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Yutaka Fukufuji

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Yutaka Fukufuji
Ice hockey goaltender standing up looking to the right
Fukufuji in 2023 with the H.C. Tochigi Nikkō Ice Bucks
Born (1982-09-17) September 17, 1982 (age 42)
Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 173 lb (78 kg; 12 st 5 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
ALIH team
Former teams		 Nikkō Ice Bucks
Los Angeles Kings
Kokudo Tokyo
National team  Japan
NHL draft 238th overall, 2004
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2002–present
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2011 Astana-Almaty Ice hockey
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Sapporo Ice hockey

Yutaka Fukufuji (福藤 豊, Fukufuji Yutaka, born September 17, 1982) is a Japanese ice hockey player for the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League (NHL) game, and played 4 games with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2006–07 season.[1] 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. Internationally Fukufuji has played for the Japanese national team at several World Championships.

Career

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Fukufuji was born in Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan.[2][3] He played on the Kokudo hockey team of Asia League Ice Hockey in 2001. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2004 entry draft in the 8th round, 238th overall.[2] He made his North American debut on February 7, 2003, with the ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones. He was voted the ECHL rookie of the month in January 2003. He played for the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL in 2004–05 leading the team in wins, GAA, and shutouts.[3] Fukufuji signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings in August 2005. After starting the 2005–06 season with the Reading Royals, the Kings ECHL franchise, Yutaka was the number 2 goalie on the AHL Manchester Monarchs for a time.

On December 15, 2006, Fukufuji was called up on to the Los Angeles Kings on emergency basis.[2] He became the first Japanese player to dress for an NHL game, but he did not play.[2]

When goaltender Mathieu Garon was placed on injured reserve with a broken finger, Fukufuji was again recalled and flew in from Cleveland, Ohio to dress as backup to goalie Barry Brust.[2] On January 13, 2007, Fukufuji made his first NHL appearance, the first by a Japanese player, when Kings head coach Marc Crawford decided to put him in to start the third period of a game against the St. Louis Blues.[2] Fukufuji entered the game with the Kings trailing 5–4. He allowed one goal in the period, and the Kings also scored one goal while he was in net. The final score of the game was 6–5 in favor of St. Louis; as Fukufuji was the goaltender who allowed the decisive sixth St. Louis goal, he was assessed the loss.[2][3]

On January 16, 2007, Fukufuji made history again when he became the first Japanese player to start in an NHL game, as he began the game in goal for the Kings against the Atlanta Thrashers.[2] He allowed 3 goals on 9 shots and was pulled.

Fukufuji was not presented with a qualifying offer by the Kings before the 2007–08 season, but returned to the Condors on September 10, 2007, after signing a contract for the 2007–08 season.[4]

On May 25, 2009, Fukufuji was signed by the Destil Trappers of the Eredivisie, the top league in the Netherlands.[5] After one full season with Destil Trappers Fukufuji signed with Nikko Ice Bucks in July 2010.[6]

On January 29, 2020, it was announced[7] that Fukufuji had been selected to represent Japan in the third round of qualifiers for the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2001–02 Koduko JIHL 14 — — — — 715 42 — 2.94 .914 — — — — — — — —
2002–03 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 9 4 3 0 — 403 21 0 3.13 .915 — — — — — — — —
2003–04 Koduko JIHL 9 — — — — 544 13 0 1.99 .918 — — — — — — — —
2004–05 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 44 27 9 5 — 2,517 104 3 2.48 .919 — — — — — — — —
2005–06 Manchester Monarchs AHL 2 1 1 — 0 120 6 0 3.00 .923 — — — — — — — —
2005–06 Reading Royals ECHL 29 15 9 — 4 1,691 82 1 2.91 .917 4 1 2 196 11 0 3.36 .888
2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 4 0 3 — 0 97 7 0 4.37 .837 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Manchester Monarchs AHL 5 3 1 — 0 261 4 1 0.92 .965 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 1.000
2006–07 Reading Royals ECHL 28 13 10 — 0 1,522 75 1 2.96 .905 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 46 18 18 — 1 2,427 137 1 3.39 .899 6 2 2 — 22 0 3.55 .912
2008–09 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 35 18 12 — 1 1,821 100 0 3.29 .902 7 3 4 432 25 0 3.47 .905
2009–10 Tilburg Trappers NED 30 — — — — 1,086 60 0 3.43 — 11 — — 652 36 0 3.31 —
2010–11 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 31 — — — — 1,769 85 1 2.88 .922 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 35 — — — — 2,002 92 4 2.76 .930 5 — — 277 14 1 3.03 .926
2012–13 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 30 — — — — 1,793 92 4 2.54 .932 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 37 — — — — 2,107 93 — 2.65 .919 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Esbjerg Energy DEN 34 — — — — — — — 3.04 .887 14 — — — — — 3.25 .886
2015–16 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 18 — — — — 1,037 36 — 2.08 .933 2 — — 80 8 — 6.00 .852
2016–17 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 22 — — — — 1,276 43 — 2.02 .927 6 — — 349 19 — 3.27 .914
2017–18 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 25 — — — — 1,522 73 — 2.88 .909 3 — — 179 7 — 2.38 .887
2018–19 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 20 — — — — 1,132 51 1 2.70 .908 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 24 — — — — 1,334 68 0 2.41 .892 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 13 8 5 — 0 782 27 3 2.07 .932 2 0 2 117 5 0 2.56 .918
2023–24 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALIH 27 13 11 — 0 1,481 81 3 3.28 .902 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 4 0 3 — 0 97 7 0 4.37 .837 — — — — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2000 Japan U18-B 5 — — — — — — 2.81 .909
2000 Japan WJC-C 1 1 0 0 — — — 1.00 .933
2001 Japan WJC-II 3 2 1 0 — — 0 2.68 .915
2002 Japan WC 5 0 3 2 299 18 0 3.61 .893
2010 Japan WC-I 3 1 2 0 177 6 0 2.04 .939
2013 Japan WC-IA 5 2 3 0 299 16 0 3.21 .905
2014 Japan WC-IA 4 3 1 0 288 11 0 2.29 .924
2015 Japan WC-IA 5 2 3 0 258 11 0 2.56 .901
2016 Japan WC-IA 1 0 0 0 20 1 0 3.00 .667
2017 Japan WC-IB 5 4 1 0 281 11 0 2.36 .921
2018 Japan WC-IB 3 3 0 0 181 8 0 2.65 .877
Senior totals 31 15 13 2 1803 82 0 2.73 —

References

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  1. ^ Grossman, Evan (March 1, 2007). "NHL Insider: When It Comes To Hockey, It's A Small World". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Matsuda, Gann (February 2, 2007). "Fukufuji Proud Of Season As He Looks Forward". Rafu Shimpo. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Wigge, Larry (January 1, 2007). "Kings Goalie Is First Native Japanese Player In The NHL". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 1, 2007. [dead link‍]
  4. ^ Griffith, Mike (September 1, 2007). "Condors 'Delighted' At Fukufuji's Return". Bakersfield Californian. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
  5. ^ "Trappers sign Japanese goalie". Destil Trappers. May 2, 2009. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  6. ^ "Team | Hc Nikko Ice Bucks". Icebucks.jp. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  7. ^ "2022 北京冬季オリンピック3次予選 チームから5選手が選出". September 2, 2023.
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