Taro Hirose

Taro Hirose (born June 30, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Taro Hirose
Born	June 30, 1996 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2018–present

Playing career

High school

Hirose attended Edge School from 2011–14, where he posted 31 goals and 39 assists in 48 career Midget Prep Division games and 24 goals and 14 assists in 25 career Midget Varsity Division games. He won the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) Midget Prep Championship in 2013, and posted 21 goals and 22 assists in 27 games in 2014, and was subsequently named the CSSHL Midget Prep Division MVP.[1][2]

Junior

During the 2014–15 season, Hirose recorded 18 goals and 32 assists in 58 games for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and was named the teams Rookie of the Year. In the 2015–16 season, he was elected an alternate captain for the Silverbacks, where he recorded 15 goals and 56 assists in 58 games, leading the team in scoring.[3] In April 2015, Hirose committed to play for Michigan State University.[4]

College

Hirose began his collegiate career for the Michigan State Spartans during the 2016–17 season. He recorded six goals and 18 assists in 34 games, ranking second on the team in scoring. His 24 points were the most points by a Spartan freshman since 2009–10. He recorded his first career goal and assist on October 28, 2016 against Princeton, becoming the first Spartan since 2009 to score his first collegiate goal while shorthanded.[3]

During the 2017–18 season, he recorded 12 goals and 30 assists in 36 games for the Spartans. His team-leading 42 points were the most by a Spartan since Corey Tropp had 42 points in 2009–10, while his 30 assists were the most by a Spartan since Jim Slater in 2004–05. He led the Big Ten during the regular season in power-play assists (16) and was tied for first in power-play points (17), while he ranked second in the Big Ten in points (40) and assists (28). Following his outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.[3][5]

During the 2018–19 season, Hirose was the Big Ten Scoring Champion, recording 10 goals and 24 assists in 34 conference games. He also led the NCAA in points (50), points-per-game (1.47), assists (35), multi-point games (15), and three-point games (9). His 50 points were the most by a Spartan since John-Michael Liles had 50 points in 2002–03, while his 35 assists were the most by a Spartan since Brad Fast had 35 assists in 2002–03.[6] Following an outstanding season, he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, and named to the All-Big Ten First Team, and AHCA/CCM First Team All-American.[7][8] He was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.[9]

Professional

On March 12, 2019, Hirose signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[10] He made his NHL debut on March 19 in a game against the New York Rangers, playing on the third line along with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek. He recorded his first career NHL point, assisting on Nielsen's goal in the first period.[11][12] On March 31, Hirose recorded his first career NHL goal against Jaroslav Halák of the Boston Bruins.[13] On January 12, 2021, the Red Wings assigned Hirose to the Grand Rapids Griffins.[14]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014–15	Salmon Arm Silverbacks	BCHL		58	18	32	50	12		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Salmon Arm Silverbacks	BCHL		58	15	56	71	18		6	1	4	5	0
2016–17	Michigan State Spartans	B1G		34	6	18	24	23		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Michigan State Spartans	B1G		36	12	30	42	4		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Michigan State Spartans	B1G		36	15	35	50	12		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		10	1	6	7	2		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		26	2	5	7	6		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		35	5	22	27	12		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				36	3	11	14	8		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honours

Honors	Year
College
All-Big Ten Second Team	2018	[5]
Big Ten Scoring Champion	2019	[15]
Big Ten Player of the Year	2019	[8]
All-Big Ten First Team	2019
AHCA West First-Team All-American	2019	[7]

References

1. "CSSHL alum Hirose commits to Michigan State". csshl.ca. April 3, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
2. "CSSHL graduate Hirose signs with Red Wings". csshl.ca. March 12, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
3. "Taro Hirose Bio". msuspartans.com. CBS Interactive. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
4. "#17 Taro Hirose commits to Michigan State". sasilverbacks.com. April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
5. Keating, Kara (March 13, 2018). "Hirose, Lewandowski and Gatt earn All-Big Ten Honors". The State News. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
6. "Taro Hirose Agrees to Terms With the Detroit Red Wings". msuspartans.com. CBS Interactive. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
7. "Taro Hirose Voted First Team AHCA/CCM All-American". msuspartans.com. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
8. "Taro Hirose Voted Big Ten Player of the Year; Six Spartans Earn All-B1G Honors". msuspartans.com. CBS Interactive. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
9. Ford, Ryan (March 20, 2019). "Michigan State's Taro Hirose, Michigan's Quinn Hughes up for Hobey Baker Award". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
10. DiFilippo, Alex (March 12, 2019). "Red Wings agree to terms with MSU forward Taro Hirose on entry-level deal". NHL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
11. Gauruder, Dana (March 18, 2019). "Don't tell Detroit Red Wings' Taro Hirose to break a leg in New York debut". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
12. St. James, Helene (March 19, 2019). "Detroit Red Wings win second straight game, now in 29th place". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
13. "Mantha's 1st NHL hat trick helps Red Wings beat Bruins 6-3". USA Today. Associated Press. March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
14. "Detroit Assigns 11 to Grand Rapids". griffinshockey.com. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
15. "Big Ten Weekly Hockey Release". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.

External links

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