ECHL: Yushiroh Hirano Headed Overseas

The Adirondack Thunder are losing another key piece from their 2023-24 team as forward Yushiroh Hirano is heading to Austria to join Patrick Grasso. Hirano had spent the past five years in the ECHL playing for the Wheeling Nailers, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Adirondack Thunder, where he’s put up 68 goals, and 121 assists for 189 points in 215 games; he’s added four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 21 Kelly Cup Playoff Games. The 28-year-old forward has also played in 53 AHL games putting up seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Abbotsford Canucks, and Utica Comets. The Japanese forward has also played in nine Olympic Qualifying games, putting up four goals and four assists for eight points.

For Adirondack, this is a huge loss as Hirano was a big piece to their team and was a huge part of the Thunder PP, putting up seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points on the man-advantage and led the team last season with 38 assists during the regular season and would be tied for first with Shane Harper with nine assists during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. He would put up 11 of his 13 Kelly Cup Playoff points in the North Division Finals vs Norfolk Admirals. The loss of Hirano leaves a big hole in the Thunder PP, which finished 16th in the league but had the fourth-best PP on the road this season. Hirano becomes the third player joining Patrick Grasso and Connor Blake to take the overseas route.