Yutaka Fukufuji

Yutaka Fukufuji
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
	2011 Astana-Almaty	Ice hockey
	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

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

Regular season and playoffs

				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

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

1. Grossman, Evan (March 1, 2007). "NHL Insider: When It Comes To Hockey, It's A Small World". National Hockey League.
2. Matsuda, Gann (February 2, 2007). "Fukufuji Proud Of Season As He Looks Forward". Rafu Shimpo. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
3. 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.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database