The Japanese Arashi are a team just waiting to break out in the tournament.

They qualified for the playoffs in their first season but lost to the Macedonian Lions, 5-2. Although they missed the playoffs in 2006, it seemed like 2007 would finally be their year as they started the tournament with a shocking, come-from-behind win over the Israeli team. The Arashi maintained their energy by tightening up their defence and used their speed to capitalize on the other team’s mistakes in order to pull off the win.

A close, 3-2 loss to the Hellenic Lightning followed and during the second day of the tournament, they lost to the Nubian Kings, 6-2.

Despite the pair of losses, the team kept their heads up and in their final game, they defeated one of the powerhouses of the league, the Macedonian Lions, 3-2. While the team finished with a 2-2 record, they did not qualify for the playoffs. However, interest in the team continues to grow and has helped renew interest in the Canadian Japanese Hockey League, which has been active for over 45 years!

Finally, in 2008, the team returned to the playoffs after a two-year drought but faced the defending champions in the first round. The Polish Hussars were just too much and the Arashi lost, 7-3.

In 2006, goaltender and general manager Wayne Yamashita was awarded the Dalton McGuinty Award for sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to the game of hockey and inter-community relations. Along with fellow goaltender Anthony Marshall, who played for the Brantford Blast of the OHA Senior A league, the Japanese team has a solid duo between the pipes.

Standing tall on the blueline is Derek Tanaka. The defenceman hasn’t slowed down at all in his late-forties and continues to create key plays for his team. He once scored 24 goals and added 59 assists for 83 points in only 42 games – an average of nearly two points per game – with the Wexford Raiders of the OHA in 1979-80. In 2008, Tanaka tied for first on the team in points with three assists. Up front, centre Daniel Nakayama combines speed with fine puck-handling abilities to be a constant threat in the opposing team’s zone.

Each season, the team continues to fine tune it’s system and they’re poised to have it finally pay off.