Yushiroh Hirano is fitting in nicely with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder.

“Great fans, great teammates, good setup, good coaching staff,” said Hirano, who has had six goals and six assists in his first season.

With a high-caliber shot, Hirano has quickly found his role in Glens Falls. It’s one of several cities the 28-year-old has played for since embarking on a professional hockey career from Japan.

“I would say it’s not a big sport in Japan right now,” Hirano said. “So that’s why I’m here, because I just want to change something.” 

He got into to the sport due to his father, who was professional player as well back home in Japan. Hirano grew up watching NHL games on VHS tapes, dreaming of playing there one day.

“I just want to prove that a Japanese player could find success in North America,” he said.

Chasing this dream has taken him from Japan to Sweden to Ohio to British Columbia, and now upstate New York. During his six seasons in North America, Hirano has already made history as the first Japan-born player to score a goal in the AHL.

“I still want to get up there. Play better and find more success,” Hirano said. 

But Hirano remains hungry with the ultimate prize still not achieved: Playing in the NHL. He’s hoping to become the league’s first Japan-born skater.

On Tuesday morning, he was recalled to AHL’s Utica Comets, which takes him another step closer to that dream, while making an impact back home as well.

“If I can prove that, it’s going to be change for Japanese hockey, so I want to keep doing this,” Hirano said.