Asian Hockey Players

Blake Edwards
Updated July 3, 2024 242.5K views 34 items

List of Asian hockey players, both active and retired. There are many Asian-American hockey players in the NHL as well as many Canadian hockey players of Asian descent. The top Asians in the NHL, over the course of its existence, are here on the Asian hockey players in the NHL list.

Asians in the NHL date back to the mid-20th century and more and more hockey players of Asian descent. Who was the first Asian NHL player? In 1948, Chinese-Canadian hockey player Larry Kowng became the first Asian hockey player to play in the NHL, playing with the New York Rangers in the Montreal Forum. In 1990, Korean hockey player Jim Paek was the first Asian-born player to win the Stanley Cup, playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
  • Josh Ho-Sang

    Josh Ho-Sang

    Joshua Ho-Sang (born January 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ho-Sang, despite clearing waivers and being assigned to the Bridgeport Sound tigers, has refused to report to or play. The Islanders selected him in the first round, 28th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The Toronto Sun described him in June 2014 as a "singular hockey player of immense talent, caught on an island of discourse." He said of himself: "I'm more emotional than most people. That poses a problem for the hockey world. A lot of players are trained to hold their emotions.... I love to dangle. I love to play an offensive game. I love to celebrate when I score."
    • Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: New York Islanders
    • Position: Right wing
  • Chris Beckford-Tseu

    Chris Beckford-Tseu

    Chris Beckford-Tseu (born June 22, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League (NHL) game with the St. Louis Blues during the 2007–08 season. He was drafted in the fifth round, 159th overall, by the Blues in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
    • Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Position: Goaltender
  • Manny Malhotra

    Manny Malhotra

    Emmanuel Noveen Malhotra (born May 18, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who is currently an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He last played with the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League (AHL) on a try-out basis. During his 18-year career, he played as a centre for the Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers. Malhotra was known as a two-way forward and for his faceoff proficiency, in which he won over 56% of faceoffs he took in the NHL.
    • Birthplace: Mississauga, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: Vancouver Canucks
    • Position: Centerman
  • Jon Matsumoto

    Jon Matsumoto

    Jonathan Richard Matsumoto (born October 13, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
    • Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: Florida Panthers
    • Position: Centerman
  • Richard Park

    Richard Park

    Richard Park (Korean name: Bak Yong-Su, Hangul: 박용수; born May 27, 1976) is a Korean-born American former professional ice hockey forward who played 14 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with six different teams. He was formerly a player development coach for the Minnesota Wild organization. Park is currently the assistant coach of the South Korea men's national ice hockey team under head coach Jim Paek.
    • Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
    • Nationality: United States of America
    • Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Position: Right wing
  • Raymond Sawada

    Raymond Sawada

    Raymond Masao Sawada (born February 19, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger.
    • Birthplace: Richmond, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
  • Devin Setoguchi

    Devin Setoguchi

    Devin Setoguchi (born January 1, 1987) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. He had most recently played under contract for Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Setoguchi is half-Yonsei (fourth-generation) Japanese Canadian and a Sports California/Sharks Playoff Live TV Analyst. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the first round, eighth overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and has also played with the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. In September 2015, he failed to catch on with the Toronto Maple Leafs after being initially signed to a professional tryout (PTO) contract during training camp. He eventually signed with HC Davos of the Swiss National League A where he spent the 2015–16 season. In September 2016, he made the Los Angeles Kings out of training camp and signed a one-year, two-way contract for the 2016–17 season.
    • Birthplace: Taber, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: Minnesota Wild
    • Position: Right wing
  • Brandon Yip

    Brandon Yip

    Brandon Michael Harry Yip (simplified Chinese: 叶劲光; traditional Chinese: 葉勁光; pinyin: Yè Jìnguāng; Cantonese Yale: Yihp6 Gihng6 Gwong1; born April 25, 1985) is a Canadian-born Chinese professional ice hockey right wing who is currently playing with Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes. He is of 3/4 Chinese and 1/4 Irish descent.
    • Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: Nashville Predators
    • Position: Right wing

