Raymond Sawada

Raymond Masao Sawada (February 19, 1985 – April 10, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey winger. The Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected him in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and he played 11 games with them between 2008 and 2011. Sawada spent most of his career, which lasted from 2008 to 2016, in the American Hockey League, with subsequent stints in the ECHL, SM-Liiga, Elite Ice Hockey League, and Asia League Ice Hockey. After he retired from the sport he become a firefighter. Sawada died in 2023 after suffering a heart attack during a recreational hockey game.

Raymond Sawada
Sawada with the Texas Stars in 2012
Born (1985-02-19)February 19, 1985
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Died April 10, 2023(2023-04-10) (aged 38)
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for
NHL Draft 52nd overall, 2004
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2008–2016

Early life

Sawada was born on February 19, 1985, in Richmond, British Columbia,[1] to Jack and Regina Sawada.[2] He played minor ice hockey for the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League, winning a championship with the team in 2003.[3] After that, he was offered a role with the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League,[4] scoring 52 points in 54 games during the 2003–04 season.[5]

Playing career

The Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Sawada in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.[6] He spent the next four years playing for the Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey team, serving as co-captain during his final season. Sawada played 137 games with Cornell, during which he scored 31 goals and 76 points.[2] On March 28, 2008, the Stars signed Sawada to a two-year entry-level contract.[7]

Sawada made his NHL debut on February 19, 2009, his 24th birthday, scoring a goal in Dallas's 4–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.[8] Between 2008 and 2011, Sawada played 11 NHL games, recording only one goal. He also played 287 American Hockey League (AHL) games for the Iowa Stars, Manitoba Moose, and St. John's IceCaps.[9][10]

Sawada began the 2013–14 professional ice hockey season with the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL, waiting for another NHL contract. When one failed to materialize, he left the Eagles after 15 points in 18 games to join Tappara in SM-Liiga.[5] There, Sawada recorded three goals and eight points in 29 regular season games.[11] After winning a silver medal with Tappara, Sawada signed a one-year contract with the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League for the 2014–15 season.[12] Sawada played his final season of professional ice hockey with the Oji Eagles of Asia League Ice Hockey in 2015–16, recording 13 goals and 34 points in 33 games.[9]

Personal life

Sawada was of Italian and Japanese descent.[13] After retiring from professional ice hockey in 2016, Sawada became a firefighter in Burnaby, British Columbia,[14] and he lived in Richmond with his wife Nicole and their two daughters.[15]

On April 10, 2023, Sawada suffered a fatal heart attack while playing recreational ice hockey in Richmond. He was 38.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2001–02 Richmond Sockeyes PIJHL 31016 —————
2002–03 Richmond Sockeyes PIJHL 3671724155 —————
2003–04 Nanaimo Clippers BCHL 5420325293 256162222
2004–05 Cornell University ECAC 3545948 —————
2005–06 Cornell University ECAC 357132020 —————
2006–07 Cornell University ECAC 3110112129 —————
2007–08 Cornell University ECAC 3610162634 —————
2007–08 Iowa Stars AHL 1027914 —————
2008–09 Dallas Stars NHL 51010 —————
2008–09 Manitoba Moose AHL 526152131 224484
2009–10 Dallas Stars NHL 50000 —————
2009–10 Texas Stars AHL 608111992 2435820
2010–11 Texas Stars AHL 5711182991 61562
2010–11 Dallas Stars NHL 10000 —————
2011–12 Texas Stars AHL 266101619 —————
2011–12 St. John's IceCaps AHL 1712314 1533610
2012–13 St. John's IceCaps AHL 6513162988 —————
2013–14 Colorado Eagles ECHL 18781526 —————
2013–14 Tappara FIN 2935810 10002
2014–15 Belfast Giants EIHL 5221385989 42242
2015–16 Oji Eagles ALH 3313213458 22022
AHL totals 2874779126349 6711172836
NHL totals 111010 —————

Source: [9]

References
  1. "Raymond Sawada Stats and News". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  2. "Raymond Sawada – 2007–08 – Men's Ice Hockey". Cornell University Athletics. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  3. Fennell, Don (March 26, 2021). "Sockeyes' success runs deep, extending to the NHL". Richmond Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. "Sawada setting tone in BCHL". British Columbia Hockey League. December 15, 2003. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  5. "Clippers Confidential with Raymond Sawada". BCHL Network. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  6. "Stars Make Five Selections on Draft's First Day". National Hockey League. Dallas Stars. June 26, 2004. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. "Stars sign right wing Raymond Sawada". National Hockey League. Dallas Stars. March 28, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  8. "Raymond Sawada and Fabian Brunnstrom lift Stars past Oilers". National Hockey League. February 20, 2009. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  9. "Raymond Sawada". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  10. "Former Stars forward Raymond Sawada dies at age 38". ESPN. Reuters. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  11. Arkimies, Tuomas (April 12, 2023). "Tapparasta tuttu Raymond Sawada kuoli jääkiekkokaukalossa" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  12. "Belfast Giants sign Canadian winger Raymond Sawada". BBC. August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  13. Williams, Lance (October 25, 2007). "10 Questions: Ray Sawada". The Cornell Daily Sun. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  14. "B.C. firefighter and former NHLer Raymond Sawada dies at 38". National Post. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  15. Wood, Graeme (April 12, 2023). "Father, Burnaby firefighter and former NHL player Ray Sawada mourned". Richmond News. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  16. Chan, Cheryl (April 12, 2023). "Former NHL player and Richmond man dies 'playing the game he loved'". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
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