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Phoenix swoop for Japanese Olympian

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The Manchester Phoenix are delighted to confirm their much-rumoured summer signing swoop for Japanese international star centre Shin Larsson-Yahata.

Born in Stockholm, 29-year old Shin Larsson-Yahata learned his hockey in Sweden and played in the Elitserien with Leksand Stars as a teenager. A year in Canada with Verdun College, farm club of the Montreal Canadiens, saw Shin move east as he signed with the Kokudo Bunnies of Tokyo. Selected to the Japanese national team in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Shin became a key element in the host nations tournament. In all, Shin played eight seasons in the Japanese league winning five league championship winners medals in the process. Last season, he played in the French Super 16 League icing with Mulhouse Les Scorpions.

Phoenix Head Coach Rick Brebant commented, “We came across Shin through a stroke of luck and as we did our research, realised we were tracking a proven, quality player. He’s won championships in Japan, represented his country in the Olympics and at 29, is the perfect age for the new challenge offered by the Elite League. The references we took were extremely positive about his two-way play, playmaking abilities and character as an individual and as a team player, and we are looking for great things from him in a Phoenix shirt.”

Talking from his summer home in Sweden where he is training with the Leksand Stars Shin Larsson-Yahata enthused, “The people in Sweden talk very highly of Manchester and my friend Ryan (Kuwabara) told me that Britain is a great place to play. I’m very much looking forward to coming to Manchester. I will wear the Phoenix shirt with pride and honour and will do my best to help the team be successful in its first season.”

Player Profile

• Profile for Shin Larsson-Yahata

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