Akito Hirose

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenceman Akito Hirose on a ...

Prior to beginning his collegiate career, the Calgary, Alberta native spent four seasons with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL, collecting 123 points (20-103-123) in 208 regular season games. Over the course of his college career, spent entirely with Minnesota State University, Hirose compiled 68 points (7-61-68), 40 penalty minutes, and a +56 rating in 104 games. Hirose, 23, recently completed the third season of his college career with the Minnesota State University Mavericks, registering 27 points (4-23-27) and 18 penalty minutes in 38 games played.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced that they have signed Akito Hirose to a one-year, entry-level contract. Hirose is a 23-year-old, left-shot defenceman ...

If he is to go pro after his junior year, there should be interest to get him right into the AHL and let him work his way up the depth chart to hopefully one day make it to the NHL. There is hope that Hirose can develop into an NHL-calibre defenceman and will be more than just AHL depth like a lot of NCAA signings. This past season was all about becoming a better well-rounded defenceman for Hirose. We don’t expect to see Hirose banging down the door for a spot on the Vancouver Canucks next season but there’s a good chance he plays a lot of games with Abbotsford next year and due to his age, his entry-level contract is just for one season. He will bring some depth to the AHL from day one and if he is able to translate his skills to pro hockey, there could end up being a depth defenceman or at least a guy who can eat some games up when your team goes through injuries on the backend. A tough defenceman with above-average skills in every area of the ice, Akito Hirose may not shine on the scoresheet but he has the skating and puck-control skills that you will need to see from an NCAA defenceman to view them as a future pro.He is in his junior season with Minnesota Mankato and with how that program runs, it’s likely that he returns for his senior year.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed standout undrafted free agent Akito Hirose out of Minnesota State University (Mankato). The defenceman will join the ...

But the physical game along the boards and in front of the net could still be an issue that could prevent him from becoming a regular in the NHL. "Each defensive zone retrieval is preceded by a series of moves to hide his intended decision, and constant scanning allows him to register threats and options well in advance of collecting the puck." A one-year contract for Hirose means that he will immediately be a restricted free agent in the offseason, eligible to sign a more significant deal ahead of what could be his rookie year in the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed free-agent defenceman Akito Hirose to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.

“Akito is a strong skater and he has put up impressive numbers on both sides of the ice in the NCAA and BCHL. The six-foot, 170-pound college standout from Calgary had two goals and 24 assists in 38 games with Minnesota State last season. Hirose, 23, had four goals and 23 assists in 38 games with Minnesota State University this season, his third in the NCAA.

The Canucks announced Wednesday, March 29, that Hirose had agreed to a one-year, entry-level contract. “As we continue to look at ways to improve the depth of ...

The 6-foot, 170-lb defenceman just wrapped up his third season with the Minnesota State Mavericks where he registered 7 points (4-23-27) and 18 penalty minutes in 38 games played. Over that span he registered 20 goals and added 103 assists for 123 points. We feel that our coaches and development team will provide him with the help and support he needs to start his pro career off in the right way.”

Âgé de 23 ans et originaire de Calgary, Hirose a marqué quatre buts et récolté 23 aides en 38 matchs cette saison avec la formation de Minnesota State ...