Asians in Hockey – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to another season of the Asians in Hockey podcast! In today's episode, I'm taking a look at the upcoming NHL and PWHL seasons and a number of the Asian players looking to make their mark on elite pro hockey!

To discuss PWHL action, I'm joined by Ava Wood and Avery Jensen, who both cover the PWHL on their social media platforms.

For a deep look at the PWHL, check out this PWHL Master Spreadsheet.

Take a look at Kimberly Newell's Team China goalie pads.

You can find Avery on Instagram and YouTube under the handle @PWHLSource.

You can find Ava on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under the handle @365_Hockeygirl. Be sure to check out her YouTube video covering the Montréal Victoire's quadruple overtime win against the Ottawa Charge here.

--

Check out the new Asians in Hockey website by visiting asiansinhockey.com. There you can listen to episodes directly in your browser, find links to subscribe on your app of choice, and check out a bunch of other resources!

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Support the podcast directly by donating at coff.ee/asiansinhockey.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link supports the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Contributing producers are Chad Soon and Chris Woo. Original music by Scott Okamoto. Visit our website

In this special draft preview episode, we take a look at several Asian hockey players looking to make their mark on major professional hockey leagues in North America.

To preview the PWHL Draft, we chatted with Avery Jensen, the creator behind PWHL Source, a social media news account keeping track of PWHL league and team news. Be sure to follow Avery on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube under the handle @PWHLSource.

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Support the podcast directly by donating at coff.ee/asiansinhockey.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link supports the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Contributing producers are Chad Soon and Chris Woo. Original music by Scott Okamoto. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey, Threads at @asiansinhockey, Facebook at fb.com/asiansinhockey, and Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

Asians in Hockey is part of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Visit podcastpotluck.com for more.

Today's episode features three periods of hockey talk, as usual. This time, we spend the first period talking about the notorious Taro Tsujimoto, the Buffalo Sabres' 11th round draft pick in 1974.

In the second period, I thought it might be a good idea to learn about the game of hockey, so I spend some time going over the rules and a few of the terms related to the game. If you're already familiar with the game of hockey, feel free to skip ahead to the 22:15 mark for the start of the third period.

In the third period, I talk with Chris Woo, the man behind @asianhockeycardcollection on Instagram and the asianhockeycardcollection.com website. We talk about some interesting Asian hockey card trivia as well as the importance of documenting our history in items such as hockey cards.

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link support the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey and on Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

Asians in Hockey is part of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Visit podcastpotluck.com for more.

In today's episode we review some of the latest performances of our Asians in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I introduce a little bit of my own hockey background, and we take a brief overview of the life and career of one of the greatest women's hockey players of the modern era, Julie Chu.

A professional hockey player, former captain of the US National Women's Team, IIHF gold medalist, Olympic silver medalist, and now a college hockey coach, Julie Chu is one of the most decorated players in the sport.

To wrap things up, I have a conversation with my friend Scott Okamoto, one of the three co-hosts and a producer of the Asians in Baseball podcast. We talk a bit about his show, some of the differences between baseball and hockey, and the unique experiences of Asians in sports.

Check out the Asians in Baseball podcast here, and follow them on Instagram: @asiansinbaseball

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey and on Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

In the inaugural episode of Asians in Hockey, we introduce ourselves to the Asians and AAPI folks currently active in the major North American leagues. We also take a look at the life and career of Larry Kwong, the first NHL player of Asian descent, whose story gives a whole different meaning to the phrase "a New York minute."

Finally, we spend some time with Chad Soon co-author of the book The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey. Chad also works with the Larry Kwong Memorial Program at Hockey 4 Youth, supporting the growth of the sport for students in Vernon, BC.

Larry Kwong deserves to be recognized in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and you can sign the petition to induct him as a Builder by following this link: https://www.change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn

Links:

• Chad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/113370/9781459835030
• The Larry Kwong Appreciation Society: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50177632975/
• Chad on Instagram: @soondatkwong
• The Longest Shot on Instagram: @larrykwongbook
• Make Us Visible: https://makeusvisible.org/

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey and on Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.bsky.social.

All Bookshop.org links on our episode pages are affiliate links. If you purchase a book through one of those links, you're helping support Asians in Hockey without any additional cost to you.

