Kinlough, Jim

BORN DECEMBER 9TH, 1971 in Montreal Canada to parents Richard and Maria, his 9-year ice hockey career in Australia was cut short when he returned to Canada with his family at 18. He began the sport in Montreal at about the age of 7 and had played 3 seasons of ice hockey there by the time his family moved to Australia when he was 9.

His first coach was his father Richard, who had played varsity for Loyola University in Montreal. His father went on to play a large part in developing Australian players. His mother became president of the Macquarie Bears and also worked alongside Dick Groenteman on the organizing committee of the C-Pool Worlds hosted in Sydney in 1989.

He represented New South Wales in the President's Cup (U13), Kurt Defris (U15), Tange (U18) and skipped over the Brown Trophy (U21) to play for the Goodall Cup (Open). He was state Bantam MVP in 1986 at 14, and Junior MVP in 1987 at 15. He became an Australian citizen to represent Australia in the National Youth Team in 1988, after which his development was fast-tracked. At that time, he was the youngest to play the NSW Super League and he helped win a Goodall Cup for New South Wales in 1989. He represented Australia with the National Senior Team under coach Ryan Switzer in Wales in 1990 and Spain in 1994, winning a silver medal.

Back in Canada at 18, he completed his last year of high school and made the team. He was selected to try out for the regional all-star team, only to be cut after running a goalie in an exhibition match during try-outs, "at least I am sure that was the the reason". The year he went to college was the year its varsity program was disbanded, but he was selected to a college tournament team. It was the last team of note that he played for, although he still plays senior hockey in Canada and coaches his oldest son in the local rep system.

His association with the game has spanned almost four decades on two continents, rising through the new junior development system in Australia and helping to position the nation in those years at 23rd in the world.