Raymond Sawada

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Raymond Sawada.jpg

| caption = Sawada with the Texas Stars in 2012

| image_size =

| position = Right wing

| shoots = Right

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 205

| birth_date = {{birth date|1985|2|19}}

| birth_place = Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|4|10|1985|2|19}}

| death_place = Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

| career_start = 2008

| career_end = 2016

| played_for= {{ubl|Dallas Stars|Tappara|Belfast Giants|Oji Eagles}}

| draft = 52nd overall

| draft_year = 2004

| draft_team = Dallas Stars

}}

Raymond Masao Sawada (February 19, 1985 – April 10, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey winger. The Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected him in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and he played 11 games with them between 2008 and 2011. Sawada spent most of his career, which lasted from 2008 to 2016, in the American Hockey League, with subsequent stints in the ECHL, SM-Liiga, Elite Ice Hockey League, and Asia League Ice Hockey. After he retired from the sport he become a firefighter. Sawada died in 2023 after suffering a heart attack during a recreational hockey game.

Early life

Sawada was born on February 19, 1985, in Richmond, British Columbia,{{cite web |title=Raymond Sawada Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/raymond-sawada-8471265 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412195616/https://www.nhl.com/player/raymond-sawada-8471265 |url-status=live }} to Jack and Regina Sawada.{{cite web |title=Raymond Sawada – 2007–08 – Men's Ice Hockey |url=https://cornellbigred.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/raymond-sawada/7199 |publisher=Cornell University Athletics |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412195616/https://cornellbigred.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/raymond-sawada/7199 |url-status=live }} He played minor ice hockey for the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League, winning a championship with the team in 2003.{{cite news |last=Fennell |first=Don |title=Sockeyes' success runs deep, extending to the NHL |url=https://www.richmondsentinel.ca/article-detail/14937/sockeyes-success-runs-deep-extending-to-the-nhl |work=Richmond Sentinel |date=March 26, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412200500/https://www.richmondsentinel.ca/article-detail/14937/sockeyes-success-runs-deep-extending-to-the-nhl |url-status=live }} After that, he was offered a role with the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League,{{cite news |title=Sawada setting tone in BCHL |url=https://bchl.ca/sawada-setting-tone-in-bchl-2 |publisher=British Columbia Hockey League |date=December 15, 2003 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412200500/https://bchl.ca/sawada-setting-tone-in-bchl-2 |url-status=live }} scoring 52 points in 54 games during the 2003–04 season.{{cite news |title=Clippers Confidential with Raymond Sawada |url=https://bchlnetwork.ca/clippers-confidential-with-raymond-sawada/ |work=BCHL Network |date=June 28, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412012047/https://www.bchlnetwork.ca/clippers-confidential-with-raymond-sawada/ |url-status=live }}

Playing career

The Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Sawada in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite news |title=Stars Make Five Selections on Draft's First Day |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/stars-make-five-selections-on-drafts-first-day/c-449902 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=Dallas Stars |date=June 26, 2004 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412201222/https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/stars-make-five-selections-on-drafts-first-day/c-449902 |url-status=live }} He spent the next four years playing for the Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey team, serving as co-captain during his final season. Sawada played 137 games with Cornell, during which he scored 31 goals and 76 points. On March 28, 2008, the Stars signed Sawada to a two-year entry-level contract.{{cite news |title=Stars sign right wing Raymond Sawada |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/stars-sign-right-wing-raymond-sawada/c-450217 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=Dallas Stars |date=March 28, 2008 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182228/http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=450217 |url-status=live }}

Sawada made his NHL debut on February 19, 2009, his 24th birthday, scoring a goal in Dallas's 4–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.{{cite news |title=Raymond Sawada and Fabian Brunnstrom lift Stars past Oilers |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/raymond-sawada-and-fabian-brunnstrom-lift-stars-past-oilers/c-410200 |publisher=National Hockey League |date=February 20, 2009 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412202745/https://www.nhl.com/news/raymond-sawada-and-fabian-brunnstrom-lift-stars-past-oilers/c-410200 |url-status=live }} Between 2008 and 2011, Sawada played 11 NHL games, recording one goal. He also played 287 American Hockey League (AHL) games for the Iowa Stars, Manitoba Moose, and St. John's IceCaps.{{cite web |title=Raymond Sawada |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/11425/raymond-sawada |work=Elite Prospects |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412202744/https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/11425/raymond-sawada |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Former Stars forward Raymond Sawada dies at age 38 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/36169927/former-stars-forward-raymond-sawada-dies-age-38 |work=ESPN |agency=Reuters |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412202744/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/36169927/former-stars-forward-raymond-sawada-dies-age-38 |url-status=live }}

