An overview of hockey players of Asian descent for the 2019-20 season.
2019-20 Season Overview: Crossroads for Many Players of Asian Descent
Author: Hubert Luo
2019 NHL Draft Recap: Ryan Suzuki, Nick Robertson, and Jordan Spence Drafted
Three players of Asian descent were selected in the 2019 NHL Draft. Centre Ryan Suzuki was drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Draft. The younger brother of Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki, Ryan also plays a cerebral, patient, and skilled game. Although there are clear similarities with… Continue reading 2019 NHL Draft Recap: Ryan Suzuki, Nick Robertson, and Jordan Spence Drafted
Nick Suzuki Named Playoffs MVP as Guelph Wins OHL Championship
Nick Suzuki (MTL) capped off one of the most impressive junior seasons in recent memory with 42 points in 24 playoff games as his Guelph Storm won the Ontario Hockey League championship in a tight six-game series against the Ottawa 67's. He’s been huge for our run. He’s been that key guy, that key player… Continue reading Nick Suzuki Named Playoffs MVP as Guelph Wins OHL Championship
Profile: Devin Setoguchi
The story of Setoguchi's career is one of perseverance in the face of unimaginable challenges. A 31-goal-scorer as a 21-year-old, he was out of the NHL just seven years later, battling alcoholism and drug use. A Yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese-Canadian), Setoguchi was born on New Years Day in 1987 in Taber, Alberta and grew up on… Continue reading Profile: Devin Setoguchi
Profile: Yutaka Fukufuji
On January 13th, 2009, Fukufuji relieved Barry Brust to start the third period for the Los Angeles Kings in an eventual 6-5 loss against the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first Japanese national to play in the NHL. Born in Kushiro on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, Fukufuji spent his formative years with Kokudo,… Continue reading Profile: Yutaka Fukufuji
Profile: Manny Malhotra
One of the elite two-way forwards of his generation, Malhotra starred in the NHL for 16 seasons where he played in 1,026 games. He was among the best in NHL history at faceoffs, with the fourth-highest career faceoff winning percentage (58.85%) ever. A second-generation Punjabi-Canadian, Malhotra played minor hockey in Mississauga, ON before being drafted… Continue reading Profile: Manny Malhotra
Profile: Ryan Kuwabara
Kuwabara is currently the Assistant Coach of the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League after an 18-year professional career. He is a third-generation Japanese-Canadian and was born in Hamilton, ON in 1972. In 1989, Kuwabara was drafted by the Ottawa 67's eighth overall in the OHL draft. He would spend the next three seasons… Continue reading Profile: Ryan Kuwabara
Profile: Stan Wong
The most-decorated American in IIHF history, Stan Wong has served as Team USA's athletic trainer for 17 World Juniors (2002-2019), 4 Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018), 12 world championships (2006-2018), and 10 Deutschland Cups. “He’s a guy who cares about everybody. Sometimes he’s got 40 kids on the ice and everybody knows it’s hard… Continue reading Profile: Stan Wong
Profile: Paul Kariya
One of the most accomplished and prolific scorers of his generation, Kariya was immortalized among the legends of the hockey world when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. “I would never use ‘dream come true’ because it’s so far out of the realm of dream. As a kid growing up,… Continue reading Profile: Paul Kariya
Profile: Robin Bawa
Bawa was the first NHL player of South Asian descent when he played for the Washington Capitals in the 1990-91 season. Born on Vancouver Island in 1966, Bawa started playing hockey on an outdoor pond behind his father's store and played minor hockey in Cowichan Valley. In 1982, he started major junior with the Kamloops… Continue reading Profile: Robin Bawa
