Jordan Kawaguchi

Jordan Kawaguchi
Jordan Kawaguchi
	Kawaguchi with the Texas Stars in 2022
Born	May 4, 1997 (age 27); Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
EIHL team; Former teams	Belfast Giants; Texas Stars
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2021–2023; 2024–present

Jordan Kawaguchi (born May 4, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

Early life

Kawaguchi was born on May 4, 1997, in Abbotsford, British Columbia^[1] to parents Todd and Brandy Kawaguchi.^[2] His father Todd was the only son of Japanese immigrant parents and he played college ice hockey at the University of British Columbia.^[3] He is the cousin of Devin Setoguchi, who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League.^[4]

Playing career

Growing up in British Columbia, Kawaguchi played for the Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association before joining the U15 Pursuit of Excellence prep program in Kelowna.^[5] While playing with the U15 prep team, he recorded 57 goals and 74 assists for 131 points in 43 games and was named Tournament MVP at the Kamloops International Ice Hockey Tournament. As a result, Kawaguchi was drafted in the fourth round, 80th overall, by the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft.^[6] However, he committed to play for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the 2012–13 season, where he recorded nine goals and nine assists as the team finished last in the Mainland Division.^[5] Kawaguchi spent four complete seasons with the Chiefs, where he increased his offensive output from his rookie season. He finished his BCHL career with 120 goals and 242 points in 213 career games while also earning BCHL All-Star honors.^[2]

Kawaguchi originally committed to play collegiate ice hockey with Providence College^[7] but changed to the University of North Dakota of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.^[8]

After his junior season with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Kawaguchi was named to the AHCA First All-American Team.^[9]

Kawaguchi was named captain in his senior season with the Fighting Hawks, leading the team in scoring and placing fourth in the NCAA with 36 points through 28 games in the shortened 2020–21 season.

As an undrafted free agent, Kawaguchi turned professional in agreeing to a one-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on March 31, 2021. He was assigned by the Stars to join AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars.^[10]

On August 1, 2022, Kawaguchi as a free agent opted to remain within the Stars organization by signing a one-year AHL contract to continue with the Texas Stars for the 2022–23 season,^[11] spending it with the Stars' ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads.

Kawaguchi announced his retirement in November 2023 after an injury-laden 2022–23 ECHL season in which he sustained three concussions, a broken thumb, and a torn MCL.^[12] This retirement was ultimately short-lived, as Kawaguchi re-signed with the Steelheads and returned to ice hockey on January 17, 2024.^[13]

Following his first three full professional seasons in North America, Kawaguchi moved abroad a free agent in signing a one-year contract with Irish based club, Belfast Giants of the EIHL, on July 29, 2024.^[14]

Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012–13	West Kelowna Warriors	BCHL	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Chilliwack Chiefs	BCHL	49	9	9	18	6	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Chilliwack Chiefs	BCHL	53	28	28	56	11	12	5	10	15	8
2015–16	Chilliwack Chiefs	BCHL	56	45	38	83	29	20	12	12	24	2
2016–17	Chilliwack Chiefs	BCHL	55	38	47	85	32	23	18	25	43	4
2017–18	U. of North Dakota	NCHC	38	5	14	19	12	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	U. of North Dakota	NCHC	37	10	16	26	21	—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	U. of North Dakota	NCHC	33	15	30	45	8	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	U. of North Dakota	NCHC	28	10	26	36	24	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Texas Stars	AHL	3	1	1	2	0	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Texas Stars	AHL	49	6	17	23	6	2	0	0	0	0
2022–23	Idaho Steelheads	ECHL	58	26	26	52	33	16	4	10	14	6
2023–24	Idaho Steelheads	ECHL	29	8	23	31	28	9	4	4	8	6
AHL totals			52	7	18	25	6	2	0	0	0	0

Awards and honors

Award	Year	Ref
BCHL
Second All-Star Team	2016
First All-Star Team	2017
College
AHCA First Team All-American	2020	^[9]
NCHC First All-Star Team	2020, 2021	^[15]
NCHC Forward of the Year	2020
NCHC Three Stars Award	2020
West First All-American Team	2020
Hobey Baker Award Finalist	2020
AHCA West Second Team All-American	2021	^[16]