Welcome to Asians in Hockey, a new podcast celebrating the stories, accomplishments, and influence that AANHPI folks have had on the sport of hockey.

Subscribe today, and follow us on social media:

• Instagram - @asiansinhockey
• Bluesky - @asiansinhockey.bsky.social

In today's episode, we recap the first three games of the AHL Calder Cup Finals, chat with Oilers fan Alanna Mah, learn about the career of the captain of the Montreal Canadiens, and chat with Ava Wood, a biracial PWHL content creator and superfan who has built a platform making women's hockey content on social media.

You can find Ava on TikTok and Instagram under the handle @365_hockeygirl.

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Support the podcast directly by donating at coff.ee/asiansinhockey.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link supports the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Contributing producers are Chad Soon and Chris Woo. Original music by Scott Okamoto. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey, Threads at @asiansinhockey, Facebook at fb.com/asiansinhockey, and Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

Asians in Hockey is part of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Visit podcastpotluck.com for more.

In today's episode, we recap the 2025 IIHF Women's Asia Cup, follow up with a few of our Asian players in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, and take a look at the lives of the Wakabayashi brothers, two hockey legends who made names for themselves in Canada, the United States, and Japan.

We also speak with Mari Horita, SVP of Social Impact & Civic Affairs for the Seattle Kraken. You can follow Mari on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mari-horita-414572a

Read up on what Mari is doing with the Seattle Kraken Community through Kraken Common Thread and learn more about the One Roof Foundation at onerooffoundation.org.

Check out the "Our Stories Are Your Stories" video gallery compiling the stories of AANHPI folks in the face of anti-Asian hatred at ourstoriesareyourstories.com and watch the launch video here.

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Support the podcast directly by donating at coff.ee/asiansinhockey.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link supports the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Contributing producers are Chad Soon and Chris Woo. Original music by Scott Okamoto. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey, Threads at @asiansinhockey, Facebook at fb.com/asiansinhockey, and on Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

Asians in Hockey is part of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Visit podcastpotluck.com for more.

In this bonus episode of the podcast, I sit down with Dr. Courtney Szto, Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology & Health Studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, author of the book Changing on the Fly: Hockey Through the Voices of South Asian Canadians, and editor of the webzine Hockey in Society.

We spend most of this conversation talking about her book, Changing on the Fly, which you can purchase at rutgersuniversitypress.org/changing-on-the-fly/9781978807938/.

And be sure to check out Hockey in Society for a wealth of information on the critical social issues in the sport of hockey. You can read more at hockeyinsociety.com.

Follow Courtney on Bluesky @courtneyszto.bsky.social and on Instagram @cstova.

–

Register for the Hockey Conference in Winnipeg, MB, taking place June 17-19, 2025. You can sign up at thehockeyconference2025.ca.

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link supports the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Contributing producers are Chad Soon and Chris Woo. Original music by Scott Okamoto. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey, Threads at @asiansinhockey, Facebook at fb.com/asiansinhockey, and on Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

Asians in Hockey is part of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Visit podcastpotluck.com for more.

In today's episode, we recap the 2025 Men's Para Ice Hockey World Championship, follow up with a few of our Asian players in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, and take a look at the life and career of Mike Wong, the first player of Chinese descent drafted to the NHL.

We also spend some time chatting with Chi-Yin Tse, Coach and GM of the Tulsa Oilers JHC. You can follow Chi on Instagram @ctsehockey.

Check out his organization, the Tulsa Oilers at tulsaoilers.com.

--

Don't forget to sign the petition to induct Larry Kwong into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Visit change.org/p/induct-larry-kwong-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame-itslarrysturn to sign.

Pick up your #ItsLarrysTurn hoodie over at everythinghockey.com.

Check out our recommended reading list at bookshop.org/shop/asiansinhockey. Any book purchased through this link supports the Asians in Hockey podcast without any additional cost to you.

--

Asians in Hockey is produced by Nate Nakao. Contributing producers are Chad Soon and Chris Woo. Original music by Scott Okamoto. Follow us on Instagram at @asiansinhockey, Threads at @asiansinhockey, Facebook at fb.com/asiansinhockey, and on Bluesky at @asiansinhockey.com. Email us at asiansinhockey@gmail.com.

Asians in Hockey is part of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Visit podcastpotluck.com for more.