5'2" is small even by Japanese standards, even though he's only 16.
I get why he may never come over, but you gotta think at some point he needs to take the plunge. The NHL is small-friendly like it's never been before. Even a short career in the AHL would be a lifetime experience like no other.
However in Japan the education is a feeder system that starts as early as kindergarten. My niece is 14 and studying for JHS entrance exams. If he left Japan he would never have a "normal" white collar career in Japan. I don't think he'd be suited for that kind of job, but the local pressure to fit into the pipeline will be non trivial.
Ando has surpassed Iguchi at this point. Nearly a PPG in the USHL as a 16 year old. That is very, very good production.
Iguchi won't sniff the NHL and is looking unlikely to be drafted but Ando is looking like a legitimate high-end prospect. I will be rooting for them both.
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Japan kind of destroyed their division, I wonder how well they would have done in 1B this year.
They probably would have fought for relegation in D1B.
With Ando, Hanzawa, and Sato, Japan matches the top-end talent of the best D1B teams. They don't have nearly as much depth as the D1B teams though.
For example, Estonia and Italy were in the relegation match. Half of Estonia's defense and forwards play in the Finnish junior hockey system, and their goalie is a third-string Finnish Jr. A goalie. Half of Italy's defense and forwards play in the AlpsHL, which is on par with the skill level of the Norwegian league and ECHL, and their goalie is a starter in the highest tier of Swiss junior hockey.
By comparison, Japan's starting goalie plays in their domestic midget/junior league and their backup goalie plays Canadian AAA midget. The only defenseman that plays outside of Japan's domestic league plays Canadian AAA midget, as do the rest of their forwards that aren't the big guns. Their domestic league has no presence outside of Japan, unlike other D1B nations (e.g. France, Ukraine, Italy)
This is also a paper-analysis, since I've never seen any of these teams play
Looks like there's more and more Japanese hockey players coming around. I've never heard of this fellow but hes eligible for this years draft it looks like.
Yu Sato - 5'9 163 lbs born in Saitama, Japan. 17 years old. Currently plays for the Quebec Remparts.
Looks like there's more and more Japanese hockey players coming around. I've never heard of this fellow but hes eligible for this years draft it looks like.
Yu Sato - 5'9 163 lbs born in Saitama, Japan. 17 years old. Currently plays for the Quebec Remparts.
Last I heard, though, Sato won't be back because he didn't produce well (and junior teams can't afford to use an import slot for a fourth liner).
2021 would be Aito Iguchi's draft year.
He was selected with the 104th overall pick in the United States Hockey League draft last year, but it doesn't look like he has come over to play.
He's still only 5'3 and 117 lbs, which is very small, even by Japanese standards.
His long-time teammate, Yusaku Ando, is 5'7 and 148 lbs. Ando actually played in the USHL this past year, and had 25 points in 40 games. If he picks it up this season, he could be drafted. Ando, with a September 3rd birthday, would be one of the youngest players in the draft. He seems to have already committed to Minnesota State in the NCAA for the 2021-2022 season.
Looks like he has surpassed Iguchi.
Yu Sato had only 10 points in 39 QMJHL games this past season. He didn't get drafted. He should be playing in the USHL this year.
Slightly off topic as it is not specific to Iguchi or Ando, but this thread has talked about Japanese hockey a bit.
There is a new team that has started in the Asia league in Yokohama called the Yokohama Grits. Yokohama is just south of Tokyo and part of the Tokyo metro area. This is the first team in the Tokyo area for some time. The Japan-based hockey teams have all been further north lately, with the closest being the Nikko Ice Bucks.
The Grits have had some support and connection with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan and their head coach is Mike Kennedy, who was coaching at U of C and played in the NHL a bit.
Good to see hockey growing in Japan!
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