Japan World Championships Roster Has Four ECHL Players

March 11, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - Augusta forward Daisuke Obara and Charlotte defenseman Kengo Ito are listed on the Team Japan roster for the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championships scheduled for April 24-May 5 in the Czech Republic. Takahito Suzuki and Yutaka Fukufuji, who both played in the ECHL in 2002-03, are also listed on the roster. Ito, Obara and Suzuki all played for Japan in the 2003 IIHF World Championships in Finland.

Obara began the season in Peoria and did not score a point in four games. Claimed off waivers by Charlotte on December 10, Obara had a game-winning goal and 11 points (5g-6a) in 24 games with the Checkers. Traded to Augusta on February 5, Obara scored two points (1g-1a) in 12 games with Augusta. A regular on the Japanese National Team and regarded as the top player in Japan, Ito became the second Japanese player to register a point in the ECHL when he scored a shorthand goal in November. Coming to Charlotte from the Nippon Paper Cranes of the Japanese Hockey League, Ito has scored 17 points (3g-14a) in 51 games for Charlotte and is tied for second on the team in plus-minus (+13).

The third Japanese player in league history, Suzuki became the first to register a point and the first to participate in the ECHL All-Star Game, helping the Northern Conference to an 8-2 win. Suzuki ranked 14th among ECHL rookies while scoring 49 points (24g-25a) and appearing in all 72 games for Charlotte in 2002-03. Suzuki led Charlotte with nine power-play goals and ranked third on the team in goals. Fukufuji became the fourth Japanese-born player and the first goaltender to play in the ECHL going 4-3-0 with a goals against average of 3.13 and a save percentage of .915 in nine games with Cincinnati in 2002-03.

The first two Japanese-born players to play in the ECHL were Hiroyuki Miura, who played six games with the Wheeling Thunderbirds in 1993-94, and Hideji Tsuchida, who played five games with Dayton in 1996-97.

ECHL Stories from March 11, 2004

• Wildcatters Rally Falls Short in 4-2 loss to Sea Wolves - Texas Wildcatters
• ECHL Reaches Attendance Milestone, As Sea Wolves Tame Wildcatters 4-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Condors CD Wallets and Bobbleheads this Weekend - Bakersfield Condors
• IceGators Host Theme Nights - Louisiana IceGators
• Royals Roster Changes as Trade Deadline Approaches - Reading Royals
• 3rd Annual SteelheadsGuns & Hoses charity hockey game this Saturday - Idaho Steelheads
• Dumont Second On ECHL Career Assist List - ECHL
• Japan World Championships Roster Has Four ECHL Players - ECHL
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Lynx Deal St. Jean For Futures - Augusta Lynx
• Troy McClain to apprentice as Steelheads PA announcer - Idaho Steelheads
• Lynx Announce The Year Of The Fan - Augusta Lynx
• Obara To Play For Japanese National Team in IIHF Worlds - Augusta Lynx
• Milam Reassigned from Manchester - Atlanta Gladiators
• Storey recalled to Houston - Louisiana IceGators
• Zepp Recalled To Lowell - Florida Everblades
• 50 Millionth Fan Will Be In Mississippi Thursday - ECHL
• Moreland, Fahey receive AHL promotions - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• All-Star Left Wing Rowe Called Up to St. John's (AHL) for the Second Time - Peoria Rivermen
• Rights to Souza Shipped to Reading - Fresno Falcons
• Serbus Nominated for ATAF Trainer of the Year - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Cruikshank Activated From Injured Reserve - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Today In The ECHL - ECHL
• Marc-Andre Thinel and Peter Hogan Recalled to the AHL - Columbus Cottonmouths
• Cyclones breeze past Aces, 6-3 - Alaska Aces
• Cyclones Solve the Mystery, Alaska - Cincinnati Cyclones

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.