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Korean Tigers: Youth and speed is their key |
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Written by Jon Brazeau
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Tuesday, 24 November 2009 |
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A team capable of making a splash, the Korean Tigers’ mix of speed and strength make them one of the most unpredictable teams in the league.
In the inaugural year of the tournament, the team was a Heritage Bowl finalist and they were poised to qualify for the playoffs the following year. With a 3-1 record, they finished second in their division but were upset by the Ojibwe Thunderbirds, losing 8-7 in overtime.
While the team did not make it to the playoffs in 2007, they finished with a 2-2 record, both of their loses were only by a one-goal margin, to the Iroquois Silverhawks and the eventual Canadian Cup winners, the Polish Hussars, respectively.
In 2008, the team finished with a 2-2 record and were just outside of the playoffs once again but they didn’t go down easy as they spoiled the Maltese Falcons’ own playoff drive with a 1-0 win in their final round-robin game.
In the past, the Korean Tigers were led on the ice by Eddie Choi, who as a youth captained the Toronto Marlboros to five straight MTHL titles. Choi followed that up in the NCAA by scoring the fastest hat trick by a freshman while attending Ohio State. On top of that, he also had interest from the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers.
The team still has a formidable lineup that has changed over the years, bringing in younger, energetic players who can move swiftly around the opposing teams. At 38 years old, veteran defenceman Matt Beckerle is the oldest player on a team where the average age is only 26. The youngest players on the team are Thomas Bark (20) and Eli Kim-Swallow (19). But the team’s youth shouldn’t be underestimated as 21-year-old left winger Michael Park has played in a few Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championship already.
The Korean team has the right tools and the right leadership to improve in the future and surprise just about anyone.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 November 2009 )
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