# Jagger Firkus

Jagger Firkus (born April 29, 2004) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has been nicknamed the "Firkus Circus."

## Playing career
### Amateur

Firkus played bantam hockey for the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League during the 2017–21 seasons. He was selected 82nd overall in the 2019 WHL bantam draft by the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Firkus would then join the Warriors. He made his major junior debut with the Warriors in the 2019–20 season season and would later become a key contributor to the Warriors by collecting 80 points in his first full WHL Season in 2021–22 season which included 36 goals & 44 assists which helped Moose Jaw get into the WHL Playoffs. His reign of terror on the WHL wouldn't stop in the 2022–23 season though, racking up 88 points with 40 goals and 48 assists, Firkus would be consider one of the top prospects going into the 2022 NHL entry draft. However, it wouldn't be until the 2023–24 season where Firkus really shined. Recording a total of 126 points with 61 goals & 65 assists, Firkus would go on to capture the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as player of the year and the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league's top scorer. In the 2024 WHL playoffs, he recorded 32 points along with 14 goals & 18 assists, Firkus, along with Denton Mateychuk & Brayden Yager would defeat the Portland Winterhawks, win the Ed Chynoweth Cup and get the Warriors into the 2024 Memorial Cup. Unfortunately, they would go on to lose in the semifinals 7–1 against the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
Firkus would then become the first Moose Jaw Warrior player to win the CHL David Branch Player of the Year award in team history. He would also become the winner of the 2024 CHL Top Scorer Award.

### Professional

Firkus was selected 35th overall in the 2022 NHL entry draft by the Seattle Kraken. The next spring, Firkus signed an entry-level contract with the Kraken. Firkus made his professional hockey debut with the Coachella Valley Firebirds after the WHL 2022–23 season was done, though he didn't really do much other than play one playoff game. The upcoming 2024–25 season however, would be the first test for Firkus to prove himself in the professional level. Firkus did get a chance to test his skills in the 2024 NHL Rookie Faceoff, which helped him get his season going early before the preseason started.

## International play

Firkus got a brief stint with Team Canada U18 HC for the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was invited to Canada's training camp for the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship. He was cut from the roster, but was then re-called during the tournament, as injuries got a hold of his teammate Matthew Savoie. Savoie missed the last round-robin game, but was able to play in the quarterfinals. Therefore, Firkus did not play a single game.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2019–20 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 23 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 66 | 36 | 44 | 80 | 34 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 4 |
| 2022–23 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 66 | 40 | 48 | 88 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 10 |
| 2022–23 | Coachella Valley Firebirds | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 63 | 61 | 65 | 126 | 30 | 20 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 15 |
| WHL totals | WHL totals | WHL totals | 230 | 144 | 166 | 310 | 118 | 40 | 30 | 35 | 65 | 29 |

## Awards & honours

| Award | Year |
| WHL ||
| Ed Chynoweth Cup | 2024 |
| Four Broncos Memorial Trophy | 2024 |
| Bob Clarke Trophy | 2024 |
| CHL Top Scorer Award | 2024 |
| CHL Player of the Year | 2024 |