  • Robin Bawa

    Robin N. Bawa (born March 26, 1966) is a Canadian retired former professional ice hockey player who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League between 1989 and 1994.
    • Birthplace: Duncan, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Position: Right wing, Winger

  • Peter Ing

    Peter A. Ing (born April 28, 1969) is a Canadian former National Hockey League goaltender, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1989 to 1991. Ing was born in Toronto, Ontario of mixed ancestry, his father was Chinese. As a youth, Ing played in the 1982 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Barrie.A third round draft pick, he also briefly played for the Edmonton Oilers and the Detroit Red Wings. His later career was spent in the International Hockey League and the American Hockey League.Ing retired from hockey and worked at a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and later as director of slot marketing at Casino Niagara. He is currently CEO of Fan-Tastic Sports
    • Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Position: Goaltender
  • Yutaka Fukufuji

    Yutaka Fukufuji

    Yutaka Fukufuji (福藤 豊, Fukufuji Yutaka, born September 17, 1982) is a Japanese ice hockey player currently with the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League game. The first Japanese draft pick, Hiroyuki Miura, was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1992 NHL Draft, but never played in an NHL game. Fukufuji is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender in the NHL and second Japanese national to be drafted.
    • Birthplace: Kushiro, Japan
    • Nationality: Japan
    • Position: Goaltender
  • Paul Kariya

    Paul Kariya

    Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya (born October 16, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known as a skilled and fast-skating offensive player, he played in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. After a two-year career with the Penticton Panthers, in which he was named Canadian Junior A Player of the Year in 1992, Kariya joined the college ranks with the University of Maine's Black Bears men's ice hockey team. In his freshman year, he received the Hobey Baker Award while leading his team to the 1993 NCAA title. Selected fourth overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Mighty Ducks, he joined the team in 1994–95 and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. During his nine-year tenure with Anaheim, Kariya formed an effective duo with fellow winger Teemu Selänne that helped him to three NHL First All-Star Team distinctions, while also finishing as the first runner-up for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1997. Not an aggressive player, he won back-to-back Lady Byng Trophies in 1996 and 1997 as the League's most gentlemanly player. Serving as a captain for seven seasons, he led the Mighty Ducks to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven games. After a single-season stint with the Avalanche for the purpose of reuniting with Selänne, who had previously been traded away from Anaheim, Kariya signed with the Predators in August 2005. He played two seasons in Nashville, setting team records for assists and points scored in a single-season in 2005–06. Kariya then finished his career playing three seasons with the Blues. Internationally, Kariya represented Canada on numerous stages and at different levels. He won gold at the 1993 World Junior Championships, his second appearance at the tournament. He made his first appearance at the Winter Olympics in 1994 as an amateur, winning silver. Eight years later, he helped Canada win gold at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In between Olympic appearances, he won gold and silver at the 1994 and 1996 World Championships, respectively. Throughout his NHL career, Kariya struggled with concussions, which eventually forced his retirement in June 2011 after sitting out the 2010–11 season because of post-concussion syndrome. Psychiatrist Daniel Amen provided diagnosis and therapy for Kariya, advising him to retire as a professional, which he did.In June 2017, Kariya was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His number was retired by the Ducks on October 21, 2018.
    • Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Position: Left Wing, Centerman
  • Steve Kariya

    Steve Kariya

    Steven Tetsuo Kariya (born December 22, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger and younger brother of retired National Hockey League player Paul Kariya. Kariya was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia.
    • Birthplace: North Vancouver, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: Frölunda HC
    • Position: Left Wing

