round of the 1997 OHL
Draft by the Peterborough Petes
. His focus would soon change to football though, where he won 2 high school football championships at La Salle Secondary School
both during his Jr Seasons.
Kirk, also known by many as BGK, attended Queen's University
studying Sociology/Health and played football for the Queen's Golden Gaels
from 2001 to 2004. He started every game at defensive end
in 2001 and had 2 sacks. In 2002, Kirk started every game at defensive end. On September 7, 2002, he had 1 sack for a 6 yard loss. In playoff action against the Western Mustangs he had 8 solo tackles. He also recorded Queen's
only sack of the Yates Cup
game. In 2003, he switched to the defensive tackle position and was named an OUA
First Team All-Star. He also earned Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Second Team All-Canadian honours and won the J. P. Metras Trophy
as the CIS lineman of the year. In 2004, he repeated as an OUA First Team All-Star.
in the fifth round of the 2004 CFL Draft
and played 13 games of the 2005 CFL season
, recording 3 tackles and 13 special teams tackles. He was selected by the BC Lions 14th overall in the second round of the 2006 Ottawa dispersal draft
and was also a member of the BC Lions' 94th Grey Cup
championship team.
On February 17, 2009, Kirk signed as a free agent
with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
defensive tackle for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was drafted by the Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded...
in the 2004 CFL Draft
2004 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
. He played CIS Football
CIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
at Queen's
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
Kirk has also played for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
.
Early years
Kirk was born in KingstonKingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and was an active and talented athlete, playing hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. His hockey career included being drafted in the 11th round of the 1997 OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Draft by the Peterborough Petes
Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
. His focus would soon change to football though, where he won 2 high school football championships at La Salle Secondary School
La Salle Secondary School
La Salle Secondary School is a high school located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. La Salle is a medium-sized school, consisting of an average student count of 700. The school schedule is composed of four courses and MSIP...
both during his Jr Seasons.
Kirk, also known by many as BGK, attended Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
studying Sociology/Health and played football for the Queen's Golden Gaels
Queen's Golden Gaels
The Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
from 2001 to 2004. He started every game at defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
in 2001 and had 2 sacks. In 2002, Kirk started every game at defensive end. On September 7, 2002, he had 1 sack for a 6 yard loss. In playoff action against the Western Mustangs he had 8 solo tackles. He also recorded Queen's
Queen's Golden Gaels
The Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
only sack of the Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
game. In 2003, he switched to the defensive tackle position and was named an OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
First Team All-Star. He also earned Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
Second Team All-Canadian honours and won the J. P. Metras Trophy
J. P. Metras Trophy
J. P. Metras Trophy is awarded to the Outstanding Down Lineman in CIS football.-External links:*...
as the CIS lineman of the year. In 2004, he repeated as an OUA First Team All-Star.
Professional career
Kirk was drafted by the Ottawa RenegadesOttawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded...
in the fifth round of the 2004 CFL Draft
2004 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
and played 13 games of the 2005 CFL season
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, recording 3 tackles and 13 special teams tackles. He was selected by the BC Lions 14th overall in the second round of the 2006 Ottawa dispersal draft
CFL Dispersal Draft
The CFL player dispersal draft was held with the disbanding of the Ottawa Renegades franchise in 2006. The draft took place on April 12th and consisted of eight rounds, with Kerry Joseph being selected first overall by Saskatchewan.-Draft Results:...
and was also a member of the BC Lions' 94th Grey Cup
94th Grey Cup
The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season...
championship team.
On February 17, 2009, Kirk signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.