The answer is going to sound like a stereotype, but it was indeed formulated by Yushiroh Hirano.
First, who is Yushiroh Hirano? It’s number 71 for the Abbotsford Canucks, the Rocket’s opponents on Wednesday at Place Bell. But above all, he is the only Japanese in history to have scored a goal in the American League. He also aspires to become the first to do so in the National League.
We meet Hirano the previous week, during the Canucks’ first visit to Laval. The stocky striker tells us his story and explains in particular that he is returning to Japan in the summer to train. Japan, a country with 79 indoor skating rinks (compared to 2860 in Canada) for a population of 124 million (compared to 38 million in Canada).
“It’s hard because we have very few rinks open all year round. And if I want to have an ice cream to myself, it’s too expensive. So I train with a professional team, but it’s only three times a week,” he explains.
Obviously, he realizes that he complicates his life. He knows very well that he is sacrificing his development in order to return home for a few months.
Homesickness
So what is he missing so much? Here comes the answer that seems straight out of a bad 1990s series. “Food. That’s a big difference. I love sushis. I like the sushi here too, but it’s Americanized. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS
Yushiroh Hirano, Abbotsford Canucks
It’s always hard to live in another country, because the culture is different, the personality of the people too. My English is not very good yet, so it is difficult.
Yushiroh Hirano
The anecdote illustrates well the additional challenge faced by Hirano. Already that he comes from a country where hockey comes far in the interest of people, he must also experience a culture shock.
But he gave himself all the means to integrate.
“In the locker room, he found ways to communicate,” recalls Brad Patterson, his former assistant coach in Youngstown, USHL. The challenge was more in foster care. But he really forced himself to get involved. The family had a baby of about 1 year old. And he was the one who read stories to the baby. He was doing it for the baby, but he was also learning his English, with children’s books! It was very smart of him. He did everything to help himself. »
His efforts paid off. In the summer of 2015, Hirano was invited to Blackhawks development camp and was interviewed by the Chicago Grandstand, with the help of an interpreter. In 2018, then last January, he gave interviews to The Score and NHL.com, this time by email.
Our interview last week took place entirely in English, and the Canucks publicist, while remaining nearby, never had to intervene.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS
Yushiroh Hirano, Abbotsford Canucks
Atypical course
Son of a former professional player in Japan, Hirano was introduced to hockey through his father. “I always watched the NHL when I was little, I watched Joe Sakic. I always said I wanted to play in the NHL,” he says.
He quickly stands out as one of the best players in his native land. At 16, he participated in the U18 World Championship, Division 1A. At 17, it’s the U20 world, division 2A. “I realized there were so many good players, I wanted to have a challenge outside of Japan,” he recalled.
In 2015, after playing in the junior ranks in Sweden, he received an invitation for the Blackhawks development camp, through a coach from this organization who had previously acted as a consultant for the Japanese national team. . From there, the Youngstown Phantoms invite him to their camp “without having too many expectations”.
“And after 30 seconds, we realized that he had assets, notes Brad Patterson. In exercises without defenders, as soon as he crossed the blue line, he could score. »
With this devastating shot, Hirano concludes the season with 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 54 games.
Hirano returned to Japan for two years, before returning to North America in 2018. His success over three years in the ECHL opened the door to the Abbotsford Canucks last season, where he had 12 points in 30 outings. This season, he has 3 points in 11 games.
These are obviously not statistics that will earn him an NHL contract and which will make him the second player from his country to reach the big league, after goalkeeper Yutaka Fukufuji (Kings, 2006-2007). But at 27, he still believes in it.
I’m not good enough at the moment, but I’m still trying to go up. I try to observe my teammates, I watch Vancouver games to see what the players are doing. I participated in their training camp. I saw what I need to improve.
Yushiroh Hirano
Whatever happens, Hirano will have left his mark on hockey. This is the case in the small community of Japanese hockey, but also in Youngstown. Patterson — who hasn’t coached the Phantoms since last spring — says one tactic his teams used to get a shot from the face-off was called the “Yush.” But there is more.
“Young people don’t always realize that we North Americans get plenty of opportunities to show off. But we got Yushiroh, so did Nathan Walker [premier Australien à avoir joué dans la LNH]. I used it to say to my players: “These guys haven’t had all the chances, they haven’t had the access to rinks that you have had, and they are still having a career.” »