  • Larry Kwong

    Lawrence Kwong (born Eng Kai Geong (simplified Chinese: 吴启光; traditional Chinese: 吳啟光; pinyin: Wú Qǐguāng) June 17, 1923 – March 15, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and businessman. He is known as the first person of Asian ancestry to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), and the first player to break hockey's color barrier. Of Cantonese extraction, he was also the first NHL player from Vernon, British Columbia, and the Okanagan region. Kwong's nicknames included the "China Clipper" (a name later used for CFL player Normie Kwong) and "King Kwong".
    • Birthplace: Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
  • Jim Paek

    Jim Paek

    Jim Paek (Korean: 백지선, Baek Chi-sun, born April 7, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, who is currently the director of hockey for the Korea Ice Hockey Association and head coach of the South Korean national team. Paek played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1990–91 to 1994–95, and won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1991 and 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is both the first Korean-born hockey player to play in the NHL, and to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
    • Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Position: Defenseman
  • Jamie Storr

    Jamie Storr

    Jamie Storr (born December 28, 1975) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender.
    • Birthplace: Brampton, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Team: DEG Metro Stars
    • Position: Goaltender
  • David Tanabe

    David Tanabe

    David Michael Tanabe (born July 19, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Tanabe was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. After being forced into early retirement due to an injury, he now works for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
    • Birthplace: White Bear Lake, Minnesota
    • Nationality: United States of America
    • Position: Defenseman

  • Mike Wong

    Michael Anthony Wong (born January 14, 1955 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a retired ice hockey forward who played in 22 games for the Detroit Red Wings. He is also a former Minnesota Golden Gloves boxing champion. He was drafted 7th (77th overall) in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. Wong was born of Chinese descent.
    • Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • Nationality: USA

  • Torrie Jung

  • Martin Kariya

    Martin Kariya

    Martin Tetsuya Kariya (born October 5, 1981 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a professional ice hockey right winger. He is the younger brother of former NHL left winger Paul Kariya.
    • Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
    • Position: Forward

  • Hiroyuki Miura

    Hiroyuki Miura (born December 31, 1973) is a Japanese retired ice hockey defenseman. In 1992, Miura became the first Japanese player ever drafted into the NHL when the Montreal Canadiens chose him in the 11th round (260th overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. (Technically, Miura was the second Japanese player "selected" by the league; the first was Taro Tsujimoto, a fictional player drafted as a joke by the Buffalo Sabres in 1974; Miura, however was the first actual player to be drafted). Miura never played in the NHL, and his North American professional ice hockey experience was limited to six games played with the Wheeling Thunderbirds of the East Coast Hockey League in 1993–94. It wasn't until 2006 that the NHL saw its first Japanese player to actually play a game, when Yutaka Fukufuji played for the Los Angeles Kings.
    • Birthplace: Kushiro, Japan
    • Nationality: Japan
    • Position: Defenseman
  • Zachary Yuen

    Zachary Yuen

    Zachary Yuen (born March 3, 1993) is a Canadian-Chinese professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing for Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[1] Yuen was one of the first players of Chinese descent to be drafted in the NHL Entry Draft.
    • Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada

  • Jomar Cruz

  • Ryan Kuwabara

    Ryan Kuwabara (Kuwabara Raian Haruo, born 23 March 1972) is a Japanese ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

    • Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada

  • Matt Oikawa

  • Shim Kyuin

  • Steve Tsujiura

    Steven Ken Tsujiura (born February 28, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the American Hockey League (AHL), the Swiss National League A (NLA) and the Japan Ice Hockey League (JIHL). He played in the 1998 Winter Olympics for host country Japan. He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 10th round (205th overall) of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.
    • Birthplace: Coaldale, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada
  • Jason Robertson

    Jason Robertson

  • Matt Dumba

    Matt Dumba

  • Kailer Yamamoto

    Kailer Yamamoto

  • Nick Suzuki

    Nick Suzuki

  • Kole Sherwood

    Kole Sherwood

  • Jujhar Khaira

    Jujhar Khaira

    Jujhar Khaira is a Canadian ice hockey player.
    • Birthplace: Surrey, Canada
    • Nationality: Canada

  • Jonas Siegenthaler