Yutaka Fukufuji

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Yutaka Fukufuji (born September 17, 1982) is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender (and the second overall) by the National Hockey League. The first, Taro Tsujimoto, was a name "plucked out of the Buffalo telephone book" as a joke in the 1970's by Buffalo Sabres GM Punch Imlach, so Fukufuji can be viewed as the first Japanese ice hockey player drafted.[1]

He was born in Tokyo, Japan where he played on the Kokudo hockey team. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2004 entry draft in the 8th round, 238th overall. He made his North American debut on February 7, 2003 with the ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones. He was voted the ECHL rookie of the month in January of 2003. He played for the ECHL Bakersfield Condors in 2003-2004 leading the team in wins, GAA, and shutouts. Yutaka signed a 2 year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings in August 2005. After starting the 2005-2006 season with the Reading Royals, the Kings ECHL franchise, Yutaka was the number 2 goalie on the AHL Manchester Monarchs for a time. He has since been returned to the Reading Royals.