Yutaka Fukufuji

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size = 200px
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 198
team = none
league = NHL
former_teams = Los Angeles Kings
nationality = Japan
birth_date = Birth date and age|1982|9|17|mf=y
birth_place = Kushiro, Hokkaidō, JPN
career_start = 2002
draft = 238th overall
draft_year = 2004
draft_team = Los Angeles Kingsnihongo|Yutaka Fukufuji|福藤 豊|Fukufuji Yutaka|extra=born September 17, 1982 is the first Japanese-born player to appear in a National Hockey League game.cite news | last = Grossman | first = Evan | title = NHL Insider: When It Comes To Hockey, It's A Small World | publisher = [http://www.nhl.com National Hockey League] | date = 2007-03-14 | url = http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=290445 | accessdate = 2007-08-01] He is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender in the NHL and second Japanese national to be drafted.

Playing career

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. A fictional Japanese player, Taro Tsujimoto, was a name "plucked out of the Buffalo telephone book" as a joke in 1974 by Buffalo Sabres GM Punch Imlach.cite web | title=1974 NHL Draft Pick | publisher=Hockey Draft Central | url=http://hockeydraftcentral.com/1974/74183.html | accessdate=August 1 | accessyear=2007 ]

Fukufuji was born in Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan.cite news | last = Matsuda | first = Gann | title = Fukufuji Proud Of Season As He Looks Forward | publisher = [http://www.rafu.com Rafu Shimpo] | date = 2007-02-21 | page=2 ("story not available on Rafu Shimpo web site, but is reprinted with permission on the [http://www.kingshockey.com/articles.cfm?id=161 Online Kingdom] ") | accessdate = 2007-08-01] cite news | last = Wigge | first = Larry | title = Kings Goalie Is First Native Japanese Player In The NHL | publisher = [http://www.nhl.com National Hockey League] | date = 2007-01-16 | url = http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=287481 | accessdate = 2007-08-01] 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. 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 2004-2005 leading the team in wins, GAA, and shutouts. Fukufuji signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings in August 2005. After starting the 2005-2006 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. He became the first Japanese-born player to dress for an NHL game, but he did not play.

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. On January 13, 2007, Fukufuji made his first NHL appearance, the first by a Japanese-born 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. 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.

On January 16, 2007, Fukufuji made history again when he became the first player born in Japan to start in an NHL game, as he began the game in goal for the Kings against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Fukufuji was not presented with a qualifying offer by the Kings before the 2007-2008 season, but returned to the Condors on September 10, 2007 after signing a contract for the 2007-08 season.cite news | last = Griffith | first = Mike | title = Condors 'Delighted' At Fukufuji's Return | url = http://www.bakersfield.com/news/sports/condors/story/234328.html | publisher = [http://www.bakersfield.com Bakersfield Californian] | date = 2007-09-11 | accessdate = 2007-09-25]

Career statistics

Season Team Lge GP MIN GA EN SO GAA W L T SV Pct-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2002-03 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 9 403 21 1 0 3.13 4 3 0 226 0.9152004-05 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 44 2517 104 1 3 2.48 27 9 5 1182 0.9192005-06 Manchester Monarchs AHL 2 120 6 0 0 3.00 1 1 0 72 0.9232005-06 Reading Royals ECHL 29 1691 82 3 1 2.91 15 9 4 909 0.9172006-07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 4 96 7 0 0 4.37 0 3 0 36 0.8372006-07 Reading Royals ECHL 28 1522 75 2 1 2.96 13 10 0 718 0.9052006-07 Manchester Monarchs AHL 5 261 4 0 1 0.92 3 1 0 111 0.9652007-08 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 46 2427 137 3 1 3.39 18 18 1 1219 0.899

ee also

*List of NHL seasons
*List of NHL players
*List of AHL seasons

References

External links

*hockeydb|70188