Sawada began the 2013–14 professional ice hockey season with the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL, waiting for another NHL contract. When one failed to materialize, he left the Eagles after 15 points in 18 games to join Tappara in SM-Liiga. There, Sawada recorded three goals and eight points in 29 regular season games.{{cite news |last=Arkimies |first=Tuomas |title=Tapparasta tuttu Raymond Sawada kuoli jääkiekkokaukalossa |url=https://www.aamulehti.fi/liiga/art-2000009514515.html |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |language=Finnish |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412202745/https://www.aamulehti.fi/liiga/art-2000009514515.html |url-status=live }} After winning a silver medal with Tappara, Sawada signed a one-year contract with the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League for the 2014–15 season.{{cite news |title=Belfast Giants sign Canadian winger Raymond Sawada |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/ice-hockey/28784933 |publisher=BBC |date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412202744/https://www.bbc.com/sport/ice-hockey/28784933 |url-status=live }} Sawada played his final season of professional ice hockey with the Oji Eagles of Asia League Ice Hockey in 2015–16, recording 13 goals and 34 points in 33 games.

Personal life

Sawada was of Italian and Japanese descent.{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Lance |title=10 Questions: Ray Sawada |url=https://cornellsun.com/2007/10/25/10-questions-ray-sawada/ |work=The Cornell Daily Sun |date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412203419/https://cornellsun.com/2007/10/25/10-questions-ray-sawada/ |url-status=live }} After retiring from professional ice hockey in 2016, Sawada became a firefighter in Burnaby, British Columbia,{{cite news |title=B.C. firefighter and former NHLer Raymond Sawada dies at 38 |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/b-c-firefighter-and-former-nhler-raymond-sawada-dies-suddenly-at-38 |work=National Post |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023}} and he lived in Richmond with his wife Nicole and their two daughters.{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Graeme |title=Father, Burnaby firefighter and former NHL player Ray Sawada mourned |url=https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/father-burnaby-firefighter-and-former-nhl-player-ray-sawada-mourned-6842807 |work=Richmond News |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412203239/https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/father-burnaby-firefighter-and-former-nhl-player-ray-sawada-mourned-6842807 |url-status=live }}

On April 10, 2023, Sawada suffered a fatal heart attack while playing recreational ice hockey in Richmond. He was 38.{{cite news |last=Chan |first=Cheryl |title=Former NHL player and Richmond man dies 'playing the game he loved' |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/former-nhl-player-richmond-man-ray-sawada-dies-on-ice |work=Vancouver Sun |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412234350/https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/former-nhl-player-richmond-man-ray-sawada-dies-on-ice |url-status=live }}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! colspan="5"\|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! colspan="5"\|Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
2001–02 \| Richmond Sockeyes \| PIJHL \| 3	1	0	1	6 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2002–03 \| Richmond Sockeyes \| PIJHL \| 36	7	17	24	155 \| —	—	—	—	—
2003–04 \| Nanaimo Clippers \| BCHL \| 54	20	32	52	93 \| 25	6	16	22	22
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2004–05 \| Cornell University \| ECAC \| 35	4	5	9	48 \| —	—	—	—	—
2005–06 \| Cornell University \| ECAC \| 35	7	13	20	20 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2006–07 \| Cornell University \| ECAC \| 31	10	11	21	29 \| —	—	—	—	—
2007–08 \| Cornell University \| ECAC \| 36	10	16	26	34 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2007–08 \| Iowa Stars \| AHL \| 10	2	7	9	14 \| —	—	—	—	—
2008–09 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 5	1	0	1	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2008–09 \| Manitoba Moose \| AHL \| 52	6	15	21	31 \| 22	4	4	8	4
2009–10 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 5	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2009–10 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 60	8	11	19	92 \| 24	3	5	8	20
2010–11 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 57	11	18	29	91 \| 6	1	5	6	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 1	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2011–12 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 26	6	10	16	19 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2011–12 \| St. John's IceCaps \| AHL \| 17	1	2	3	14 \| 15	3	3	6	10
2012–13 \| St. John's IceCaps \| AHL \| 65	13	16	29	88 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2013–14 \| Colorado Eagles \| ECHL \| 18	7	8	15	26 \| —	—	—	—	—
2013–14 \| Tappara \| FIN \| 29	3	5	8	10 \| 1	0	0	0	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15 \| Belfast Giants \| EIHL \| 52	21	38	59	89 \| 4	2	2	4	2
2015–16 \| Oji Eagles \| ALH \| 33	13	21	34	58 \| 2	2	0	2	2
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| AHL totals ! 287 !! 47 !! 79 !! 126 !! 349 ! 67 !! 11 !! 17 !! 28 !! 36
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 11 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! —