Taro Hirose (born June 30, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for EHC Red Bull München in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He previously played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Taro Hirose
Hirose in 2024
Born (1996-06-30) June 30, 1996 (age 28)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
DEL team
Former teams
EHC München
Detroit Red Wings
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2018–present

Playing career

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High school

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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

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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

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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

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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] On July 27, 2021, the Red Wings signed Hirose to a one-year contract extension.[15] However, he only appeared in six contests for the Red Wings in said season, adding only two assists over that span.[16]

Hirose would play just 15 games for the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021–22 season scoring 4 points but was a big contributor with the Grand Rapids Griffins where he scored 53 points in 59 games. On May 22, 2022, Hirose was signed to a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings.[17]

On September 13, 2024, Hirose signed a one-year contract with EHC Red Bull München in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[18]

Personal life

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Hirose's brother, Akito, is also a professional ice hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL.[19]

Career statistics

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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
2020–21 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 29 5 23 28 4
2020–21 Detroit Red Wings NHL 6 0 2 2 0
2021–22 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 59 15 38 53 12
2021–22 Detroit Red Wings NHL 15 1 3 4 4
2022–23 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 71 16 41 57 12
2022–23 Detroit Red Wings NHL 3 0 0 0 2
2023–24 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 54 9 27 36 8 8 0 2 2 0
NHL totals 60 4 16 20 14

Awards and honours

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Honors Year
College
All-Big Ten Second Team 2018 [5]
Big Ten Scoring Champion 2019 [20]
Big Ten Player of the Year 2019 [8]
All-Big Ten First Team 2019
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2019 [7]

References

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  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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "Taro Hirose Voted First Team AHCA/CCM All-American". msuspartans.com. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "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. ^ DiFilippo, Alex (July 27, 2021). "Red Wings agree to terms with forward Taro Hirose on one-year extension". NHL.com. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "Red Wings' Taro Hirose: Barely seen at top level". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Red Wings agree to contract extension with Taro Hirose". Detroit Red Wings. May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "Ex-Wing Taro Hirose heads to Germany". The Hockey News. September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  19. ^ Wakiji, Dana (March 19, 2019). "Notes: Hirose and his family ready for NHL debut at MSG". NHL.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  20. ^ "Big Ten Weekly Hockey Release". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. March 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Big Ten Player of the Year
2018–19
Succeeded by
Preceded by Big Ten Scoring Champion
2018–19
Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
with Alex Limoges

2018–19
Succeeded by