Alumni Stories: Jahlica Kirnon ‘forever grateful’ for her time in Caper orange

Jahlica Kirnon 'forever grateful' for her time in Caper orange

Toronto native key contributor to national silver medal team

By Corey LeBlanc

Once she took the court, Jahlica Kirnon left her well-known kindness and gentleness on the bench.

Those widely-admired attributes took a backseat to dogged determination and competitiveness that helped propel her Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers to five consecutive Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship games, including three conference crowns in a row.

"We have never had anyone with our program as tough – both mentally and physically – as Jahlica," her Caper head coach Fabian McKenzie says.

The 5'7" guard – who garnered conference first (2011) and second-team (2012) all-star nods during her stellar five-year career – has maintained a deep connection with the sport she loves in her professional life.

"It has been a great opportunity for me to give back," Kirnon – a graduate of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, explains of her more than a decade with Elite Basketball Camps in the Greater Toronto Area.

Kirnon is the day camp director for the year-round organization, which welcomes players ages four to 17.

"She is impacting so many people," McKenzie says.

Calling her a "great role model," he adds "we are really proud of her."

Kirnon says the many "life lessons" she took away from her time at CBU remain with her.

"I have been able to share some of those experiences," she adds of her continuing mentorship of young people.

'Never regretted it'

When it comes to her path to CBU, McKenzie describes the recruiting process as a "great story."

"We were very interested in her," he remembers, noting Kirnon caught his eye as a standout with Toronto 5-0, a powerhouse club in the Ontario Basketball Association (OBA).

After she decided to return to high school for one more season, McKenzie not only displayed patience – while continuing his pursuit of the highly-sought-after recruit – but also an air of deception, when it came to the other programs going after Kirnon.

"I was getting them off the track," he says, with a laugh, of telling other coaches during the year-end OBA tournament that she was heading to the United States to play university basketball.

Kirnon credits McKenzie for keeping in contact during what she calls a "gap year," showing interest in not only her studies but also academics; while learning more about her future goals.

"Fabe respected my decision, which meant a lot," she says of delaying her move to the varsity level.

That was one of the countless factors that steered Kirnon towards donning CBU orange.

"To this day, I haven't regretted my decision," she says.

Kirnon adds the Caper – along with the broader Cape Breton community – "embraced me."

'Wouldn't trade a thing'

That doesn't mean there weren't any bumps in the road.

"He wasn't too thrilled," Kirnon says, with a laugh, remembering her father Kevin's reaction when – after a stop in Halifax – they arrived in Sydney on that "small plane."

After helping her settle in, her father – more comfortable with his daughter's university home – headed back to Toronto.

"I was immediately homesick," she remembers, noting that she had never lived away from home; not to mention at such a great distance from her family.

Nevertheless, being welcomed with "open arms" helped her get over that early rough patch.

"It made the transition a lot easier," Kirnon recalls of the fan support and atmosphere during home games at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

She notes meeting and sharing a hometown connection with other varsity athletes from Toronto also eased the challenging start.

Kirnon also credits McKenzie and long-time Caper assistant coach Doug Connors for doing a "tremendous job" helping guide a "homesick teenager living far away from home."

"There were ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade a thing," she says of her CBU experience.

'Such a great person'

In her freshman season, Kirnon made an immediate impact.

"You could see how much she loved the game," McKenzie says, noting her "quickness and fearlessness" stood out.

And, most importantly, he adds everyone learned quickly that Kirnon was "such a great person."

"We had something special," she remembers of the Caper roster in her first season, one comprised greatly of freshmen.

That was just the start of an unforgettable five years in CBU orange.

On the court, along with the aforementioned three AUS crowns, she was a key contributor to the Capers' bronze medal performance in the U Sports' national tournament.

"Jahlica won the third one," McKenzie says of her decisive free throws with three seconds remaining in the 2011 AUS championship game.

In the classroom, the Academic All-Canadian earned two degrees; a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies – with a double major in anthropology and sociology – and a Bachelor of Arts.

"There are so many fond memories," Kirnon says, adding – with a laugh - even the long winter bus trips.

Describing her teammates as a "sisterhood," she stresses those "bonds will last forever."

"I am forever grateful for my time at CBU," Kirnon says.

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