Instant Impact

Hirose Embraces 'Cool' Background During Standout Freshman Year

by Jashvina Shah/Staff Writer (@icehockeystick)

With his 22 points through 28 games, Taro Hirose is Michigan State’s highest-scoring freshman since 2009-10, when Derek Grant netted 30 points over 38 games.

The freshman has been a key piece of Michigan State’s offense, pairing with leading team scorer Mason Appleton. Hirose is also Japanese — one of a select few who have played hockey.

The most notable Japanese player, of course, is Paul Kariya, who won a Hobey Baker Award and national championship with Maine before an NHL career that spanned a decade and a half. Kariya, a native of Vancouver, B.C., dressed for the Black Bears from 1992-94. As a freshman Kariya produced the best season ever, scoring 100 points over 39 games.

Going back further, Mel Wakabayashi, who was born in a Japanese internment camp in Canada during World War II, starred at Michigan in the 1960s, and his brother, Herb, was an All-American at BU.

Hirose's point totals, so far, are more modest than Kariya's, and Michigan State is not having a national championship season. But the freshman is still having the time of his life.

And for Hirose, being Japanese in college hockey is special.

“It's obviously pretty cool,” Hirose said.

Prior to joining Michigan State, Hirose played for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL where he scored 71 points — 13th in the league. While Hirose played there, a local Japanese newspaper penned a piece on him.

“It was pretty cool to know that there were other people around that area that recognized that I was Japanese and they wanted to read about me and do a story on me,” Hirose said. “That was probably one of the coolest things for me."

Hirose began hockey around the age of two, a journey that began with driveway roller hockey. Hirose was ushered into skating lessons by his dad, who also played hockey.

“He's always been there supporting me and he's made it up here a couple times already even though it's a really far trip for him,” Hirose said. “He's always supported me, he always gives me a little advice, even when I don't want it after a loss. ... I always appreciate that."

When Hirose was younger, he was battling for a puck in a corner. Someone stepped on his hand and sliced his finger.

It took seven stitches to fix the wound.

"It’s tough,” Hirose said. “You never know,all those all the tendons and stuff in the finger, if it's going to be the same. It was a little bit of a process getting back. … I'm a little bit more careful and aware of when my glove comes off and what can happen."

At Michigan State, Hirose has been part of an offense that looks shades better than its Spartan counterparts of the past. The Spartans have always been a defense-first team, winning close games with goaltending. But since stellar netminder Jake Hildebrand graduated, the Spartans have been transitioning to a better offense. A large part of any offensive improvement has come from the underclassmen, including Hirose and his linemate Mason Appleton.

“His skillset and talent level and the fact that we learned that he was very passionate about the game, he's a real student of the game,” Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos said. “What attracted me most was, he's got a very high hockey IQ and his style of game is he makes players around him better and that's very much what we were looking for and we were fortunate that's what we got."

Entering the season, Hirose was expected to contribute at even strength and on the power play. But his skills extended past that, and the freshman has become one of Michigan State’s reliable penalty killers as well.

“He's been able to play in all situations and I think he's been able to be effective in all situations,” Anastos said. “That's a lot to ask of any freshman, but he's delivered on a pretty darn consistent basis.”

Hirose may not be the biggest player. He’s 5-foot-10, 160 pounds and looks up to similarly-small ex-Boston College forward Johnny Gaudreau, who’s now in the NHL. But playing against older, stronger skaters has made Hirose stronger, and it’s something he wants to improve.

"[I] definitely did not think that my freshman year would've gone like this,” Hirose said. “Coming in as a freshman I thought if I have any sort of chance to make an impact, that would be great and if I was just in the lineup every night that'd be something I'd be happy with. I think I've gotten all the opportunity here and it's been awesome so far.

"It's definitely blown away my expectations with what I've had."