Kim turns setback into service

His promising start came to a sudden halt in August 2023.

Just hours before UNBC was scheduled to begin its Canada West season, Kim learned he was academically ineligible after failing to complete the required number of university courses.

For Kim, it meant an entire season away from competitive soccer.

“Obviously when I found out that I was academically ineligible to play my second year I was devastated ,my coach was devastated and my teammates were devastated. The people around me really helped me guide this in the right way. Instead of them fixing my problems they taught me how to solve my own problems on my own. I think it’s just really the people around me and the community that I have up here in Prince George.”

While unable to help the Timberwolves on the field, Kim found another way to contribute.

He joined the Timberwolves Student Athlete Society as treasurer and began getting more involved in community initiatives. Kim later served as vice-president before eventually becoming president of the organization.

His turnaround was also taking place in the classroom.

Kim returned to Canada West competition and eventually recorded a 4.22 GPA during the 2025-26 academic year, earning U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours for the first time.

On the pitch, he has remained one of UNBC’s most reliable players. Kim recently completed his fourth season, starting all 15 games he appeared in and recording two goals and one assist.

He has now started all 58 of his career appearances with the Timberwolves.

But it was Kim’s impact beyond soccer that helped earn him his latest recognition.

As president of the Timberwolves Student Athlete Society, Kim helped lead a record-breaking MVP campaign that raised more than $12,000 in 2026.

The money went to Bianca, a local mother of two rebuilding her family’s life after escaping domestic violence. The campaign included fundraising initiatives such as a three-on-three basketball tournament, the annual Fill the Bus bottle drive and an MVP dodgeball tournament.

For Kim, receiving the Canada West award is about more than individual recognition.

“I think it’s a collective effort. I think it’s really good to get recognized and I feel good individually, obviously. I think for a small school and for our organization to get recognized for the work we did and then the hours we put into it. I’m very happy about that.”

Kim still has another year of eligibility remaining and plans to attend law school after finishing his studies at UNBC.

From academic ineligibility to Academic All-Canadian and now a Canada West award winner, the setback that once kept Kim off the field ultimately helped him find his place in the community and a purpose bigger than the game.

by Nick Dube

Kim turns setback into service

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