Raymond Sawada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raymond Sawada |
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Sawada with the Texas Stars in 2012
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| Born | February 19, 1985 Richmond, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Died | April 10, 2023 (aged 38) Richmond, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
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| NHL Draft | 52nd overall, 2004 Dallas Stars |
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| Playing career | 2008–2016 | ||
Raymond Masao Sawada (born February 19, 1985 – died April 10, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played as a winger. The Dallas Stars picked him in the 2004 NHL Draft. He played 11 games with them between 2008 and 2011. Raymond spent most of his career in the American Hockey League. He also played in other leagues like the ECHL, SM-Liiga, Elite Ice Hockey League, and Asia League Ice Hockey. He stopped playing hockey in 2016 to become a firefighter. Raymond Sawada passed away in 2023. He had a heart attack while playing a fun hockey game.
Early Life and Hockey Start
Raymond Sawada was born on February 19, 1985. His hometown was Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. His parents were Jack and Regina Sawada.
He started playing minor ice hockey for the Richmond Sockeyes. This team was part of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. He helped his team win a championship in 2003. After that, he joined the Nanaimo Clippers. This team played in the British Columbia Hockey League. During the 2003–04 season, he scored 52 points in 54 games.
Raymond's Hockey Career
The Dallas Stars chose Raymond Sawada in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 52nd player picked overall. After being drafted, he played for four years at Cornell University. He was even a co-captain in his last year there. He played 137 games for Cornell. He scored 31 goals and 76 points. On March 28, 2008, the Stars signed him to a two-year contract.
Raymond played his first NHL game on his 24th birthday, February 19, 2009. He even scored a goal in that game! The Dallas Stars won 4–2 against the Edmonton Oilers. Between 2008 and 2011, Raymond played 11 NHL games. He scored one goal in total. He also played 287 games in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for teams like the Iowa Stars, Manitoba Moose, and St. John's IceCaps.
In the 2013–14 season, Raymond started with the Colorado Eagles. This team was in the ECHL. He was hoping to get another NHL contract. When that didn't happen, he left the Eagles. He had 15 points in 18 games with them. Then, he joined Tappara in SM-Liiga (a Finnish league). He scored three goals and eight points in 29 games there. Tappara won a silver medal that year.
After that, Raymond signed with the Belfast Giants. This team plays in the Elite Ice Hockey League in 2014–15. He played his last season of professional hockey with the Oji Eagles. This team is part of Asia League Ice Hockey. In 2015–16, he scored 13 goals and 34 points in 33 games. He then retired from hockey.
Life After Hockey
Raymond Sawada had both Italian and Japanese family roots. After he stopped playing professional hockey in 2016, he started a new career. He became a firefighter in Burnaby, British Columbia. He lived in Richmond with his wife, Nicole, and their two daughters.
Sadly, Raymond passed away on April 10, 2023. He had a heart attack while playing recreational ice hockey in Richmond. He was 38 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Raymond Sawada para niños
